Design and Construction
The 32-3 is a solid fiberglass hull with decks cored in end-grain balsa, and at least in this later model plywood was inserted in place of balsa in high stress areas to localize load. What distinguishes the structure from the earlier 32 is the Tri-axial Force Grid, a complex inner liner that Ericson bonded to the hull before the deck went on, incorporating the anchor locker forward, cabin-sole floors and stringers, the ice box, and engine beds into a single molded unit. Berth foundations were still built up from plywood and anchored into that grid rather than molded as part of it. The hull/deck joint was glassed over with four layers of 3-ounce mat and 7-1/2-ounce cloth, and externally bolted lead ballast passes through the TAFG—a departure from the 1969 model's encapsulated-in-the-mold lead. King retained a vestigial bustle just forward of the rudder from the older design, a trick to lengthen the effective sailing length without extending the waterline.
Rig and Handling
Both the 1969 and 1985 32s carry double-spreader masthead sloop rigs, but the later boat's mainsail grew from a 13-foot foot and 31.5-foot luff to an 11.5-foot foot and 36-foot luff, trading the short rig that was a liability in light winds on the earlier model for more hoisted area. The 32-3 stepped its mast on the keel rather than the deck, eliminating the compression-cracking problem that dogged the 1969 boats. A tall rig was available, which helped in light-air regions such as the Chesapeake Bay, and the deep-keel model outperforms the shoal and wing keels. With a lower displacement/length ratio of 253 against the older 284 and more horsepower, the later boat is the faster of the two; owners of 1986 examples called the upwind and light-air ability unbelievable, though the first reef comes early around 18 knots and the fin keel asks for some attention to the helm, with one 1987 owner noting the boat wanders upwind. PHRF ratings place earlier models in the 160s and 170s and the slowest 1969 around 198 seconds per mile, while the best-performing 32-200 sits around 150 and up.
Accommodations
The 32-3 interior is a workable, straightforward cruising layout: V-berth forward, enclosed head and hanging locker just aft, dinette and settee amidships, corner galley to starboard with a quarter berth measuring 6 feet 6 inches, and a nav table to port. A bridge deck opens up room at the galley, something the 1969 boat lacked entirely. Headroom is 6 feet 2 inches in both generations. Ventilation is a clear step forward from the poorly ventilated 1969 model, with deck hatches, a Dorade, and several opening portlights in the forward cabin and head; the saloon carries Ericson's distinctive long, narrow fixed portlights with slanted forward and aft sides. Fresh water is a 32-gallon tank amidships with an optional 20-gallon tank under the V-berth and a 17-gallon holding tank. Owners found real fault in details: one called the hanging locker too small, and another described the starboard settee as severely angled to the bow end and narrow.
Known Issues
Owners of both 32 generations reported oilcanning in the hull, most often in the large unsupported areas forward above the V-berth, and an owner of a 1987 model said heavy seas caused the hull to flex and pop off starboard shelf trim. Some boats show thin glass where there are sharp turns in the mold, and quite a few owners of both models complained about gelcoat flaws. Rubber rubrails deteriorate over time but can be replaced if the molding supplier can be found. The 1969 boat's deck-stepped mast with no compression post led to deck cracking, and one 1972 owner said the boat needs a compression post for serious offshore work. On the 1985 model, an owner noted the recessed companionway makes for a high and ineffective dodger. The earlier 32 also collected water at the helm because its scuppers are forward while the boat trims stern down, and cockpit lockers were criticized for poor waterproofing.
Refits and Ownership
The 32-3 came with a 21-hp three-cylinder Universal diesel and a 22-gallon aluminum fuel tank, a different auxiliary from the 1969 boat's original 27-hp Palmer M60 or Atomic 4 gas engine, for which engine access was poor and one 1974 owner said the clutch required removing a lazarette wall. Early 32s used Barlow winches; later models carried Barient. The 1969 through-hulls used gate valves that should be replaced with positive-action seacocks. For the 32-3, the TAFG-anchored structures and external lead ballast on keel bolts make structural refits more predictable than on the older encapsulated design, though the balsa-cored deck on any example demands vigilance against leaks reaching the core, as a 1972 owner reported from wood hatch frames.
The Verdict
The Ericson 32-3 is the mature expression of a long-lived name, shedding the rating-rule compromises and structural soft spots of the 1969 generation for a stiffer, faster, better-ventilated cruiser with a keel-stepped mast and a thoughtfully grid-stiffened hull. It is not without the thin-glass and gelcoat inconsistencies of its era, and the saloon settee and hanging locker draw owner grumbles, but as a mid-1980s 32-foot sloop it balances performance and livability better than its predecessors.
Pros
- More than 700 built; four-year production from 1985 with a mature Bruce King hull.
- Tri-axial Force Grid stiffens hull; keel-stepped mast avoids deck compression cracks.
- Beam widened to 10'10"; lower D/L and more power make it faster than the 1969 32.
- Bridge deck and good ventilation (deck hatches, Dorade, opening ports) versus poor 1969 airflow.
- Deep-keel model outperforms shoal/wing; tall rig available for light air.
Cons
- Owners report oilcanning forward above V-berth and hull flex in heavy seas.
- Thin glass at sharp mold turns; frequent gelcoat flaws; deteriorating rubber rubrails.
- Starboard settee narrow and angled; hanging locker called too small.
- Recessed companionway yields high, ineffective dodger per one owner.
- First reef early (~18 kt); fin keel needs helm attention and wanders upwind.
