Ericson 381 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Ericson 381 means chasing a rare bird: Bruce King drew her for Ericson Yachts as a 1982–1986 update of the earlier Ericson 38, and only 39 were built. She is a 37-foot-6-inch masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, 14,400 pounds displacement, and a 43.75 percent ballast ratio — a serious offshore profile in a small production run that rewards patient searching.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 381 carries the same King hull and a comfortable interior accommodating up to five berths, so layout variation among used boats is minimal. The deep-draft version draws 6.5 feet; the shoal version 4.92 feet. A buyer choosing between two available boats is really choosing draft and equipment, not plan variations, and the shoal draft opens shallower anchorages to the cruiser.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, biminis and dodgers are commonly fitted, as are radar, autopilot, and hot water — the last three meaning a buyer can expect push-button navigation, self-steering for passages, and real cabin showers without immediate upgrade cost. Canvas and cockpit protection lead the common list; beyond those, owners have not broadly standardized other systems, so assume anything else is an owner-specific addition rather than a factory fit.
What to Inspect
Her solid-fiberglass construction and sturdy build are the baseline a surveyor should confirm rather than assume anchor. With only 39 hulls and a 1982–1986 build window, age-related rig and deck issues common to eighties fiberglass should be surveyed even where not itemized for this model, and the keel-to-hull joint deserves close attention.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Ericson 381s appear in the United States market. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm draft version, verify the commonly fitted autopilot and hot water work, inspect canvas condition, and budget a rig survey given the build era. A rare find, but a sound one when surveyed.
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 | $20,000 | — |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $37,000 | +85.0% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $45,000 | +21.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $20,000 | -55.6% |
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 | $24,500 | 6 | 0 | 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' | $ 62,999 | 70 | 8 |
| Sabre 38 | 37.83' | $ 49,999 | 49 | 17 |
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 20,900 | 22 | 8 |
| Ericson 38-200 | 37.67' | $ 53,578 | 16 | 6 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $ 43,658 | 12 | 3 |
| Morgan Morgan 381 | 39.67' | $ 52,450 | 10 | 6 |
| Ericson 36 | 35.58' | $ 23,700 | 8 | 1 |
| Ericson 381You are here | — | $ 24,500 | 6 | 0 |