E39 vs E37

[jim239]

Hello everyone it seems I am actually thinking of buying another sailboat. What better pastime than looking at great sailboats right!
There are one of each of these boats for sale in the Pacific Northwest. I have heard great things about the E 39 for long range cruising.
My question is would the 37 be as capable as the 39 ? What are the design differences if any ? I would like to set it up for single handing as much as possible
knowing I will probably end up doing that often. I like the helm forward on the 39 for the NW weather. Those sails look huge, is it crazy ?
Thanks for any pickins, Jim

 

[Guy Stevens]

39 is a great boat!

The E-39 is a great boat, I would heartily recommend one. The 37 is not a bad boat either, harder to find as there were less of them made. I have sailed both, and would personally prefer the 39 over the 37.

A little dated now, but here is some info on our trip in ours:
www.svpneuma.com

Guy

 

[jim239]

Thanks Guy, I have been digging into your posts a bit. Do you still like the flush deck design for offshore work or would you like a traditional cabin top? You don't miss the cabin top to hold on to?
Jim

 

[Guy Stevens]

I have a 46 now

I don't care for cabin tops after having been a flush deck owner for years and years.

Safety wise flush decks are more safe in breaking waves that cabin tops.

Moving about on deck way easier on a flush deck than on a "cabin topped" boat.

Wouldn't change it for the world.

Guy

 

[jim239]

I don't care for cabin tops after having been a flush deck owner for years and years.

Safety wise flush decks are more safe in breaking waves that cabin tops.

Moving about on deck way easier on a flush deck than on a "cabin topped" boat.

Wouldn't change it for the world.

Guy

Thanks Guy, I am a few steps closer to buying the 39. I took a look at the 46 and was surprised to see it looks identical to the 39. They even put the wheel in the same place!
Do you have any nice photos of the 39 in action?
Also did you ever add a staysail to beat upwind in a blow?
Jim

 

[Guy Stevens]

More answers

Had a staysail on Pneuma, have one on Aiki. Both were classic middle of the foredeck removable stays. If I were doing the rig for a 39 these number of years later, I would add a solent stay instead, and skip the need for running backs. Make it out of Colligo dynex dux, and colligo fittings, and it would be the best possible solution.

The 46 is huge, I love it, but wouldn't probably recommend anything over about 40 feet to any of my clients if there are only two of them. M and I can handle Aiki fine, and she is set up for single handing, but most people would not be able to accomplish that well.

Trying to find a better all around cruising boat than an Ericson 39 would be a hard to do in my opinion.

Have fun in the search.

Guy

 

[jim239]

The 46 does look huge. I would like to see it rigged as a gaff schooner. What do you think of the Freedom 40? I always liked the look of that boat.
Too bad Ericson didn't build them. I think I would go with a stayed rig though. I like the sails James Wharram puts on his catamarans.
Jim

 

[underway]

If the 37' you are looking at is the one in Portland (I believe there is only one) It is heavily blistered amongst other systemic issues. I hauled this boat over a year ago when it was with a different broker. After we test sailed,hauled and declined the owner changed brokers. They have also dropped the price substantially. Good luck!

 

[Loren Beach]

The E-37 in PDX

As of today that E-37 in PDX shows "sale pending", so at a seemingly very low asking price of 22K, someone may have closed on it.
Of course we'll likely never just what the actual price really was.

Loren

 

[underway]

E-37

Good point. At the right price it is going to make someone a beautiful boat.

 

[jim239]

I did call about the 37. I was told it is still pending but it has been pending since January so ? I have gone to look at the 39 in Sidney and Im thinking on that one.
Thanks for the info. The Broker did tell me there was a little blister problem
Jim