Ericson 35-3 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 35-3 was built to a fairly consistent interior plan across its production run, so the used market does not present the bewildering layout variation you encounter with some contemporaries. The typical arrangement features a V-berth forward, a head to port, a main saloon with settee berths on both sides, and a nav station aft of the saloon. The galley is generally positioned along the companionway — practical for offshore work. Ericson offered the hull with two distinct keel options: a deeper fin drawing close to six and a half feet, and a shoaler alternative that draws around five feet. The shoal-draft version opens up more anchorages and shallower ports but sacrifices some windward bite, so understanding which keel is aboard is an early priority in any evaluation.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples are typically well-equipped by the standards of the era and have often accumulated thoughtful upgrades from owners who put genuine miles on them. Biminis are nearly universal, reflecting the strong presence of these boats in warm-water cruising grounds. Chartplotters and autopilots are found on the great majority of examples — the autopilot in particular is close to essential on a boat of this size, and previous owners seem to have agreed. Spinnaker gear and a furling genoa setup are common, pointing toward owners who were active racers or at minimum wanted the option. Air conditioning appears on a meaningful share of boats, especially those that spent time in the American South or the Caribbean.

Dodgers are a frequent owner upgrade, often added when a boat moved from fair-weather racing duty to more serious passage work. Radar and AIS transponders appear less consistently but are far from rare, and their presence is worth confirming rather than assuming. Teak deck overlays show up on some boats; while they look handsome when new, aged teak decks are a significant maintenance burden and potential source of deck leaks, so their condition deserves close scrutiny during survey.

What to Inspect

The 35-3's fiberglass construction is generally regarded as sound, but any boat of this vintage deserves a professional survey with moisture meter readings taken across the hull and deck laminate. Osmotic blistering below the waterline is the standard concern for production fiberglass of this era — check for blistering in the hull laminate and establish whether any remediation has already been done, and if so, how many years ago. The deck-to-hull joint and chainplate areas are worth particularly careful attention on any Ericson of this generation; deck hardware and standing rigging attachment points should be inspected for signs of weeping or delamination.

The standard engine on most examples is the Universal M25 diesel producing modest horsepower — adequate for motoring in calm conditions but not a powerhouse. Confirm that raw-water cooling impeller service is current, check the stuffing box or shaft seal, and look for evidence of overheating in the engine's history. Standing rigging should be evaluated for age; wire that has been in service for more than a decade without replacement is a practical negotiating point or a condition of the deal. The masthead rig is notably simple — fewer moving parts than a fractional setup — but inspect the furling system, turnbuckles, and forestay condition carefully. Running rigging, blocks, and winches often show accumulated wear on boats that have been actively sailed, and budgeting for refresh is sensible.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Ericson 35-3 is most readily found in the United States, where it was primarily sold, with notable concentrations along the Pacific Coast, Great Lakes, and Gulf Coast. Examples also appear regularly in Canada and occasionally in Australian waters. The used market tends to be liquid enough that buyers are not forced to make rushed decisions — there is usually more than one boat to consider.

For buyers doing their final evaluation, work through this checklist:

• Confirm keel variant (deep fin versus shoal draft) and verify draft against your intended cruising grounds
• Professional survey with moisture meter readings across hull bottom and deck
• Inspect all chainplate and deck hardware penetrations for signs of water intrusion or delamination
• Verify age and condition of standing rigging; budget for replacement if more than a decade old
• Sea trial the Universal M25 under load; check for overheating and review raw-water impeller service history
• Confirm autopilot and electronics are functional, not merely present
• Evaluate any teak deck overlay for leaks and rot beneath the caulking
• Check spinnaker gear, furling system, and running rigging condition end-to-end
• Budget for bottom paint refresh and blister inspection after haul-out