Introduction

Oystercatcher

This website primarily concerns my refitting and sailing of Oystercatcher, a classic vessel of fiberglass, teak, and mahogany, now some forty years of age. When I purchased her in the fall of 2009 in the Pamlico Sound area of North Carolina, she had spent her entire life in the water and had seen very little maintenance over the years. Since that time, with much patience and perseverance, I have gradually transformed her, outfitting her for the purpose of cruising to far-off destinations for extended periods of time. Throughout this complete refitting, quality has been at the forefront of my short-range and long-term planning. Accordingly, almost every modification I have made has served two concurrent purposes – one practical, the other aesthetic. In other words, like the Ericson 25 itself, almost every project and modification that I have undertaken on Oystercatcher has aimed to join both functionality and beauty into a harmonious whole.

The Ericson 25

While this website does indeed focus on Oystercatcher, it does not neglect to include some articles on the Ericson 25 itself. Designed by noted naval architect, Bruce King, the Ericson 25 was manufactured by Ericson Yachts in Southern California from 1973-1978. With a displacement of 5,400 pounds, and with 2,500 pounds of lead to keep her steady, the Ericson 25 was one of the most rugged trailerable sailboats of her day. She was marketed as a trailerable cruiser, and she continues to display these qualities, inasmuch as she is both trailerable and capable of cruising (especially with modifications) to destinations far and wide. Ericson Yachts produced well over three-hundred Ericson 25s, most fitted with lead-filled centerboards. Some fixed-keel versions of the boat, however, were manufactured. Note that this site does not address the Ericson 25 Plus (which was a completely different boat manufactured by Ericson after 1978).

Organization

Unlike many blog-oriented websites, I have not organized this one chronologically, but alphabetically. In the Index I have documented each and every project in alphabetical order. Why this approach to things? Like the sea itself, the refitting of sailboat is variable and often unpredictable. Frequently, I have temporarily abandoned one project, simply because I have discovered some other project or series of projects that I needed to address first. Frequently, I have worked on multiple projects at the same time, simply because they might share some common attribute – such as, they are all made of wood and they are all in need of epoxy-coating or varnishing. Clearly, my alphabetical approach to things hides the messiness of this seemingly chaotic refitting process. Nevertheless, I am certain that I myself (and others) benefit from the clarity that the alphabetical approach brings.

Roscoe

Oystercatcher, Ericson 25, #226
Charleston, South Carolina, USA


Postscript

Over the years since I started this blog, the alphabetizing and indexing capabilities that I once was able to employ have became incompatible with Google Blogger. For this reason I have added the standard chronological listing of postings (common to other blogs) in the right hand column. This chronological arrangement is a default setting, and the reader should not think that the chronological order of the postings reflects the chronological order in which I tackled the multiple projects and sub-projects associated with the refitting of this boat. Roscoe, Sept 2018.


DISCLAIMER: The Contributors to this blog give no warranty, express or implied, as to the merchantability, fitness for purpose, advertised quality, or any other matter of any products or methods mentioned on this web site. Furthermore, the Contributors disclaim any and all responsibility for any kinds of injury or damages sustained which may result from the application of any or all ideas or suggestions appearing or referenced on this blog. All materials on this blog are the responsibility of the individual Contributors and are copyrighted by them.


Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, July 2019
South Santee River, July 2017

Daufuskie Island, Georgia, June 2018

Cape Romain, South Carolina, March 2019
Ravenel Bridge, Charleston, South Carolina, July 2015
Charleston Harbor, August 2015

Lady's Island, South Carolina, May 2016
Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, July 2016
Waccamaw River, near Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina, June 2017
South Santee River and Atlantic Ocean, March 2019
Sandy Island, South Carolina, June 2017
Lighthouse Island, Cape Romain, South Carolina, March 2019
Price's Inlet, between Bull Island and Caper's Island, South Carolina, March 2017
Morris Island Lighthouse, August 2019
Lighthouse Inlet, Morris Island, South Carolina, Aug 2019
Lighthouse Inlet, Morris Island, Aug 2018
Native American Midden Heap, Bull Island, June 2017
Jeremy Creek, McClellanville, South Carolina, March 2018
Lighthouse Island (as seen from Cape Island) Cape Romain, March 2019
Cape Romain Lighthouse (as seen from Cape Island), March 2018
Georgetown, South Carolina, March 2017
Five Fathom Creek, looking toward McClellanville, SC, Feb 2017
Cape Romain Lighthouse, South Carolina, June 2017
Shrimp and Clams at Cape Romain, March 2019
Shrimp in the Skillet, Cape Romain, March 2019
Cape Romain Lighthouses, March 2017
Bull Island Gator, March 2019
Bull Island (northern end), Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Mar 2019
Botany Bay Island, South Carolina, June 2018
Bluffton, South Carolina, June 2018
Bass Creek, behind Kiawah Island, South Carolina, June 2018
B&B Seafood, Bennett's Point, SC, ACE Basin, June 2018
Shrimp from B&B Seafood, Bennett's Point, SC, June 2018
Creek behind Morris Island, Aug 2019
Altamaha River, Georgia, June 2016
North Edisto Inlet, South Carolina, July 2016
Lake Marion, South Carolina, July 2020
Fripp Inlet, South Carolina, July 2019
Fripp Inlet and Station Creek, July 2019
Beaufort, South Carolina, July 4, 2019
Beaufort River, South Carolina, July 2019
Hard Aground on an Oyster Bank, Station Creek, South Carolina, July 2019
Watts Cut, near Ashepoo River, South Carolina, May 2016
Pineopolis Lock and Dam, South Carolina, July 2020
Cast-netting for Bait Fish, off Cooper River, SC, July 2020
Crab Breakfast, off Cooper River, SC, July 2020
Fort Sumter, South Carolina, July 2019
Little Bull Island, Price's Inlet, South Carolina, June 2017
Great Egrets and a Deer, Morgan Island, "Monkey Island," SC, July 2016
Rhesus Monkeys, Morgan Island, "Monkey Island," South Carolina, July 2016
Woodstorks, Great Egrets, and Rhesus Monkeys, Monkey Island, SC, July 2016

Blackbeard Island, Georgia, July 2016



23 comments:

  1. Thank you for the informative and entertaining posts on your E 25 CB. I looked at several of the boats your reviewed and you answered some of the questions I did not completely understand.

    I do not have the skills to take on a project boat as you did and have started looking for a E 25 CB in pretty good shape needing only maintenance and replacement parts mainly. I have only found two boats for sale so far. One in WA state and one in WY, both are across the country from me in TX. I found these by looking in Craigslist, Boat Trader, Sailing Texas and cruising the Sailing Forums like Ericson. Can you give me any advice on other resources to find a boat? Thanks for your help and the hours and hours it must have taken you to ad to the knowledge base on E 25 CB's.

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  2. Thanks for your compliments. I think you've covered all the right bases. I would go one step further and create a login and password on the Ericson Yacht Owners website. There you can post a Wanted ad. There are E25 owners who regularly pay attention to this forum, and there are some who are always one the fence about keeping or selling their boats, not because they don't like them, but because there are other things going on in life.

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  3. Thank you so much for your blog! May I ask how much you originally paid for your E25 and approx how much you have spent to date in the restoration?

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    1. If you look around Craigslist you can get a pretty good idea of what the going rate is for your standard E25 with no frills and no efforts at refitting. My purchase price was in this standard range. I've definitely put more into than what I paid for it, but I always hunt for the best deal whenever I make a purchase, and I always space out my purchases over time, so I don't consider my expenses burdensome or wasteful. As I've said many times, by having my boat on a trailer, rather than at a dock, I've saved countless dollars. That, to me, is the greatest bargain.

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  4. Are the previously posted images of other owners 25CB boats and projects available somewhere else Rosco?

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  5. Roscoe have you done any repairs on the wood handles on the top of the cabin? On my Ericson 25, the rail has 6 plugs where 6 screws connect the rail to to the top of the cabin, yet on the inside there are only 2 visible screw bolts which are at each end, which makes me wonder if the remaining 4 are screws without bolts on the inside. Any insight on this? Thanks and again great blog!

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  6. Thanks for the compliment, Leif. I removed my original teak hand rails and replaced them with new ones that I constructed from rough-sawn mahogany. I cleaned up the teak originals, revarnished them, and then installed them on the inside of the cabin. This required me to purchase new stainless steel screws from McMaster-Carr. I installed wooden plugs on both ends of each screw and then varnished over them. Perhaps your inner four screws are simply wood screws that are screwed into the fiberglass cabin top. All of my original screws ran all the way through the cabin top. The nuts, of course, were on the interior of the cabin.

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  7. I'm intrigued by the story of your selection and re-fit. However, the links only give me a non-linear view of the narrative -- I have to click on the topic links, and don't follow from one step to another on any of the systems. The Index link does nothing. Is there a way I can read a version of this narrative more like a book? What am I doing wrong, which is preventing me from doing this?

    Thanks!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, John. The program that allowed me to classify my articles in the Index in alphabetical order is no longer valid. I've not yet found a replacement. At present, the best way to access various articles is to google, "Ericson 25 Oystercatcher . . ." and whatever it is that you wish to explore. I did not write the articles in chronological order, but rather in a thematic order.

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  8. I'm hearing all sorts of opinions about the Dwyer spreaders on EricsonYachts.org. Seems like it's been a while since your retrofit; how are they holding up?

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    1. They are holding up well. I'm pleased with them. I've since added two LED spreader lights. I ordered them from Oznium. They are marketed for tractors. Lighter in weight and much more affordable than "marine" LED spreader lights.

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  9. I am considering buying a trailer sailor and there is an Ericson 25 within 4 hours of my home. I am considering it. The owner is firm on his price of 9K. It seems priced high to me but I think that is because it has a 10 horse Yanmar engine. From the photos it appears the boat and trailer are in very good condition. My question is the inboard Yanmar worth the extra price?. I think about the pros and cons. The diesel may be a little more economical than than a 4 stroke outboard of similar power. But it adds complexity like a through hull and exhaust outlet and drag from a propeller that's always in the water with the engine off. I am not sure the diesel is worth the extra cost of this boat. I would like your opinion on this. Thanks, Kevin

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  10. Kevin, I would have commented earlier, but I did not notice your question until now. If the boat and trailer are in very good condition as you say, and if the engine is good condition, then this might be a fair asking price. A new trailer and new 4 stroke outboard could cost as much as 9K.

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  11. Roscoe: I am redoing the electrical system on my Ericson 25 and following your advice considering a Honda generator. However it is too tall for a lazarette for storage. Did you cut thru the floor of port lazarette? Many thanks. Christopher

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  12. Check out my posting, "Oystercatcher, Shakedown Cruise, May 2016, Part I." There you can see that I store it strapped to the berth extension in the main salon while under way. You can also see in that posting that I stow it at night in the cockpit, port side, aft. The picture of it in the cockpit does not show it in use. While using it to charge the batteries or run the air conditioner, I keep it in that same cockpit location. I do, however, place two stacks of 2x4 material underneath the rubber feet of the generator. This elevates the generator enough to keep the exhaust from heating/burning the transom. Yeti brand nylon straps keep the generator firmly in place atop the 2x4s. I run a pigtail from the three-prong receptacle on the generator to the nearby shore power inlet. This system has worked well for me for two years.

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  13. Thank you for taking the time to document all the things you did in your refitting in such a clear and educational manner.

    I don't deal with the maritime industry in any way (aerospace mechanic), but I found your blog absolutely facinating, and could not tear myself away.

    So, thanks for this! I now want a project sailboat, in addition to my many car and household projects.

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    1. Thank you for your compliments, Tim! I've been unable to respond to comments for quite a while. The new Google Blogger has fixed the problem. Hope you've found that project sailboat and found success!

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  14. Necesito fotos del interior del Ericson E-25. Muchas gracias desde CHILE.

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  15. Roscoe,
    What a pleasure to find your blog postings tonight.
    Inspiring.
    Your attention-to-detail and the obvious care and craftsmanship in your refit - worthy of any shipwright.

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    1. I really appreciate your compliments, Kelvin. Thanks for visiting! Roscoe

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  16. Hi Roscoe. Looking at your blog I see at least one picture of an Ericson 25 named Robbing Air from Oshkosh Wisconsin. Interstingly, I have just purchased this boat. It is not in nearly as good condition as the one picture that I saw in your blog. I would love to hear if you have any information on this boat's history. Your refit documentation is excellent and I look forward to using it as a resource for working on my Ericson 25.

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