Its displacement-length ratio of 285 puts the 36C in the “heavy cruiser” category. Yet 42 percent of comparable designs are heavier still, so it’s no slug by the standards of its period. King’s mid-1970s design sensibility and the boat’s limited production give the 36C a distinctive place among Ericson’s cutter-rigged offerings.
Design and Construction
The fiberglass hull has a ballast ratio of 34 percent, a figure higher than 21 percent of similar sailboats. Its length-to-beam ratio is 3.00, a proportion that helps define the boat’s character below. By this measure, the 36C is roomier than 76 percent of comparable designs, providing significantly more volume than the narrower norm of the era.
Wetted surface is about 398 square feet, while the immersion rate is roughly 1,255 pounds per inch, so the boat settles predictably under load. Ericson also offered different keel alternatives, allowing owners to tailor draft and balance to their intended waters without leaving the production line.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig gives the 36C flexibility and lets the crew carry manageable canvas in a blow. The standing and running rigging dimensions are well documented. All three halyards—mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker—are about 99 feet long and half an inch in diameter. The jib, genoa, and mainsheets range from 36 to 90 feet and use 0.55-inch line.
The kicking strap and clew outhaul each measure about 20.6 feet, while the Cunningham is just over 10 feet. These are practical lengths for a 36-footer and suggest straightforward gear replacement for an owner.
Performance and Comfort
For a cruising sailor, the 36C’s numbers describe a steady, seakindly boat rather than a rocket. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 30.3 makes it more comfortable than 66 percent of similar designs—a meaningful advantage for offshore passages or long-term living aboard.
The capsize screening value is 1.86. By that formula alone, the boat could be accepted to participate in ocean races, speaking to a reassuring stability profile. Theoretical hull speed is 7.3 knots.
Under sail, the SA/D ratio is 13.4 with the ISO reference sail, rising to 16.4 with a 135 percent genoa. With the latter setup, the 36C is faster than 14 percent of its peers in light wind. Overall, the rig is slightly more substantial than those on 54 percent of similar boats, leaving the 36C a touch overrigged by class standards.
Accommodations
Below, the generous beam provides livable space that the ratios only begin to suggest. Fresh-water capacity is 49 US gallons, a credible amount for a couple or small family on a multi-day passage.
The heavy-cruiser displacement and comfort-oriented figures suggest an interior intended more for living aboard than racing, although specific layout details aren’t included in the recorded design summary.
The Verdict
The Ericson 36C is a limited-production Bruce King cutter that trades outright light-air speed for comfort, stability, and volume. Its ratios describe a boat that is roomier and more comfortable than most of its peers, with a capsize screening value that, by itself, meets ocean-race acceptance thresholds. Different keel options and the cutter rig add flexibility, but with fewer than 100 boats built, finding one may take patience.
Pros
- Roomier than 76 percent of similar designs by length-to-beam ratio
- Motion Comfort Ratio better than that of 66 percent of peers
- Capsize screening value of 1.86 meets ocean-race acceptance thresholds by that formula alone
- Cutter rig with well-documented standing and running rigging dimensions
Cons
- Slightly overrigged compared with 54 percent of similar sailboats
- Fewer than 100 built, limiting market availability
- Light-wind speed better than that of only 14 percent of similar designs
