Ericson 27

About the Ericson 27

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

1971–1978

Builder

Ericson Yachts

Designer

Bruce King

Length

26.75 ft

Waterline

20.5 ft

Beam

9 ft

Draft

3.92 ft

Displacement

6,600 lb

Ballast

2,900 lb

Hull / keel

fin keel

Rig

sloop

Propulsion

inboard

Number built

1,250

Stern thruster

not fitted

Steering

varies by year · Edson

Early boats were sold stripped with an outboard in a transom cutout (outboard boats carry extra inside ballast); about 80% got an inboard, usually the Atomic 4, with a Yanmar diesel standard in the final year. A late-1974 upgrade brought teak interior, redesigned deck/cockpit and more standard gear; post-1974 boats are preferred. A few tall-rig boats exist. Balsa-cored deck over solid hull.

Engines fitted

• Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single standard
  The usual inboard for most of the run. Practical Sailor says early boats were sold with an outboard as standard, and about 80% were delivered with an inboard. Sailboatdata (search excerpt) and a 1974 boat for sale give 30 hp.
  Sources: practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net · sailboatdata.com · sailingtexas.com
• Yanmar YSB8 — 8 hp, diesel, single standard
  Practical Sailor says the standard engine in the last production year was a 'Yanmar 8D' diesel. An owner of a '78 E-27 on EricsonYachts.org reports a single-cylinder Yanmar YSB-8 of about 7-8 hp, and a 1978 boat for sale lists an 8-hp Yanmar (search excerpt).
  Sources: practical-sailor.com · ericsonyachts.org · sailboatlistings.com
• Westerbeke Pilot 10 (Bukh-built) — diesel, single factory option
  Practical Sailor says the Bukh/Westerbeke Pilot 10 was sometimes installed at the buyer's request. Sailing Magazine saw one E27 for sale with a Bukh diesel but gave no model.
  Sources: practical-sailor.com · sailingmagazine.net
• Volvo Penta MD6A — diesel, single factory option
  Practical Sailor says the MD6A was sometimes installed at the buyer's request.
  Sources: practical-sailor.com
• Yanmar 2GM20F — diesel, single common repower
  EricsonYachts.org owners discuss E-27s repowered with the 2GM/2GM20F. A 2007 Latitude 38 ad offers a 1979 E27 with a new 2GM20 (search excerpt).
  Sources: ericsonyachts.org · latitude38.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Manuals and brochures online

• Owner's manual E27 Owners Manual (EricsonYachts.org resource; download for members only) — ericsonyachts.org
• Spec sheet E27 Specifications (EricsonYachts.org resource; download for members only) — ericsonyachts.org
• Document E27 Original Equipment List (EricsonYachts.org resource; members only) — ericsonyachts.org

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

• Exhaust fitting recall exhaust
  A faulty original exhaust fitting let water back up into some engines; Ericson replaced it under recall, so check the engine and exhaust on any 27.
  practical-sailor.com
• Heavy helm and awkward handling under power steering
  The spade rudder plus an off-center prop shaft make the boat demanding to steer under power, and it builds weather helm when pressed; some owners have modified or enlarged the rudder.
  practical-sailor.com
• Gate valves on through-hulls plumbing
  Original gate valves are typically due for replacement with proper seacocks on boats of this age.
  practical-sailor.com
• Leaky ports and cored deck deck
  Leaking portlights are a common complaint; the deck is balsa-cored, so leaks around ports and hardware should be checked for wet core.
  practical-sailor.com · sailboatdata.com
• Spar corrosion rigging
  Aluminum spar corrosion is among the typical age-related problems owners report.
  practical-sailor.com

Engines & parts

Steering

Other Ericson models

• Ericson 30+ 1979–?
• Ericson 32-3 1985–?
• Ericson 35-2 1969–1982
• Ericson 38 ?–1987