Ericson 32-2 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for an Ericson 32-2 means looking at a Bruce King-designed cruiser-racer built from 1969 to 1978, with over 470 produced. These are solid fiberglass hulls with balsa-cored decks and encapsulated lead ballast, powered originally by a 30 HP Universal Atomic 4 gas engine. The boat's known weak points—deck-stepped mast compression, balsa-core leaks, and tight engine access—should shape any viewing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 32-2 interior runs V-berth forward, enclosed head and hanging locker aft of it, dinette and settee amidships, a starboard-side galley with quarter berth aft of it, and a port nav station. Headroom is 6 ft 2 in. The T-shaped cockpit is a period feature some like and some don't, and the boat lacks a bridge deck that the later 1985 model gained. Ventilation is weak, with only two small opening ports, so buyers sensitive to stuffiness should note it.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, these boats often carry solar panels, spinnakers and asymmetric spinnakers, biminis, autopilots, chartplotters, and short-handed setups. For a buyer, the sail-handling cluster (spinnaker, asymmetric, short-handed rigging) means the boat is usually ready for downwind and single- or two-person sailing without immediate investment. Solar and autopilot point to self-sufficient anchoring and reduced helm fatigue. A diesel repower is a frequent owner upgrade that replaces the original gas engine and its access problems.
What to Inspect
A few owners of these boats noted hull panel flex forward of the V-berth, so press on the hull sides in the forward cabin and look for flex or popped trim. One 1972 boat had leaky wooden hatch and companionway frames that let water into the balsa core—check for soft deck around the companionway and stained core. The deck-stepped mast has no compression post and several owners saw deck cracking; inspect the mast partners for hairline cracks. Gate valves on through-hulls should be swapped for seacocks—confirm each through-hull turns positively. A 1974 owner found the engine almost impossible to service without removing a lazarette wall; verify you can reach the clutch and oil filter. Rubber rubrails deteriorate, so check for crumbling molding along the sheer. A 1972 owner bent the spade rudder shaft in a gale; check the rudder for free play and straightness.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States and Canada. Before you commit, walk through this short list:
- Press the forward hull sides for oilcanning above the V-berth.
- Check companionway frames for leaks into the balsa core.
- Inspect mast partners for compression cracks.
- Replace gate valves with positive-action seacocks.
- Confirm engine access from the lazarette.
- Test the spade rudder for shaft straightness.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Ericson 32-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $39,900 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $14,500 | -63.7% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $26,000 | +79.3% |
| May 26 | 4 | $10,000 | -61.5% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $3,500 | -65.0% |
Where they're listed
Ericson 32-2 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 6.
Country view
6 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $10,000 | 6 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre 34-2 | 34.17' | $ 43,000 | 34 | 12 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 32.2 | 31.17' | $ 46,222 | 30 | 6 |
| Tartan 34-2 | 34.42' | $ 29,900 | 18 | 5 |
| Morgan Yachts 32 | 31.92' | $ 27,002 | 7 | 0 |
| Ericson 32-2You are here | — | $ 10,000 | 6 | 1 |