The 32-2 is the middle child in Ericson’s 32-foot lineage, between the 1965 5.5 Meter keelboat and Bruce King’s 1985 redesign. With a PHRF rating of around 198 seconds per mile, it remains the slowest of the group.
Design and Construction
The 32-2 has a solid fiberglass hull, 4,000 lbs of encapsulated lead ballast, a balsa-cored deck, and the builder’s Tri-Axial Force Grid for stiffness. It measures 31.58 ft LOA, with a 24 ft LWL, 9.67 ft beam, and 4.92 ft draft. Displacement is 8,800 lbs, giving it a moderate displacement-to-length ratio of 284 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.9.
The low-aspect design and CCA-influenced hull shape give it a comfort ratio of 25.2 and a capsize screening of 1.88. The swept-back keel and rudder reflect then-current Twelve Meter thinking. A bustle just forward of the rudder lengthens the boat’s sailing length.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 32-2 carries a masthead sloop rig with a short mast—P is 31.5 ft—and a long boom, with E at 13 ft. Total sail area is 452 sq ft.
The boat heels quickly to around 20 degrees, then settles in. Several owners said it stops tilting at 30 degrees. Owners generally report only average performance, although one 1974 owner logged 6 knots upwind in 12 knots of breeze. Most rate its upwind performance better than its speed off the wind.
The 32-2 excels on a reach and reportedly remains composed in gales up to 60 knots, with little weather helm. It tacks through 110 degrees, however—an angle that one Virginia owner said kept the boat from pointing to his satisfaction.
The relatively short rig is cited as a liability in winds below 5 knots. With a 150% genoa or a drifter/MPS, though, the boat can be an especially good light-air performer.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The interior is straightforward and workable. A V-berth occupies the bow, with an enclosed head and hanging locker just aft. Amidships are a dinette and settee. The corner galley is to starboard, along with a quarter berth, while the nav table is to port. Headroom is 6 ft 2 in.
Ventilation aboard the 1969 32 wasn’t good. It had only two small opening ports, and one owner said opening ports would improve matters.
The T-shaped cockpit drew mixed reviews. Because the boat trims stern down while its scuppers are located forward, water collects at the helm. A number of owners also criticized the cockpit lockers for inadequate waterproofing.
Structural and Hardware Concerns
The 32-2 has a deck-stepped mast without a compression post, and several owners complained that mast compression cracked the deck. Some also reported oilcanning in the large, unsupported areas of hull forward and above the V-berth. A 1973 owner said the hull distorted in heavy weather, while a 1987 owner reported that heavy seas flexed the hull enough to pop the starboard shelf trim. Others noted thin fiberglass where the mold turns sharply.
Quite a few owners of both 32 models complained about gelcoat flaws. The rubber rubrails also deteriorate over time.
Early 32s have gate valves on their through-hulls, which should be replaced with positive-action seacocks. A 1972 owner reported that leaking wood frames around the main hatch and companionway allowed water to reach the balsa core. The same owner said the boat needed a compression post for serious offshore work.
A 1974 owner said the aft lower shrouds should have been attached to chainplates bonded to the hull or an inner bulkhead. That owner also noted that the stanchions lacked lateral support.
The spade rudder can be vulnerable under severe loads. A 1972 owner bent its shaft after crashing off a steep wave in gale conditions.
Engine and Refits
The 32-2 originally came with a 30 HP Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, 25 gal of fuel capacity, and 30 gal of water capacity. The 32-2 is often repowered to diesel, a common upgrade that addresses both the gasoline risk and the poor access complaint.
Engine access is poor. A 1974 owner described the engine as almost impossible to work on without removing a lazarette wall to reach the clutch; oil changes were said to be nearly impossible.
Ericson fitted early boats with Barlow winches. The known hull-flexing and deck-cracking issues on the 1969 boat make a careful survey worthwhile, although the lead ballast and solid fiberglass hull remain durable fundamentals.
The Verdict
The Ericson 32-2 is a period-correct CCA cruiser-racer with a stiff, lead-ballasted hull and a kindly motion in heavy air. Its short rig, deck-stepped mast without a compression post, and limited ventilation place it firmly in its era. It best suits an owner prepared to address the gate valves, possible leaks into the balsa core, and difficult engine access.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with encapsulated lead ballast
- Composed in 40–60 knot gales, with little weather helm
- Strong upwind and light-air performance with a 150% genoa
Cons
- Deck-stepped mast without a compression post can crack the deck
- Poor engine access and gate valves on the through-hulls
- Limited ventilation and water pooling at the helm
