Hi folks. We're shopping for a boat, with Ericsons high on our list. We owned an E27 in the early 90s, and loved it... had a great lazy 5-month liveaboard cruise on her in '93, exploring the BC coast as far as the north end of Vancouver Island.
The E29 looks so similar to the 27 in hull form and numbers that we think we'd know what to expect of one (please correct me if I'm wrong!), but a newer (mid-80s) E28 is just coming on the market and we're wondering about the differences. (I believe it's a 28 and not the earlier 28+; won't know until we go see it or the broker gets the details to us.)
Based on the numbers and the general layout of rig/hull/keel, I'd expect the 28 to be a somewhat lighter but stiffer boat, a bit quicker in light airs, maybe a little less comfortable in heavy seas due to the flatter bottom and greater beam. And it may point a bit higher than the 29.
Am I close?? Anything you can add about the differences, pros and cons etc. is appreciated. We're aware of the obvious differences: external keel, fractional rig, cockpit layout etc.
A bit more background: we're cruisers, who sail to be on the water and travel, not for competition (never raced); we're much more interested in a comfortable, safe, solid, seaworthy and seakindly boat than in performance. If we used a chute it would be a pole-less cruising gennaker / spinnaker with a snuffer sock. Our usual sailing grounds (gulf islands, desolation sound) are generally light-air areas, but we could contemplate more ambitious cruises like around Vancouver Island, or Alaska, either of which could involve some day passages in the open Pacific. We sail as a couple or single-hand; almost never with overnight guests or more than 2-3 for a daysail. Oh, and our last boat was an Alberg 37, so we know what a traditional, heavy, full-keel boat feels like too.
Edit: I'm beginning to think the boat is an E28+... the broker mentioned the "very large" quarterberth. Don't know how much that changes things.
Cheers! Perry.
The E29 looks so similar to the 27 in hull form and numbers that we think we'd know what to expect of one (please correct me if I'm wrong!), but a newer (mid-80s) E28 is just coming on the market and we're wondering about the differences. (I believe it's a 28 and not the earlier 28+; won't know until we go see it or the broker gets the details to us.)
Based on the numbers and the general layout of rig/hull/keel, I'd expect the 28 to be a somewhat lighter but stiffer boat, a bit quicker in light airs, maybe a little less comfortable in heavy seas due to the flatter bottom and greater beam. And it may point a bit higher than the 29.
Am I close?? Anything you can add about the differences, pros and cons etc. is appreciated. We're aware of the obvious differences: external keel, fractional rig, cockpit layout etc.
A bit more background: we're cruisers, who sail to be on the water and travel, not for competition (never raced); we're much more interested in a comfortable, safe, solid, seaworthy and seakindly boat than in performance. If we used a chute it would be a pole-less cruising gennaker / spinnaker with a snuffer sock. Our usual sailing grounds (gulf islands, desolation sound) are generally light-air areas, but we could contemplate more ambitious cruises like around Vancouver Island, or Alaska, either of which could involve some day passages in the open Pacific. We sail as a couple or single-hand; almost never with overnight guests or more than 2-3 for a daysail. Oh, and our last boat was an Alberg 37, so we know what a traditional, heavy, full-keel boat feels like too.
Edit: I'm beginning to think the boat is an E28+... the broker mentioned the "very large" quarterberth. Don't know how much that changes things.
Cheers! Perry.
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