Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fiberglass. The boat has a waterline length of 28 feet 10 inches and a beam of 11 feet 4 inches. Displacement is 13,000 pounds, including 5,200 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast-displacement ratio of 40 percent.
Ericson offered more than one keel configuration. Depending on load, the deep fin keel draws between 6.17 and 6.47 feet, restricting the boat to major marinas. The shoaler fin option draws 4.99 to 5.29 feet, allowing the boat to enter most marinas with much greater flexibility.
A length-to-beam ratio of 3.14 and a displacement-length ratio of 241 describe a moderately slender hull with conservative volume. Wetted surface is 376 square feet, moderate for a boat of this length. The capsize screening value of 1.93 and Motion Comfort Ratio of 25.5 place the 35-3 in the stable, family-friendly range without suggesting offshore-expedition ambitions.
Rig and Sail Plan
The masthead rig carries a reference sail area that produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.3. With a 135 percent genoa, that rises to 21.0, indicating a boat designed to be driven easily off the wind with overlapping headsails.
The running-rigging dimensions are generous. Mainsail, jib, and spinnaker halyards are each 101.8 feet long and half an inch in diameter. Jib and genoa sheets measure 35.5 feet, while the mainsheet is 88.7 feet. All are sized for secure handling under load.
The calculated maximum speed is 5.1 knots, well below the theoretical displacement hull speed of 7.2 knots. These figures confirm that the 35-3 isn’t a lightweight planing hull, but a displacement boat that rewards steady windward work.
Accommodations and Cruising Use
Bruce King’s interior planning, combined with the 11-foot-4-inch beam, gives the 35-3 a roomy footprint for an early-1980s 35-footer. Water capacity is 50 gallons, while gasoline capacity is 40 gallons—enough to support coastal cruising without constant replenishment.
Auxiliary power comes from a 21-horsepower Universal-Atomic gasoline engine with direct drive. This single-engine arrangement is suited to docking and calm-weather motoring.
The keel choice also shapes how the boat can be used. The shoal keel extends the cruising range into shallower anchorages and smaller harbours, while the deep fin supports better pointing in club-racing conditions.
Handling Underway
With a fin keel and spade rudder, the 35-3 favors responsiveness over ultimate directional stability. Its immersion rate of 1,139 pounds per inch means it settles predictably as crew and stores come aboard.
A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 21.0 with the genoa suggests that the boat will feel lively in a breeze that might leave a heavier-displacement design sluggish. Meanwhile, the 25.5 comfort ratio implies a tolerable motion in a seaway for a boat of this size.
Verdict
The Ericson 35-3 is a thoughtfully evolved Bruce King design that balances cruising volume with a racy masthead rig and a choice of keel depths. It is a practical platform for coastal cruising and club racing. Its numbers describe a stable, manageable 35-footer rather than either a minimalist racer or a heavy voyager.
Pros
- Choice of deep or shoal fin keel broadens access to marinas and anchorages
- 40 percent ballast ratio and 1.93 capsize screening value indicate stable, predictable handling
- Generous halyard and sheet dimensions support sail handling under load
- Roomy beam and 50-gallon water capacity suit coastal cruising
Cons
- Deep-fin draft of 6.17 to 6.47 feet restricts access to major marinas
- Gasoline auxiliary, rather than diesel, limits long-range motoring conventions
- Calculated maximum speed of 5.1 knots trails the theoretical hull speed of 7.2 knots
