Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass with a deeply V-ed forefoot that slices through chop, paired with a soft turn of the bilge that gives the sections an easy transition toward the centerline. The deck, cockpit, and cabintrunk use an end-grain balsa core for stiffness, while Ericson substituted a marine plywood core beneath the primary winch bases to manage local loads. The hull-and-deck joint sits on an outward-turning flange, chemically bonded and mechanically fastened, then covered with a rubrail; on boats a surveyor examined the joint had been glassed in so leaks were nonexistent anchor. That joint is easy to inspect by lifting the wood paneling above and behind the settees, which also opens the chainplate area for a look at the same region. Owners of even the earliest hulls report that their problems tend to be cosmetic rather than structural, and rotten balsa cores do not seem to be a common ailment on this model.
Rig and Handling
Initially the 27 was sold to a price as a stripped boat with an outboard mounted in a transom cutout, but in all about 80 percent of those built were delivered with an inboard, and most of those carried the Atomic 4 gasoline engine, with a few diesels and a Yanmar 8D as the final-year standard anchor. Tillers were the norm early on, using a midboom mainsheet with the traveler above the companionway; the 1974 upgrade brought a redesigned deck and cockpit, a T-shaped wheel helm aft, end-boom sheeting, and elimination of the transom cutout. A handful of boats got tall rigs about two feet higher, but the design lacks the inherent stability to use that area well. Practical Sailor found her sail-area-to-displacement of 14.1 and a displacement-length ratio of 363, and noted her sluggish and a bit squirrely in sloppy conditions, with weather helm that builds if pressed in a breeze anchor. The spade rudder and off-center prop shaft keep a helmsman's attention under power, and a number of owners have reported modifying the rudder post or blade to improve handling.
Accommodations
Below, the joinerwork is well executed and holds up visually with age, with the early boats in mahogany plywood and the later ones switched to teak around 1974. The layout gives an enclosed head just aft of a V-berth that was billed as a double but is too pointy for comfortable use; the head has a sink or storage outboard. The galley sits to port alongside the companionway, and the saloon has long settees both sides plus a single quarterberth to starboard that Practical Sailor likened to a cave. The settee berths are a touch narrow, and while five berths are counted, the boat is comfortable for a couple and cramped for more. Ventilation is poor on the early boats, better on later ones with the midships hatch that the 1974 redesign added.
Known Issues
The shroud bases are a reported leak and rot hotspot, and the transom cutout on outboard versions sometimes leaks too; both are reachable through the same paneling used for the hull-deck inspection. A faulty exhaust fitting on some engines let water back into the motor, but Ericson issued a recall to replace it. Ports are a known leak source, and one Pacific Northwest sailor removed his entirely and set Lexan in silicone. The forward V-berth and quarterberth geometry are weak points more than defects.
Refits and Ownership
The 1974 upgrade is the principal dividing line: teak interior, revised deck and cockpit, wheel option, midships hatch, and relocated traveler. Engine access is good, which helps the Atomic 4 work, and the balsa-cored deck has stayed mostly rot-free. Later owners have added ventilation and rudder tweaks as needed; the boat's simplicity keeps owner upkeep approachable.
The Verdict
The Ericson 27 is a high-volume small cruiser with a solid King-designed hull and a balsa-cored deck that has aged better than many of its peers. She is tender initially but settles to a steady heel, and her accommodations are usable for a couple despite berth-count padding. Sluggish pace and helm attention under power are the costs of her short rig and spade rudder.
Pros
- Deep-V forefoot and soft bilge give a seakindly hull with easy inspection access
- Joinerwork and deck core have proven durable; rot uncommon
- Good engine access and a documented factory recall handled a known exhaust fault
Cons
- Sluggish under sail, with weather helm and a spade-rudder/off-center-shaft helm load
- Ventilation poor on early boats; forward and quarter berths awkward
- Tender start and cramped beyond two people despite five berths
