1986 Westerly Oceanlord vs 1984 Ericson 38 — Comparison
1984 Ericson 38
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 1986 Westerly Oceanlord | 1984 Ericson 38 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Westerly | Ericson |
| Year | 1986–1992 | 1984–1990 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Designer | Ed Dubois | Bruce King / Ron Holland |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.04 m (39.5 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.81 m (12.5 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,980 kg (22,002 lbs) | 7,484 kg (16,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,629 kg (8,001 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 60.0 m² (646 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 50 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 182 L (48.1 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 340 L (89.8 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord and 1984 Ericson 38 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is a 1980s design by Westerly from UK, while the 1984 Ericson 38 is a 1980s offering from Ericson from USA. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord was penned by Ed Dubois. The 1984 Ericson 38 was designed by Bruce King / Ron Holland.
In terms of size, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord measures 12.04m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.81m, compared to the 1984 Ericson 38 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is 0.46m longer than the 1984 Ericson 38. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord displaces approximately 33% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord has modest sail power for its displacement with an SA/D ratio of 14.90 and 68.0 m² of sail area. The 1984 Ericson 38, with an SA/D of 15.93 and 60.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 1984 Ericson 38 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord offers a moderate motion comfort level (comfort ratio: 23.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.71). The 1984 Ericson 38 has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 36.4% for the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord and 42.4% for the 1984 Ericson 38, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord provides 7 berths in 3 cabins with 340L of water capacity and 182L of fuel. The 1984 Ericson 38 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 1984 Ericson 38 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: 1986 Westerly Oceanlord · 1984 Ericson 38