Ericson 29

1970–1979 · designed by Bruce King · built by Ericson Yachts

The Ericson 29 was designed as an affordable, performance-oriented daysailer and coastal cruiser aimed at the US production market. Bruce King's hull emphasizes a moderate fin keel and responsive sail plan suited to weekend and coastal use rather than bluewater passage-making. The boat earned a reputation for lively sailing in moderate conditions and was popular in club racing through the 1970s. It is best understood as a comfortable coastal performer, not a serious offshore or liveaboard platform.

This is a general read on the Ericson 29 class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

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At a glance

Hull form: Fin Keel
Ballast: Encapsulated Lead
Rudder: Spade
Mast step: Deck Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Production: 1970–1979
Built in: USA

What the Ericson 29 is known for

Lively, responsive sailing performance for a production coastal boat of its era — often faster than its size suggests in moderate breeze.
Encapsulated lead ballast keel eliminates the keel-bolt corrosion failure mode common on bolt-on designs of the same vintage.
Affordable entry price relative to comparable 1970s production cruisers, making a well-maintained example reasonable value for a coastal sailor on a budget.
Strong owner community and documented class history; parts and advice are available through long-established owner networks.

Known trade-offs

Balsa-cored deck construction is a near-universal vulnerability on boats of this vintage; soft decks and chainplate leaks are common findings on uninspected examples.
Atomic 4 gasoline engine — where still installed — is at or past reliable service life and represents a significant safety and reliability liability.
Limited tankage (water and fuel) constrains range and makes the boat dependent on marina infrastructure for anything beyond day sailing.
Interior volume is genuinely small even for a 29-footer; headroom and berth length are marginal for taller crew.
Gelcoat on pre-1978 hulls is susceptible to osmotic blistering; an unrepaired or poorly repaired hull requires barrier coat work before reliable operation.

Age-related quirks to expect

Osmotic blistering in early hulls Medium 1970-1978

Original Atomic 4 gasoline inboard at or well past service life High 1970-1979

Balsa deck core rot, especially around chainplates, stanchion bases, and hatches High 1970-1979

Chainplate backing plate corrosion and chainplate-to-hull sealing failures Medium 1970-1979

Standing rigging original or single-replacement; wire at or past 30-40 year service life High 1970-1979

Systems to check before you buy

Deck core and chainplates priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

Balsa-cored decks are highly susceptible to water intrusion through any deck fitting. Tap the entire deck for soft spots. Pull and inspect chainplates for corrosion and check the surrounding deck laminate for delamination. This is the single highest-cost repair zone on the class.

Engine (Atomic 4 or repower) priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard, weekending

Many examples retain the original Atomic 4 gasoline engine, now 45-55 years old. Assess compression, carb condition, raw-water cooling system, and exhaust. Boats repowered with a small diesel are significantly more reliable; verify the repower installation quality (engine mounts, exhaust routing, fuel tank material).

Standing rigging and deck-stepped mast priority: offshore, coastal, weekending

Wire standing rigging over 15 years old should be replaced on principle. The mast is deck-stepped with a compression post transferring loads to the keel structure — inspect the compression post and its base for delamination or rot, and check the deck around the mast partners for softness. Check shroud chainplate attachment points inside the cabin for any staining or weeping.

Encapsulated keel priority: offshore, coastal

The lead ballast is encapsulated within the fiberglass keel structure — there are no external keel bolts to fail, but inspect the keel-to-hull fillet and surrounding laminate for cracking, osmotic damage, or evidence of hard grounding. Any delamination of the keel shell requires professional assessment.

Electrical system priority: liveaboard, coastal, offshore

Original wiring is now 45-55 years old. Check for brittle insulation, undersized runs, and absence of ABYC-standard overcurrent protection. Boats with accumulated DIY electrical work present fire risk. Budget for a full rewire on any boat without documented recent electrical overhaul.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Not well suited for offshore passages. The Ericson 29 is a coastal production boat with limited storage, modest freeboard, and a small interior. A properly maintained example could handle coastal overnight passages in benign conditions, but the Atomic 4 engine exposure, balsa deck vulnerabilities, and limited tankage make extended offshore use inadvisable without significant investment.
Coastal: The natural home of the Ericson 29. Responsive, reasonably stiff for its size, and easy to single-hand on day sails and coastal weekends. Suitable for experienced sailors comfortable with a 50-year-old boat's maintenance demands.
Liveaboard: Marginal. The interior is tight even by 29-foot standards — adequate for a couple on weekends, but cramped for full-time living. Systems are dated and tankage is limited. Not recommended as a primary liveaboard platform.
Weekending: A capable and affordable weekender for two people in protected or semi-exposed waters. The class has a loyal following for this use case precisely because the boats are inexpensive to buy and sail well in coastal conditions.
Racing: Competitive within class and PHRF handicap racing in the 1970s-80s. Today's race prospects depend on local fleet activity; check regional PHRF ratings before buying with racing as the primary goal.
Motor: No meaningful motoring capability beyond harbor use. The Atomic 4 or a small repower diesel is sufficient for maneuvering but not for extended passages under power.

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