Design and Construction
The Vancouver 42's structure reflects a semicustom Ta Yang philosophy in which owners had unusual freedom in laying out the accommodations — even bulkheads were movable. The yard's construction techniques have been among the best in the industry. Hulls below the waterline are solid fiberglass, and decks are cored with wood-block squares isolated with resin to minimize moisture retention, with the layup further reinforced at hardware-mounting points. A single iron casting of 11,800 pounds forms the ballast, encapsulated inside the keel's thick walls rather than bolted externally. After 1985 the yard switched to isophthalic gelcoat to resist blistering, and after 1992 hulls were laminated with vinylester resin. Cruising World's survey found that hull/deck joints and serious blistering haven't typically been issues on these boats.
Rig and Handling
Harris gave the 42 a tall stick and generous sail plan over a slippery underbody, producing respectable passagemaking times for a boat of her displacement. Most were delivered with sturdy double-spreader Isomat spars, deck-stepped and heavily stayed. The distinctive Harris diamond stay at the upper spreaders — supported by an aluminum arc that some call the cowcatcher — eliminates the need for running backstays, a simplification that matters when short-handed. With a ballast-to-displacement ratio near 0.40 and a displacement-length ratio of 362, the canoe stern and long fin keel combine tracking steadiness with a manageable wetted surface for a 42-foot cruiser.
Accommodations and Layouts
Because every Ta Yang boat was semicustom, the Vancouver 42 exists in several configurations rather than one fixed plan. About 130 were built as aft-cockpit cruisers with two different house designs, while roughly 70 carry center cockpits. One buyer commissioned a pilothouse version from the factory, which then built four more. Most interiors were finished in vertical spruce staving with teak trim, a warm and durable cruising aesthetic. The boat's 12-foot-6 beam and 150 gallons of water capacity in two stainless-steel tanks support extended liveaboard range, and the Cruising World review noted a cruising range, load-carrying capacity, and comfortable motion seldom found in boats under 45 feet today.
Known Issues
The black-iron fuel tanks holding 120 gallons in two cells can rust if their external paint is chipped, so surface coating integrity deserves a close look. Some older boats have suffered corrosion on chainplates and their attachment bolts belowdecks, a fault traced to the damp interior environment rather than any structural deficiency in the hull. Most Vancouver 42s were built with teak decks, which can permit water to enter the core if the seams fail — a known pathway to hidden deck rot that a survey should probe.
Refits and Ownership
The most common engine was a 50-horsepower Perkins 4-108, a robust diesel that has supported long service lives across the fleet. Owners who commission a survey should weigh the gelcoat and resin changes by build year: pre-1985 hulls used polyester laminate, while post-1992 boats gained vinylester protection below the waterline. The semicustom heritage means no two interiors are identical, and a buyer or owner reworking the layout inherits Ta Yang's movable-bulkhead tolerance.
The Verdict
The Tayana Vancouver 42 is a well-built offshore cruiser whose seaworthy Harris pedigree, encapsulated iron ballast, and semicustom flexibility place it among the more capable bluewater cutters of its era. The canoe stern and long fin keel reward patient passagemaking rather than sprint racing, and the diamond-stay rig removes a common short-handed nuisance. Teak decks and belowdecks chainplate corrosion are the watch items, but neither undermines the fundamental soundness Cruising World attributed to the design.
Pros
- Extremely seaworthy cutter with comfortable motion and load capacity rare under 45 feet
- Encapsulated iron ballast inside thick keel walls; hull/deck joints typically sound
- Diamond stay eliminates running backstays for simpler short-handed rig handling
- Semicustom build with movable bulkheads and multiple cockpit configurations
Cons
- Black-iron fuel tanks rust if paint is chipped
- Teak decks can admit water into the core
- Some older boats show chainplate and bolt corrosion belowdecks
