Ericson 32 Buyer's Guide
The Ericson 32 Scorpion, sometimes called the Ericson 32-I, is the original 32-foot design from Ericson Yachts and a brief 1966–1967 production of just 24 hulls. Built in the United States and modeled after the Columbia Sabre, the Scorpion shares that boat’s molded hull form almost exactly. For a shopper, the tiny build count and the Sabre relationship are the two facts that frame every consideration below.
Layouts on the Used Market
Because the Scorpion is nearly identical to the Columbia Sabre and presumed to use the same mold, any example you inspect will follow Sabre-derived accommodation proportions rather than a unique Ericson interior. The 9.83-meter length with 1.91-meter beam and 1.3-meter draft describes a compact coastal hull, and the 57-liter water tank points to a boat sized for daysailing and short hops rather than liveaboard cruising. Expect the tight, functional spaces of a 5.5 Meter derivative.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Propulsion is the one area of real variation: most Scorpion 32s had outboard wells, though some were fitted with small inboards. For a buyer this is the central equipment question — an outboard-well boat is simpler to service and repower, while an inboard example demands cooling-system, shaft, and stuffing-box scrutiny at survey. Beyond that split, the period nature of the design means any electronics or canvas are owner-era additions rather than factory-standard systems worth pricing into the deal.
What to Inspect
The only documented production split needing inspection attention is the propulsion configuration. A boat with an outboard well should be checked for hull penetration and well drainage around the transom, while a small-inboard example warrants the usual engine-compartment and shaft-log review. The mixed outboard and inboard fitment is the one known variability to confirm before purchase, since it changes both maintenance burden and survey scope.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
With only 24 built, the used Ericson 32 market is thin, so patience and a pre-survey identity check are the practical tools. For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward: confirm whether the hull carries an outboard well or a small inboard, inspect the corresponding systems, and treat the Sabre-sister layout as the baseline.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/32 | 32.6' | $ 65,000 | 27 | 10 |
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 19,900 | 21 | 6 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $ 43,167 | 13 | 2 |
| Ericson 30+ | 29.92' | $ 19,395 | 12 | 1 |
| Sabre 32 | 32.17' | $ 35,000 | 10 | 5 |