E-34t History?

[lets_go_sailing]

I recently bought an e-34t (1978) and would like to know if anyone would know how to research past owners, racing history, etc.
All I know about the boat is that it sat on the hard without hatches for some time. All the while filling up with rain water causing some wood rot and a cracked block. needles to say I got a really good deal on the boat and was quite happy to see a truck load of sails to come with it (all in excellent shape)!
The boat is in the water now and i have had a chance to sail it in up to 25kts. WOW!! What a boat. This is my first experience with an Ericson of this size and I am impressed. She handles like a 34' racing dinghy.
I am also interested in sharing pictures and stories with other e-34t owners. Does not seem to be many out there. How many of theese boat did they make?

 

[RicoPaolino]

They did not make many I think about approx 100. There is a hull number document somewhere.

I think the 34-t hulls started out life as a racing type but market forces lead to the addition of a cabin.

I could be wrong......

 

[lets_go_sailing]

Thanks
I belive you are right. I have been told that the -t- stands for trunk cabin and not tall rig like many think. I'm thinking that the 34-t is one of Ericsons earlier racer/cruiser designs, but do not know for sure.

 

[RicoPaolino]

Found the document that has the hull numbers. Looks like there was only 40 34t made between 1977 to 79

Ericson Yachts, Inc

Model Number Hull and Year
E/23 - I #1 (1968) thru #165
(1970)
E/23 - II #201 (1974) thru #470
(1979)
E/25 - I #1 (1972) thru #384
(1978)
E/25 - II #501 (1979) thru #693
(1984)
E/26 - I #1 (1966) thru #190
(1969)
E/26 - II #1 (1967) thru
#11 (1968) Pacer
E/27 - I #1 (1971) thru #1302
(1979)
E/28 - I #501 (1980) thru #594
(1984)
E/29 - I #2 (1970) thru #626
(1979)
E/30 - I #1 (1966) thru #150
(1970)
E/30 - II #1 (1977) thru
#47 (1979)
E/31 - I (c) #1 (1976) thru
#27 (1978)
E/31 - II (Ind. 31) #28 (1978) thru
#71 (1981)
E/32 - I #1 (1967) thru
#24 (1967)
E/32 - II #101 (1969) thru #573
(1978)
E/33 - I #1 (1981) thru
#28 (1984)
E/34 - I (R) #1 (1977) thru
#21 (1978)
E/34 - II (T) #101 (1977) thru #141
(1979)
E/35 - I #1 (1967) thru
#45 (1968)
E/35 - II #102 (1969) thru #612
(1981)
E/36 - I (c) #1 (1975) thru
#66 (1977)
E/36 - II #1 (1981) thru
#32 (1984)
E/37 - I #1 (1973) thru
#53 (1975)
E/38 - I #1 (1979) thru #126
(1987)
E/38 - II (381 series) #501 (1982) thru #539
(1986)
E/38 - III (382 series) #200 (1985) thru #230
(1986)
E/39 - I (A) #1 (1970) thru #106
(1979)
E/39 - II (B) #201 (1974) thru #221
(1978)
E/41 - I #1 (1967) thru
#50 (1970)
E/46 - I #2 (1971) thru
#23 (1974)
E26 - III #200 (1984) thru # ?
E/26 - IV (300 series) #300 (1987) thru # ?
E/28 - II #600 (1985) thru # ?
E/30 - III #501 (1979) thru # ?
E/32 - III #601 (1985) thru # ?
E/34 - III #201 (1986) thru # ?
E/35 - III #111 (1982) thru # ?
E/38 - III #231 (1987) thru # ?

 

[Chris Remson]

Hi,
If you haven't already done so, go to the "specs and Documents" page of this site and find the E-34t color brochure.
I own a 1978 34t and Love this boat!
When I bought it I wrote to Bruce King and was able to purchase the hull, deck and sail plans.
What I've learned so far is that the hull was originally designed as a 41' racer, but economic factors caused it to be scaled down to a 34' flush deck racer. Then the 34t, truck cabin model was developed for the cruising market. The delta keel design was somewhat experimental at the time, and the keel and fairings surrounding the rudder make this hull design unique. Also important is the stucture, which is detailed in the brochure.
I've been told that about 12 of these hulls were flush deck versions and the remainder were 34t's. If the production numbers listed above are correct, that would be about 28 34t's. I'm not sure of any of this, especially after seeing about a half dozen or so listed in Yachtworld at any given time. I too am interested in finding out as much as I can about these boats.
Hopefully someone else has more info!

 

[lets_go_sailing]

Thanks Chris
Love my boat as well! It is a project boat but at least I am far enough along to go sailing. Hope to have the project preety well complete about this time next year and start looking for a home port on the coast. Would love to share some pics. I'll see if I can figure out how to post some "before and present" pics of my boat.
With such a deep draft do you have much problem sailing in La.

 

[Chris Remson]

l_g_s,
Such a deep draft does pose a challenge here. Luckily the bottom is usually muck and getting unstuck isn't too difficult.
We typically sail on Lake Pontchartrain- which has a pretty consistant depth of about 12-14 feet. Bumping the bottom usually occurs alongside the city dock which tends to silt up from time to time. Heading out into the gulf requires close attention to the chart, though, and it helps to know the area.
I too will see if I can master the art of posting pics. If I can, I'll post some shots of "Bye Design" in action. I look forward to seeing your progress.
Keep in touch!

 

[lets_go_sailing]

found some pictures from splash day. not much has been done to the boat at this point except to keep it from sinking. I still do not have an inboard but the 7.5 outboard moves the boat at about 6 kts on the lake with flat water so i am still looking for the right diesel at the right price. i will try to get some recent pics and post them. I have painted new stripes, compounded, etc sinnce these pics were taken. one of my next projects is to replace all the ports. I am going to use smoked lexan for the large non opening ports and the small lewmar opening ports for the rest(much like the catalinas).

 

[Chris Remson]

Good luck with your projects. I hear replacing the ports is a big job on these boats. I too have leaky ports that are beginning to ruin the wood paneling at the interior sides of the cabin top- very common. When I replace the ports, I plan to use a smoked mirror laminate in lieu of wood to panel the sides of the cabintop surrounding the ports. A friend of mine did this in his C&C 35 and it looks great- really opens up the cabin. I've also seen this done in white laminate for a more traditional look.
How's your headliner? I'm interested in how other owners have upgraded their headliners because I'm not sure what to do with mine. A small section of the lower part adjacent to the starboard bulkhead has come loose and curled due to moisture. I decided that the peice was not suitable to fix so I removed it. It was attached by about 100 staples, and was very difficult to remove. Since then I've just left it to figure out what to do next. That was a while ago, and I guess the time has come to do something to address the unsightly hole, but I just don't have any good ideas. Anyone?

 

[Chris Rau]

Fellow E34T owners

I will be closing the deal on "Whisper", my '78 E34T here in San Diego within the week and I wanted to say hi. This is my first sailboat and I am encouraged by what I hear. It's good to know there are others out there and that they are well built and good sailers.
I also have a question. The overall condition of the vessel is excellent but the surveyor found something and I am not sure what to make of it. Whisper has a tiller and there is some water seeping in at the rudderpost. What I find strange is that the post tube is completely glassed in...from the deck to the hull. I did not expect this. I thought the rudderpost would be rigged similar to the prop shaft, with some packing and a bearing accessible from the aft bilge. I am suspecting that there was a leak, crack, or other problem that was just glassed and epoxied over. Otherwise, the rudder post is solid and there is no play in any direction.
How is your rudder post mounted through the hull? Is it exposed with appropriate seals and bearings? or is the tube solid fiberglass?
Thanks in advance. I hope to chat with you again.

 

[lets_go_sailing]

Welcome Chris

I did not know that there were any t-models with tillers. The t shaped cockpit lends itself for use with a wheel, interesting.
on my 34-t I do have a wheel and the rudder post tube comes from the bottom of the boat about 12" high with a large packing gland of some sort. Not like a shaft packing gland at all. But it does not leak. The upper rudder bearing is bolted through the cockpit floor. And of course the quadrant is somewhere in between.
Did your surveyor mention anything about a repair to the tube? Should be a fairly easy fix with the boat out of the water. That area of the hull is so strong that I cant imagine any damage. I wonder if your boat had been modified from a wheel to a tiller?
I think you will like this boat, I love mine. Hit 7kts inside the marina last weekend with 12kts appearant wind. What a blast!

Mike- Lake Lanier Georgia
e34-t
Hull #134

 

[Chris Remson]

I hope this works! I'm trying to attach a detail and specifications for the rudder post stuffing box. Here goes.......

 

[Chris Rau]

Thanks

Thanks for the friendly welcomes and helpful responses. I think I'm going to enjoy this lifestyle.