Design and Construction
The Scorpion is a fiberglass fin-keel monohull of modest size, measuring 9.83 meters overall with a 6.88-meter waterline, a 1.91-meter beam, and a 1.3-meter draft. Displacement sits at 2,087 kilograms with 1,179 kilograms of ballast, a ballast-to-displacement percentage of 56.49 that places her firmly in the lead-ballasted, moderately stiff category for a boat of this length. Her hull speed is calculated at 6.37 knots, and she carries 505.40 pounds per inch immersion, figures consistent with a light-displacement racer-cruiser rather than a heavy offshore type. The design’s origins in a 5.5 Meter racing hull built from an Olympic-winning mold give the Scorpion a pedigree unusual among production coastal boats of the mid-1960s.
Rig and Handling
She is rigged as a fractional sloop with a sail area of 29.26 square meters, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.27 and an S# of 3.13 — numbers that indicate a reasonably lively performer in breeze, though not an out-and-out racer. Her displacement-to-length ratio of 178.60 and comfort ratio of 24.20 describe a boat that is quick to accelerate but firmly in the light-to-moderate coastal cruiser bracket. The capsize screening formula value of 1.51 is typical of a centerboard-era derivative kept within sensible proportions. With a fin keel and fractional rig, the Scorpion handles as a responsive, easily driven hull whose Olympic-derived lines reward smooth helmsmanship.
Accommodations
The Scorpion shares her essential hull form with the Columbia Sabre, and that near-identical molding means her interior volume follows the Sabre’s established pattern rather than a unique Ericson layout. A water tank of 57 liters supports short coastal hops, and the 32-foot length with 1.91-meter beam affords the compact but functional space expected of a 5.5 Meter derivative.
Propulsion and Refits
Most Scorpion 32s left the factory with outboard wells, though some were fitted with small inboards. That split means a used boat’s propulsion may be either an easily replaced outboard or a modest inboard requiring the usual cooling and shaft inspection. For an owner, the outboard-well configuration simplifies maintenance but exposes the helm to more noise and weather; the inboard option trades that for enclosed quarters and a deeper systems survey.
The Verdict
The Ericson 32 Scorpion is a rare, historically interesting fiberglass derivative of an Olympic 5.5 Meter hull, built in tiny numbers and closely related to the Columbia Sabre. She suits a sailor wanting a light, responsive coastal boat with genuine racing pedigree at a small size, rather than a bluewater cruiser.
Pros
- Direct hull lineage to George O’Day’s 1960 Olympic-winning 5.5 Meter via the mold
- Lively sail plan with S# of 3.13 and 56.49% ballast ratio
- Near-identical to Columbia Sabre, easing parts and layout familiarity
Cons
- Only 24 built; scarce on the used market
- Minimal 57-liter water capacity limits extended cruising
- Mixed outboard/inboard propulsion complicates survey expectations
