Ericson 39 Buyer's Guide
The Ericson 39 you find on the brokerage market is Bruce King's 1970s racer-cruiser, built as either a flush-deck sloop of which more than 100 were launched, or the rarer raised-trunk 39B with an aft cabin, only 19 constructed before production ceased in 1979. Buyers today are choosing between a sailing-efficient near-flush deck and a cruiser-oriented variant with more headroom and bigger tanks, both carrying a solid fiberglass hull and balsa-cored deck bonded on an inward flange.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats are the flush-deck 39 with a mahogany interior, starboard galley, opposing settee and quarterberth, and a V-berth forward. The 39B instead uses an offset companionway to fit a port aft cabin, carries just one cockpit locker, and usually has its wheel and pedestals mounted aft with the traveler moved aft as well. The raised cabintrunk brings more headroom and increased fuel and water capacity in the bilge, making the B a cult object among cruisers despite the smaller forward hatch.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Boats commonly carry chartplotters, autopilots, AIS, radar, and heating, with inverters and life rafts frequent as well, supporting short-handed setups. Biminis are commonly fitted for cockpit shade. Less common owner upgrades include solar and wind generators for off-grid power, spinnakers for downwind work, and bow thrusters to offset the boat's noted difficulty in reverse. A serious anchoring arrangement is a plus over the small bow rollers most 39s wear.
What to Inspect
The balsa-cored flush deck needs probing for deck delamination, a known weakness on these boats. Chainplates attach to the main bulkhead, and any leakage over time can rot that structure, so check the bulkhead carefully. The large forward hatch on flush-deck boats is prone to leaks. Mechanically, confirm whether an original Atomic 4 gas engine or older Westerbeke 30 remains, as most have repowered to diesel; with the engine tucked behind the companionway steps service room is tight, and the factory 20-gallon iron tank ought to have been swapped.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Ericson 39s typically appear in the Netherlands, United States, and Spain. For a buyer, the checklist is simple: choose flush-deck versus 39B aft-cabin layout, verify deck core and bulkhead condition at the chainplates, confirm diesel repower and tank replacement, and test reverse handling before committing.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Ericson 39. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 2 | $44,500 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $35,848 | -19.4% |
| May 26 | 1 | $34,900 | -2.6% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $34,900 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $34,900 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Ericson 39 listings appear across 2 countries. Spain has the most listings with 5 (71.4%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
7 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $34,900 | 5 | 4 | 71.4% |
| Netherlands | $36,754 | 2 | 1 | 28.6% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ericson 35-3 | 35.5' | $ 20,900 | 22 | 8 |
| Ericson 38-200 | 37.67' | $ 53,578 | 16 | 6 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,308 | 12 | 2 |
| Ericson 38 | 37.67' | $ 43,658 | 12 | 3 |
| CAL 39 | 38.67' | $ 41,000 | 8 | 5 |
| Ericson 36 | 35.58' | $ 23,700 | 8 | 1 |
| Ericson 39You are here | — | $ 34,900 | 7 | 5 |