Design and Construction
King's 32-200 carries a length-to-beam ratio of 3.00, which places her among the beamier 32-footers afloat; she is roomier than 69 percent of comparable designs by that measure more roomy than 69% of all other designs. The hull is solid fiberglass with a fin keel and spade rudder, and her ballast ratio of 43 percent is higher than 62 percent of similar sailboats, giving her a sure-footedness that complements the 42.86 percent ballast-to-displacement figure. Displacement is 9,800 pounds with 4,200 pounds of lead ballast, and the wetted surface runs about 322 square feet. The immersion rate of 974 pounds per inch means she settles noticeably under load, and draft varies from 6.04 to 6.34 feet depending on that load.
Rig and Handling
The 32-200 is a masthead sloop carrying 495.8 square feet of mainsail and jib. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.3 with the standard reference sail and 20.9 with a 135 percent genoa, and that profile makes her faster than 62 percent of similar designs in light wind. She is, however, slightly underrigged relative to her peers — she carries more rig than only 46 percent of similar boats. The displacement-length ratio of 254 puts her among "moderate racers," and her theoretical hull speed is 6.8 knots. The capsize screening value of 2.02 means she would not be accepted for ocean races, marking her clearly as a coastal and inland cruiser rather than a bluewater competitor.
Accommodations and Specifications
Fresh water capacity is 30 US gallons and fuel capacity is 21 US gallons, supporting weekend and coastal cruising without large tankage. The boat may be equipped with an inboard Universal M25XP diesel. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.6 is better than 38 percent of similar designs, a middle-of-the-pack result that reflects the moderate displacement and beamy hull rather than a soft-riding character.
Performance Profile
The combination of a 43 percent ballast ratio, moderate displacement, and a genoa-driven sail plan gives the 32-200 a distinct personality: quick in light air, but bounded by a coastal-oriented capsize screen. The SA/D advantage in light wind is real, yet the underrigged assessment suggests she benefits from a larger foretriangle sail. Her wetted surface and immersion rate keep her honest as a displacement hull, with the 6.8-knot maximum a function of her 25.8-foot waterline.
The Verdict
The Ericson 32-200 is a King-designed coastal cruiser-racer with a beamy, roomy hull and a light-air speed edge. She is well-ballasted and moderately comfortable, but her capsize screen and rig profile place her firmly in sheltered-water and coastal use rather than offshore passage-making.
Pros
- Roomy for her length, exceeding 69 percent of similar designs in beam ratio
- Higher ballast ratio than 62 percent of peers, aiding stability
- Light-wind speed ahead of 62 percent of comparable boats with a genoa
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.02 excludes her from ocean racing
- Slightly underrigged versus class norms
- Motion Comfort Ratio better than only 38 percent of similar designs
