Design and Construction
Bruce King drew the 35 Mark II as a then-modern racer/cruiser, and the numbers tell the story: a 34-foot-8-inch overall length, a 10-foot beam, and a modest 4-foot-11-inch draft under a masthead sloop rig carrying 533 square feet of sail at 100 percent, for a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.6 anchor. That package, on a solid coastal hull, let owners order factory upgrades such as a teak-and-holly cabin sole, satin-varnished mahogany trim, and distinctive gelcoat colors to dress up the otherwise purposeful interior. The boat reads as a graceful, space-efficient design that earned its keep as an inexpensive yet solid coastal cruiser.
Rig and Handling
On the water, test sailors found her helm neutral until the wind built to about 18 knots, above which she would show some weather helm that yielded to easing the traveler or shortening sail anchor. Once settled into her easy groove she tracked with hardly a hand on the wheel even in 4- or 5-foot seas, and in light Southern California conditions averaged 4 to 6 knots. With the original 30-horsepower Atomic 4 gasoline engine she made 6 to 6.5 knots in calm motoring, though that same engine was a bit underpowered punching into wind and waves — a fair trade for the minimal maintenance the basic systems demanded anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the galley sits to starboard of the companionway with plenty of storage and a cavernous icebox that owners extended with closed-cell insulation to hold block ice for at least five days anchor. A roomy quarter berth to port proved the most comfortable bunk, with a full-size chart table and electronics shelf just forward of it. Amidships to port, a U-shaped settee wraps a removable dining table that drops into a double berth, while the straight settee opposite serves as another single; storage tucks above, behind, and under the seating. Forward, a hanging locker and shelves face the enclosed head to port, and the fine bow narrows the V-berth at its peak.
Known Issues
Long-term owners have documented a handful of recurring weaknesses. After a rough crossing to one of California’s Channel Islands, one boat developed a creaking at anchor traced to a pulled bulkhead tab anchor. Soft spots in the deck’s balsa core, especially around the chainplates, show up on many hulls and were repaired by the owners who found them. Persistent window leaks drove a full pull-and-rebed job with new gaskets, and the welded seams on the aluminum fuel tank were known to begin failing, prompting replacement with custom stainless. Some hulls have also suffered from blisters.
The Verdict
Cruising World found the Ericson 35 Mark II endures because King balanced sparkling light-air performance and forgiving helm characteristics with a genuinely roomy, practical interior on a low-cost platform. She is no offshore heavyweight, and the Atomic 4’s modest punch to weather is real, but as a fun-to-sail coastal cruiser with classic looks she remains a sensible used proposition for the hands-on owner.
Pros
- Light displacement and a 16.6 SA/D ratio make her quick and fun in light air
- Neutral helm to 18 knots, tracks well in 4–5 foot seas
- Roomy quarter berth, full chart table, and versatile U-settee berth layout
- Factory upgrade paths for sole, trim, and gelcoat
Cons
- Aluminum fuel tank seam failures and balsa-core softness around chainplates
- Window leaks and occasional bulkhead-tab pulls after hard use
- Atomic 4 underpowered motoring into wind and waves
- Some hulls blister
