Ericson 381 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Ericson 381 means chasing one of just 39 hulls built by Ericson Yachts in the United States between 1982 and 1986, a Bruce King-designed update of the 1980 Ericson 38. These are seldom-seen boats, and the buyer's work is less about market timing than about reading a specific specimen carefully, since no two are likely to share a refit history.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 381 is a 37.5-foot fiberglass monohull with a 30.50-foot waterline and 12-foot beam, displacing 14,400 pounds. Documented accommodation is a comfortable interior layout with up to five berths, but the sources do not break down cabin arrangement, so a shopper should treat the berth count as the only verified space fact and inspect the actual split at viewing. Two keel variants exist: a deep 6.50-foot draft and a shoal 4.92-foot version for versatile cruising, and the fitted keel determines where the boat can be used as much as any interior choice.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, used Ericson 381s commonly feature a bimini, dodger, radar, autopilot, and hot water as fitted equipment. The market brief places these in the commonly_fitted tier, meaning they are expected rather than exceptional. No items fall into the often_seen or sometimes_or_owner_upgrade tiers, so nothing should be promoted above "commonly fitted," and the buyer should not assume a particular navigational or comfort add-on beyond that list. The rig itself is the documented masthead sloop with 678 square feet of sail; any newer sail inventory is owner-driven and not a market-tier fact.
What to Inspect
The source documents record no documented structural defects, drainage failures, or flooding paths for the 381, and the spec block flags ballast material (lead) as an estimate rather than confirmed. Because the sources are silent on known issues, the inspection cannot lean on a published defect checklist; survey should instead verify the solid fiberglass hull and deck as described, confirm which draft keel is fitted, and establish engine identity, since make, model, and horsepower are absent from the record. A buyer should not infer problems the documents do not state, but the absence of a documented issue list means a conservative haul-out and rig check are warranted on any individual boat.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Ericson 381s are typically found in the United States market. With 39 hulls total and a 1982–1986 build window, sightings are infrequent by nature. The practical buyer's checklist:
- Confirm deep (6.50 ft) or shoal (4.92 ft) keel against intended waters
- Expect bimini, dodger, radar, autopilot, hot water as commonly fitted
- Verify engine make/model/hp at survey — not in source record
- Treat five-berth layout as documented maximum, inspect actual split
- Note ballast material is an estimate; confirm via survey if load matters
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Ericson 381. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 2 | $ 24,500 | — |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $ 37,000 | +51.0% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $ 45,000 | +21.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 24,500 | -45.6% |
Where they're listed
Ericson 381 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 6.
Country view
6 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 26,750 | 6 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau Oceanis 381 | 38.58' | $ 66,369 | 71 | 22 |
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,900 | 46 | 16 |
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 19,900 | 21 | 11 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $ 38,328 | 14 | 3 |
| Ericson 38-200 | 37.67' | $ 35,900 | 13 | 4 |
| Morgan Morgan 381 | 39.67' | $ 50,000 | 9 | 8 |
| Ericson 36 | 35.58' | $ 22,500 | 9 | 0 |
| Ericson 381You are here | — | $ 26,750 | 6 | 1 |