Ericson 23-Ii
Description
The Ericson 23 is a compact, trailerable daysailer and pocket cruiser designed by Bruce King and built by Ericson Yachts from 1968 to 1979. Produced in two distinct versions—the Mk I (1968–1971, ~140 built) and Mk II (1975–1979, ~270 built)—it captures the elegant, performance-oriented ethos of early fiberglass sailboats with classic lines, a sweet sheer, and a sloping cabintop. Ideal for beginners, couples, or families, it offers rewarding handling in light to moderate winds, shallow-draft versatility for gunkholing, and basic overnighting for 4. Owners love its rugged build and "real boat" feel despite the small size, with many logging coastal miles or lake adventures. At 3,200 lb displacement, it's easy to tow (under 4,000 lb trailered) but stiff enough for occasional bay racing (PHRF ~234). Ericson Yachts, founded in 1963 by ex-Columbia employees, pioneered quality fiberglass boats with Bruce King's designs, hitting stride in the 1960s–1970s amid the trailerable boom. The Ericson 23 Mk I debuted in 1968 as a stylish alternative to clunky production trailersailers, emphasizing seaworthiness over mass-market appeal—most stayed marina-moored rather than trailered. Production paused after 1971 due to company financials (Ericson filed Chapter 11 early but rebounded), resuming with the Mk II in 1975 after refinements for better aerodynamics and trailering. The Mk II's centerboard option targeted shallow-water sailors, boosting sales. No formal class association, but owners connect via EricsonYachts.org forums and a free newsletter. Milestones: Influenced CCA-style aesthetics; many Mk IIs raced in regional fleets; Ericson folded in 1990, but the 23's legacy as an "exceptional used boat value" endures.
Construction Details
| Designer | Bruce King |
|---|---|
| Builder | Ericson Yachts |
| Length | 23.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 29 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 10.16 ft |
| p | 25.33 ft |
| e | 7.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 ft | 10.16 ft | 25.33 ft | 7.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 25.33 ft - (7721 mm) |
| Foot | * 7.5 ft - (2286 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.98 ft - (7919 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 26.16 ft - (7974 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 4 in - (102 mm) |
| Area | * 98.59 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 25.5 ft - (7772 mm) |
| Foot | 11.5 ft - (3505 mm) |
| Leech | 22.75 ft - (6934 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 100.98 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 10.26 ft - (3127 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 7.55 ° |
| Area | * 130.81 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
| Foot | 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Leech | 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.24 ft - (4645 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.22 ° |
| Area | * 213.37 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 29 ft - (8839 mm) |
| Foot | 14.5 ft - (4420 mm) |
| Leech | 26.75 ft - (8153 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 130.81 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.29 ft - (4051 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.22 ° |
| Area | * 192.77 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 29.2 ft - (8900 mm) |
| Foot | 18.33 ft - (5587 mm) |
| Leech | 27.5 ft - (8382 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 165.06 % |
| Length Perpendicular | 16.77 ft - (5111 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.52 ° |
| Area | * 244.82 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 29.19 ft - (8897 mm) |
| Foot | * 16.59 ft - (5057 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.29 ft - (8318 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.24 ft - (4645 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.96 ° |
| Area | * 222.44 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Foot | 17 ft - (5182 mm) |
| Leech | 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 382 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 29.19 ft - (8897 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 18.29 ft - (5575 mm) |
| Foot | * 18.29 ft - (5575 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 454 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Foot | 7 ft - (2134 mm) |
| Leech | 11 ft - (3353 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 47.15 % |
| Length Perp | * 4.79 ft - (1460 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 27.46 ° |
| Area | * 35.96 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.