Recent content by Roger

For what it's worth, I believe the headliners were Naugahyde, at least on the 80's Ericsons. Well, that's what it was called by J & C anyway, the vendor that supplied & installed it. Also, IIRC the color was "Gun Smoke" or "Gunsmoke". I can't find any info on Gun Smoke Naugahyde (lots of old...

Sean, PM me if you need any info about the later years of Ericson history (1983-1990).

A little Ericson engine history, anyone? I’m not familiar with the earliest Ericsons, but by the 70’s most or all models were fitted with the ubiquitous Universal Atomic 4 gas engine. By the late 70’s or early 80’s, they transitioned to Universal diesels. When I started at Ericson in ’83, the...

No question that Ericsons are very stoutly built, but . . . for a hard grounding it would be prudent to ascertain the damage, if any, in the high stress areas. In this case, that would be the transverse TAFG beams & bonds near the leading and trailing edge of the keel. At the minimum, I think...

Likewise Equilibrium. Not many reefs around here though!

1986 #668 E32-3 "Equilibrium", Long Beach, CA

Interesting. I have a vague memory of that keel swap. I don't recall replacing any keels though, at least after I began working at Ericson in May of '83.

Mike, Definitely sounds like the "special" 38 I was referring to! I recall that we modified the forward cabin to keep it light for racing. I don't recall the special traveler, but it could very well have been originally mounted on the bridge deck instead of on the cabin top. Not sure where...

I recall a 38 built at about that time with a custom rig, which included discontinous rod rigging. Perhaps that's the boat.

Steve, Contrasting boot and sheer stripes were standard, at least on later-model Ericsons including the 32-3, so most boats had them. I'm pretty sure that all boats had at least a boot stripe, but I believe some were built without a sheer stripe. Sounds like yours was one of those, unless a...

Bruce, I believe I have blueprints of the sail plan and the electrical & plumbing systems tucked away in my chart table (these were provided with every new boat that went out). But I don't have any hull or deck lines, which a model maker would need to accurately reproduce the hull & deck...

No, afraid I didn't know them, although Baxter & Cicero is still in business in Costa Mesa.

As I recall, dealers had a choice of either shipping on pads (support arms positioned by the trucker) or on a cradle, which stayed with the boat. One or the other had to be selected.

No, actually that’s 32-3 hull #1 (technically #601). That’s me sitting furthest forward holding the spin sheet – I was young and hirsute back then. I recall that most of the photos taken that day (a couple B & W shots below) showed me driving, but the selected one shows the boss at the helm –...

And finally . . . would you believe that Ericson built (gasp!) powerboats? Ericson acquired Innovator Boats in the late 80’s, which included Radoncraft and Innovator powerboats. Radoncraft was a spin-off of the long-established Radon brand of work & fishing boats. I believe that Ericson...