Dickerson 32 Buyer's Guide
The Dickerson 32 you encounter on the used market is a wood, hard-chined ketch from the builder’s early years — a 32-foot aft-cockpit cruiser of the “Simplissima” class, built simply and well in the Chesapeake tradition. Because Dickerson switched to fiberglass in the early seventies, every 32 of this generation is wood, and each left the shop with the quirks of a small custom yard.
Layouts on the Used Market
No standardized layout defines the used 32. The carpenters built to customer requests and Bill Dickerson would rethink a cabinet from one morning to the next, so individual boats varied significantly in their interior arrangement Now, they did vary a lot because Dick would come out one morning and say to himself, ‘What the hell is that cabinet doing there?’ and that would be th. Expect simple, solid plywood accommodations rather than a production mold, and confirm the specific berths, galley, and stowage on the hull you inspect.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Market data on fitted equipment for this model is not available, so treat any electronics, canvas, or rigging as the history of that particular boat. The ketch rig itself is the defining feature; beyond it, judge energy, sail-handling, and navigation gear on condition and owner need.
What to Inspect
The wood hull and plywood interior are the first concern. Look for soft spots, discoloration, or musty smell in the cabin sole and bulkheads that would signal delamination or rot in the simple plywood work. Because individual boats varied so much in construction, compare the chainplate and framing details against the specific boat’s own symmetry rather than a sister ship. Check any improvised fittings — a samson post pin made from a scrap rod, for example — for corrosion or makeshift attachment, since these were practical yard solutions rather than catalog parts and may need custom fabrication if failed.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Before committing, walk the cabin and press the plywood for softness. Verify the chainplate bedding and frame alignment on the specific hull. Inspect the samson post and any scrap-material fittings for rust. Confirm the ketch rig and sails match your handling plan. Accept variance as the rule, not the exception.