Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass laid up with vinylester resin for maximum blister protection, while the deck is balsa cored with plywood reinforcement in high-load areas. Ericson's Tri-Axial Force Grid—a system of transverse floors and longitudinal stringers—provides hull rigidity and supports the extreme loads of mast and keel, and it also anchors the chainplate attachments for unitized structural integrity anchor. The keel is externally fastened through both hull and grid with stainless steel bolts. At the hull-to-deck joint, a small molded bulwark is backed by fiberglassed alternating layers of mat and cloth. The rudder is foam cored with a fiberglass skin draped around a 3½-inch stainless steel stock. Inside, separate fiberglass moldings form the berth supports, settees, head compartment, and galley counters, which keeps the interior honest and repairable.
Rig and Handling
The 380 is a masthead sloop with a double-spreader spar and boom finished in white polyurethane, and chainplates set well inboard for tight sheeting angles. A midboom mainsheet teams with all halyards led aft through Harken stoppers to the cockpit, so a short-handed crew works from the helm. Harken self-tailing sheet winches are easily trimmed from that same position, and a Whitlock steering system proved tight and positive in testing. A removable inner forestay is optional for those wanting storm-jib capability. Under sail, hull No. 22 clipped along on a close reach under a full-batten main and 130-percent roller-furling genoa, making just under 6 knots in 10 knots of wind and slicing through chop without pounding anchor. Hard on the wind she accelerated past 6 knots, tacked cleanly through less than 80 degrees, and off the wind held steerage and around 5 knots. The helm was so balanced that she tracked true for minutes unattended.
Accommodations
The cockpit is comfortable and functional but not spacious, and a starboard side locker is enormous—sized for a rolled-up inflatable. A sleek molded swim platform blends into the sheer rather than protruding astern, with a deep ladder that folds into the aft rail. Below, the interior is bright with teak trim and veneered bulkheads over fiberglass and Formica, and the vinyl headliner carries access zippers. The accommodation plan puts a double berth forward with two hanging lockers and drawers below, while saloon settees face a large drop-leaf table wrapping the mast. An aft-facing nav station to starboard borrows the settee for a seat. The galley to port is compact but functional, with two stainless sinks, a Force 10 two-burner stove with oven, and a well-insulated icebox. Opposite sits a modular fiberglass head with a separate shower stall. The owner's stateroom aft to port places the double berth under the cockpit, lit and aired by three opening portlights into the cockpit.
Systems and Engine
A Yanmar 3JH2E three-cylinder 38-horsepower freshwater-cooled diesel sits on laminated stringers over a molded drip pan, with excellent access beneath the companionway and a stuffing box reachable through an aft-cabin hatch. The aluminum fuel tank holds 40 gallons for a realistic 350–400 mile motoring range. Three water tanks total a large capacity: 287 gallons beneath the port settee, 33 in the starboard cockpit locker, and an optional 47 under the forward berth. A hinged electrical panel opens for inspection with neatly bundled wires, and the bronze freshwater manifold under the galley sinks is matched by bronze seacocks throughout.
The Verdict
The Ericson 380 is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser that pairs King's clean hull form with Ericson's grid-structured build. She sails easily, steers herself when balanced, and offers a practical three-cabin interior with serious tankage and bronze seacocks that speak to ownership intent. The cockpit is the one concession to size, trading sprawl for function.
Pros
- Unitized Tri-Axial Force Grid with chainplate anchoring and bolted-through keel
- Vinylester solid hull for blister resistance; balsa-cored deck with plywood reinforcement
- Self-steering balance, clean tacking under 80 degrees, no forefoot pounding
- All halyards and mainsheet led aft; helm-position winch trimming
- Large water capacity and bronze seacocks throughout
Cons
- Cockpit comfortable but not spacious
- Galley compact
- Optional only inner forestay for heavy-weather rigging
