Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are fiberglass, and the builder offered the 35-3 with more than one keel configuration rather than a single fixed profile. The deep fin keel draws between 6.17 and 6.47 feet depending on load, which limits her to major marinas, while a shoaler fin option draws just 4.99 to 5.29 feet and lets her enter most marinas with far greater flexibility. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.14 and displacement-length ratio of 241 describe a moderately slender hull with conservative volume, and the wetted surface of 376 square feet is moderate for the length. The capsize screening value of 1.93 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 25.5 put her in the stable, family-friendly band without suggesting offshore expedition pretensions.
Rig and Sail Plan
The masthead rig carries a reference sail area that yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.3, rising to 21.0 with a 135 percent genoa — a useful indicator that she is built to be driven easily off the wind with overlapping headsails. Halyard and sheet dimensions are generous: mainsail, jib, and spinnaker halyards each run 101.8 feet at a half-inch diameter, while jib and genoa sheets measure 35.5 feet and the mainsheet 88.7 feet, all sized for secure handling under load. A calculated maximum speed of 5.1 knots sits well below the 7.2-knot theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length, confirming that she is no lightweight planing hull but a vessel that rewards steady windward work.
Accommodations and Intended Use
The 35-3’s 11-foot-4-inch beam and King’s interior planning give her a roomy footprint for a 35-footer of the early 1980s, and the 50-gallon water capacity alongside 40 gallons of gasoline supports coastal cruising without constant replenishment. Her 21-horsepower Universal-Atomic gasoline engine with direct drive is a single-auxiliary layout suited to docking and calm-weather motoring. The shoal keel option broadens her cruising range into shallower anchorages and smaller harbours, while the deep fin keeps her pointing in club-racing conditions.
Handling Underway
With a fin keel and spade rudder, the 35-3 is built for responsiveness rather than ultimate directional stability, and the 1,139 pounds-per-inch immersion rate means she settles predictably under crew and stores. The SA/D of 21.0 with genoa suggests she will feel lively in a breeze that would leave a heavier displacement boat sluggish, and the 25.5 comfort ratio implies a tolerable motion profile in a seaway for her size.
The Verdict
The Ericson 35-3 is a thoughtfully evolved King design that balances cruising volume with a racy masthead rig and a choice of keel depths. She is a practical coastal and club-racer platform whose numbers describe a stable, manageable 35-footer rather than a minimalist racer or a heavy voyager.
Pros
- Choice of deep or shoal fin keel broadens marina and anchorage access
- 40 percent ballast ratio and 1.93 capsize screen indicate stable, predictable handling
- Generous halyard and sheet dimensions ease sail handling under load
- Roomier beam and 50-gallon water capacity suit coastal cruising
Cons
- Deep fin draft of 6.17–6.47 feet restricts her to major marinas
- Gasoline auxiliary rather than diesel limits long-range motoring conventions
- Calculated 5.1-knot max speed trails her 7.2-knot theoretical hull speed
