Design and Construction
The hand-laid fiberglass hull has a deeply V-ed forefoot that slices through chop. A soft turn of the bilge gives the sections an easy transition toward the centerline.
The deck, cockpit, and cabintrunk use end-grain balsa core for stiffness. Beneath the primary winch bases, Ericson substituted marine plywood core to handle local loads. The hull-and-deck joint sits on an outward-turning flange. It is chemically bonded and mechanically fastened, then covered by a rubrail. On boats examined by a surveyor, the joint had been glassed in and leaks were nonexistent.
The joint is easy to inspect by lifting the wood paneling above and behind the settees. The same access also exposes the chainplate area. Owners of even the earliest hulls report that their problems tend to be cosmetic rather than structural, and rotten balsa cores don’t seem to be a common ailment on this model.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
Ericson initially sold the 27 to a price as a stripped boat, with an outboard mounted in a transom cutout. In all, about 80 percent of the boats built were delivered with an inboard. Most had the Atomic 4 gasoline engine, a few had diesels, and the Yanmar 8D became standard in the final year.
Early boats normally had tiller steering, a midboom mainsheet, and a traveler above the companionway. The 1974 upgrade brought a redesigned deck and cockpit, a T-shaped wheel helm aft, end-boom sheeting, and the elimination of the transom cutout.
A handful of boats received tall rigs about two feet higher, but the design lacks the inherent stability to use that extra sail area well. Practical Sailor calculated a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.1 and a displacement-length ratio of 363. It described the boat as sluggish and a bit squirrely in sloppy conditions, with weather helm that builds when she is pressed in a breeze.
Under power, the spade rudder and off-center prop shaft demand the helmsman’s attention. A number of owners have reported modifying the rudder post or blade to improve handling.
Accommodations
The joinerwork below is well executed and continues to look good with age. Early boats used mahogany plywood; around 1974, Ericson switched to teak.
An enclosed head sits just aft of the V-berth, with a sink or storage outboard. The V-berth was billed as a double, but it is too pointed for comfortable use. The galley is to port beside the companionway. In the saloon, long settees run along both sides, while a single quarterberth lies to starboard; Practical Sailor likened it to a cave.
The settee berths are slightly narrow. Although the layout counts five berths, the boat is comfortable for a couple and cramped with more people aboard. Ventilation is poor on early boats, but improved on later models with the midships hatch added in the 1974 redesign.
Known Issues and Ownership
The shroud bases are reported hotspots for leaks and rot. The transom cutout on outboard versions sometimes leaks as well. Both areas are accessible through the same paneling used to inspect the hull-and-deck joint.
A faulty exhaust fitting on some engines allowed water to back into the motor, but Ericson issued a recall to replace it. Ports are another known source of leaks. One Pacific Northwest sailor removed his entirely and set Lexan in silicone.
The awkward geometry of the forward V-berth and quarterberth is more a weakness than a defect. Engine access is good, which helps when working on the Atomic 4, and the balsa-cored deck has remained mostly free of rot. Later owners have added ventilation and made rudder modifications as needed. The boat’s simplicity keeps upkeep approachable for an owner.
The 1974 Upgrade
The 1974 upgrade is the principal dividing line in the Ericson 27’s production run. It brought a teak interior, revised deck and cockpit, a wheel option, a midships hatch, and a relocated traveler.
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 into a steady heel. Her accommodations work for a couple, despite an optimistic berth count. A sluggish pace under sail and the need for close helm attention under power are the costs of her short rig, spade rudder, and off-center prop shaft.
Pros
- Deep-V forefoot and soft bilge produce a seakindly hull
- Easy access for inspecting the hull-and-deck joint and chainplate area
- Joinerwork and deck core have proved durable, with rot uncommon
- Good engine access
- A documented factory recall addressed the known exhaust-fitting fault
Cons
- Sluggish under sail, with weather helm when pressed
- Spade rudder and off-center prop shaft add to the helm load under power
- Poor ventilation on early boats
- Awkward forward and quarterberths
- Initially tender
- Cramped with more than two people aboard, despite the five-berth count
