Tayana 52 Sailboats for Sale

Perry drew the 52 after his success with the Tayana 37, and the result is a boat with a notably sweet sheer, a displacement that gives her a comfortable, rolling ocean motion, and a ballast-to-displacement ratio that inspires confidence offshore. The comfort ratio and the displacement-to-length number both signal a thoroughbred passage maker rather than a performance racer, and owners who have crossed oceans on these boats consistently report that the motion at sea is one of the hull's defining virtues. Coming to market primarily in center-cockpit and aft-cockpit variants, the 52 offers meaningfully different accommodation philosophies depending on which configuration you find.

Layouts on the Used Market

The center-cockpit configuration is the one more commonly encountered when shopping. It allows for a proper owner's aft cabin isolated from the main saloon — typically a double berth, private head access, and stowage that makes extended passage-making practical for a couple. The main saloon in a center-cockpit layout usually features a large navigation station, a well-appointed galley to port or starboard, and settees generous enough for guests. Three-cabin arrangements are the norm in this configuration.

The aft-cockpit version turns up less frequently but appeals to sailors who prefer the traditional helm position and the larger, more open cockpit it provides. Down below, this layout typically consolidates the accommodation forward, still providing good berth count but without the separated aft stateroom. Both layouts reflect the Taiwanese joinerwork of the era — solid teak below, careful detail work, and a level of finish that has aged gracefully on well-maintained examples.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Tayana 52s on the brokerage market are typically well-equipped by previous owners who have taken them offshore. Electric winches are commonly fitted, a sensible upgrade on a boat with this sail area. Solar panels are a frequent addition, often supplemented by a wind generator, as owners who have lived aboard or cruised extensively have almost always addressed the power budget. A chartplotter is routinely present, and radar is often fitted as well; autopilot and watermaker are often found on ocean-prepared examples.

Freezers and hot-water systems are often seen, reflecting the live-aboard and extended-cruising culture that surrounds this boat. On upgraded examples, inverters and dinghy davits turn up as owner upgrades, and a swim platform — not original to the design — turns up as a retrofit on boats that have spent time in warmer cruising grounds. Starlink installations have become an increasingly frequent owner upgrade on the more recently updated examples. Life rafts and EPIRBs are sometimes carried on boats that have been actively offshore.

The original Perkins diesel powering many examples is a known quantity — a robust if older engine that, when properly maintained, has proven durable. Yanmar replacements are found on a meaningful share of the fleet, often installed during comprehensive refits. Running rigging and standing rigging replacement is a common and expected part of preparing one of these boats for offshore passages, and many examples have had at least one full rigging overhaul in their history.

What to Inspect

The boats of this era and provenance reward careful survey. The hull and deck construction are generally sound, but Taiwan-built boats from the 1980s can develop deck core moisture issues, particularly around hardware penetrations, chainplates, and any area where bedding compound has dried out over decades. A thorough moisture survey of the deck is essential.

Standing rigging deserves particular scrutiny. The original swaged terminals have aged considerably, and documenting the age of the rig to an insurance company's satisfaction is a real practical concern. Many buyers and their insurers will require replacement regardless of apparent condition on a boat of this vintage. Similarly, halyards and sheets on boats that have not had recent attention may look serviceable but carry fatigue that only shows under passage loads.

The engine installation warrants careful inspection whether the original Perkins remains or has been replaced. Freshwater cooling systems, heat exchangers, and raw-water impellers on older diesels that have sat unused or been lightly used can conceal developing problems. Check the hours carefully and look for evidence of regular oil changes and maintenance records.

The bottom paint and hull below the waterline can carry significant build-up from decades of applications. Blistering in older fiberglass hulls is not uncommon, and any example showing osmotic blistering should be evaluated for the scope and depth of the damage before purchase. A well-executed barrier coat job is expensive but straightforward and is a reasonable expectation on a boat prepared for bluewater work.

Interior joinerwork is typically robust, but teak trim and cabin soles can show their age on boats that have not been maintained. The cost of restoring tired teak below is real; conversely, a well-maintained interior is a genuine indicator of how the rest of the boat has been cared for.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Tayana 52 trades primarily in the United States and Australia, with the American market — particularly the East Coast and Gulf Coast — representing the most active hunting ground. Examples also surface in the Pacific Northwest and occasionally in European waters, though the boat is not as prevalent in the Mediterranean or Northern European markets as some comparable designs of the same era. Australia's strong bluewater cruising culture has absorbed a solid portion of the fleet, and boats returning from Pacific passages through that region do come to market there.

The Tayana 52 competes well for buyers seeking a fully depreciated, offshore-capable 50-foot cruiser with quality build and proven ocean credentials. The principal tradeoff is age: these are older boats that will need investment in systems, rigging, and sometimes paint before offshore passages. Buyers who budget properly for that work — and who find an example with a documented maintenance history and recent rigging attention — typically come away with a capable passage maker at a fraction of the cost of a contemporary equivalent.

Before making an offer, confirm the following:

• Standing rigging age documented and acceptable to your insurer
• Recent moisture survey of deck, especially around chainplates and hardware
• Engine hours verified and maintenance records present
• Bottom condition surveyed for osmotic blistering
• Watermaker, autopilot, and offshore safety gear (life raft, EPIRB) present and current
• Sail inventory inspected for UV degradation and structural wear
• All through-hulls exercised and seacocks operational
• Electrical system checked for proper shore-power isolation and DC wiring condition