The Ericson Forum and its members are a fantastic community! I'd like to shout out in particular to Christian W. who has been both a fountain of knowledge and an inspirational sailor. I joined the forum as I narrowed my search down to an Ericson, Pacific Seacraft, and Hallberg-Rassy. I had been looking for a vessel in the 30-36 foot range and even contemplated going to 38 feet. This forum was invaluable during my search process and raised my level of awareness of what to look for during the inspection and purchase process.
In the end, I did not find the right Ericson at the right price, and instead, settled on a 2003 Hallberg-Rassy HR31 that was impossible to pass up. While not an Ericson, she's got the Viking DNA and is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Finding a reasonably priced Swedish boat on the US West Coast is not easy. Finding one on the smaller end of the scale is harder still.
I found Bon Secour in Essex, CT. She's a two owner boat that enjoyed the ease of the East Coast sailing season under light use. During the off season, she was plastic wrapped and on the hard. There are only 600 hours on the original motor, and after complete surveys of the hull, engine, and rigging, I called her mine and embarked on a 4 month refit to address some deferred maintenance and made improvements to suit my needs.
As of two days ago, she now sits in Marina Del Rey, CA and will be my home while working in Los Angeles. Her new name is Ronin (literally meaning "wave man"). I hope to put many miles under her keel over the next 2-3 years, before setting off on a RTW single-handed sail. I expect to contribute to this forum and give back in some way all that this community has shared with me. Thank you all.
Fair Winds and Warm Sun
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In the end, I did not find the right Ericson at the right price, and instead, settled on a 2003 Hallberg-Rassy HR31 that was impossible to pass up. While not an Ericson, she's got the Viking DNA and is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Finding a reasonably priced Swedish boat on the US West Coast is not easy. Finding one on the smaller end of the scale is harder still.
I found Bon Secour in Essex, CT. She's a two owner boat that enjoyed the ease of the East Coast sailing season under light use. During the off season, she was plastic wrapped and on the hard. There are only 600 hours on the original motor, and after complete surveys of the hull, engine, and rigging, I called her mine and embarked on a 4 month refit to address some deferred maintenance and made improvements to suit my needs.
As of two days ago, she now sits in Marina Del Rey, CA and will be my home while working in Los Angeles. Her new name is Ronin (literally meaning "wave man"). I hope to put many miles under her keel over the next 2-3 years, before setting off on a RTW single-handed sail. I expect to contribute to this forum and give back in some way all that this community has shared with me. Thank you all.
Fair Winds and Warm Sun
View attachment 21464
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