Roy, these are pretty different boats IMO and therefore tough to
line up side by side. You''ll pay a lot less for the 365 than the 385, so it''s comparing apples with oranges a bit.
The 365 will have a broader waterplane, shallower keel, probably be ketch rigged (or sloop rigged without the mizzen and even more underpowered), have wide sheeting angles and be a poor performer to wind when coming home from Mexico, but in general be a good value purchase for that kind of cruising. My impression of the 385 is that it offers more room below than the 2'' suggests, has a more refined underbody and better
rig, has construction of similar quality and the same spacious cockpit, and will probably look newer as it was made 7-10 years later than the 365''s you''ll find.
BTW a friend took his 365 sloop to Mexico from San Pedro a few years ago and had a grand trip in her lasting some months. He trucked it back home due to work restraints but also cruised it thru-out the Channel Is. for several years and, altogether, had nothing but praise for the boat re: strength, comfort and value.
I''m unfamiliar with the Ericson 38 but, in general, find Ericson construction very different from the Pearsons built under Bill Shaw - SoCal light air boats vs. traditional RI builders where weight was a ''good thing'' - which relied on smaller mains and bigger gennys, more open layouts with fewer useable storage compartments and lots more use of liners, more slippery and far better to windward. A very different animal than the Shaw-designed 365/385.
Jack
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