Design and Construction
Bruce King's hand shows in a hull that carries 12 feet of beam on a 30-foot-6-inch waterline, packing 14,400 pounds of displacement with 6,300 pounds of lead ballast for a 43.75 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio that promotes stability in offshore conditions anchor. Ericson Yachts built her in solid fiberglass with a reputation for sturdy construction, and the 6.5-foot maximum draft (with a 4.92-foot shoal option) gives the owner a versatile cruising choice between weatherly deep fin and gunkholing shoal profile. Her limited run has kept her a sought-after choice for bluewater sailors seeking a blend of speed, seaworthiness, and elegance.
Rig and Handling
The 381 wears a masthead sloop rig with a 47-foot foretriangle and 42-foot-3-inch main luff, totaling 678 square feet of sail area and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.39 for respectable performance anchor. The standard jib carries a 115 percent LP at 371 square feet, while the 150 percent genoa stretches to 575 square feet and the optional spinnaker runs 1,174 square feet on an 180 percent LP. A 43.75 percent ballast ratio paired with the fin-and-spade plan gives her the directional steadiness and turn-in response a shorthanded offshore couple expects from a King design of this size.
Accommodations
Below, the 381 provides a comfortable interior layout accommodating up to five berths, a practical count for a 37.5-foot hull whose beam supports livable sea-berth width without bloating the topsides. The cabin plan reads as a cruising interior first, with the berth count and layout serving week-on-week coastal and bluewater use rather than racing minimalism.
The Verdict
The Ericson 381 is a low-production King design that trades volume for offshore composure: a stiff, well-ballasted 38-foot sloop with a real shoal-draft alternative and a sail plan scaled for shorthanded passage-making. Her scarcity means careful survey matters, but the design ratios argue for a capable, elegant cruiser.
Pros
- 43.75 percent ballast ratio promotes offshore stability
- Shoal 4.92-foot draft option alongside 6.5-foot deep fin
- Comfortable five-berth interior in 37.5-foot hull
- Sturdy solid-fiberglass construction
Cons
- Only 39 built, limiting spares and fleet knowledge
- Modest 18.39 sail-area-to-displacement ratio versus lighter racers
