Just over 100 flush-deck boats were launched before production ended in 1979. A short run of 19 raised-trunk 39B variants rounded out the line. King, already Ericson’s principal designer, drew a hull that clearly reflects its IOR-influenced era but can still satisfy a modern cruiser.
Design and Construction
The Ericson 39 has a solid-fiberglass hull laminated in split molds and joined along the centerline. Its balsa-cored deck is bonded to the hull on an inward flange. In high-load areas beneath the deck, Ericson substituted solid plywood for balsa, and the plywood bulkheads were well tabbed to the hull.
Lead internal ballast sits low in the hull. The swept-back fin keel has a deep forefoot, while the fullish aft sections form a three-quarter skeg. The rudder consists of foam over an iron grid with a thin fiberglass skin, although a period assessment noted that the rudderstock could have been made from beefier stainless.
A short 30-foot waterline, 9-foot overhangs, and a pinched IOR counter stern create a long, clean entry. With a displacement of 19,000 lb and a ballast ratio of nearly 50 percent, the boat has genuine stiffness.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead rig carries 739 square feet of sail, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.62. That placed the 39 squarely in the performance-cruiser camp in 1970, though the same figure reads as more cruiser-oriented today.
The Ericson 39 was among the first boats to use midboom sheeting on the mainsheet, with the traveler forward of the companionway. On the 39B, the traveler and sheet usually move aft. Most boats carried Barlow or Barient winches, which have aged well.
The wheel is mounted just behind the bridgedeck rather than directly over the rudder. An emergency tillerhead farther aft marks the rudderstock’s actual position.
The 39 tracks well to windward and has a soft motion in a seaway. Its narrow beam and pinched stern are less well suited to sailing off the wind, however, and both versions are difficult to steer in reverse.
Accommodations
Below, the flush-deck 39 has a mahogany-trimmed interior that can be refinished. The galley is to starboard, with two forward-facing sinks, a three-burner stove outboard, and an icebox aft. Opposite are a settee berth and a quarterberth extending beneath the aft-facing navigation station.
In the saloon, facing settees surround a centerline table. The head, forward to port, isn’t overly spacious. Opposite it, a large hanging locker serves the V-berth. The V-berth itself is generously sized, with low bunks that are easy to crawl into.
The 39B replaces the flush deck with a raised cabintrunk fitted with teak handholds. This version gains headroom and an offset companionway that opens into an aft cabin rather than merely a quarterberth. It also has increased bilge tankage, but only one cockpit locker.
Engines and Known Issues
Early Ericson 39s carried the 30-hp Atomic 4 gasoline engine, which was later replaced by the Westerbeke 30. Many boats have since been repowered with diesels. The unit is shoehorned behind the companionway steps, making access poor. The original 20-gallon iron fuel tank should have been replaced by now.
The balsa-cored flush deck requires careful inspection for deck delamination, a known vulnerability on these boats. The large forward hatch on the flush-deck model can also leak.
The chainplates are secured to the main bulkhead. Because all chainplates eventually leak, water migration can rot that bulkhead and create a serious problem.
Refits and Ownership
Prospective owners will need to weigh the sailing-efficient profile of the flush-deck boat against the 39B’s more cruising-friendly aft cabin and additional headroom. Repowering, diesel conversions, fuel-tank replacement, and repairs to the bulkhead or deck core are the defining ownership tasks.
The molded cabin sole and plywood-reinforced deck reflect construction simplified for production. The joinery and lead ballast, however, reward careful upkeep.
The Verdict
The Ericson 39 is a Bruce King-designed racer-cruiser that has aged into a capable performance cruiser. It combines a stiff, soft-riding hull with a practical, if dated, interior. The 39B remains a cult boat for sailors who want an aft cabin without leaving the Ericson 39 lineage.
Pros
- Near-50-percent ballast ratio provides genuine stiffness
- Solid-fiberglass hull with lead internal ballast
- Refinishable mahogany interior
- 39B adds an aft cabin and more headroom
Cons
- Balsa-cored flush deck is prone to delamination
- Chainplate leaks can threaten the main bulkhead
- Poor engine access behind the companionway steps
- Difficult to steer in reverse
