Beginning in 1982, Ta Yang, a leading Taiwanese yard, built roughly 200 hulls. The design has earned a reputation as a reasonably fast and extremely seaworthy long-distance cruising cutter. Cruising World noted that its load-carrying ability and motion—products of its 29,147-pound displacement and 0.40 ballast-to-displacement ratio—are seldom found today in boats under 45 feet. It has earned a reputation as a reasonably performing, extremely seaworthy cutter for long-distance cruising.
Design and Construction
The Vancouver 42 has a solid-fiberglass hull laid up in polyester laminate. About 11,800 pounds of iron ballast is encased as a single casting within the thick walls of its long fin keel. About 11,800 pounds of iron ballast is encased as a single casting within the thick walls of its long fin keel.
The decks are cored with squares of wood block, isolated in resin to limit moisture retention. Ta Yang added further reinforcement at hardware-mounting points. Most boats were delivered with teak decks, although failed seams or fastenings can allow water into the core.
The yard changed materials as production continued. After 1985, it switched to isophthalic gelcoat to improve blister resistance; from 1992 onward, the hulls were laminated with vinylester resin. Hull-to-deck joints and acute osmotic blistering generally haven’t been trouble spots, and Ta Yang’s construction methods have been rated among the industry’s best.
Rig and Handling
A tall rig and a generous 1,009-square-foot sail plan at 100 percent sit above the slippery underbody, producing respectable passagemaking speeds. Most boats left the yard with sturdy, heavily stayed, deck-stepped Isomat spars with double spreaders.
Harris’ distinctive diamond stay runs at the upper spreaders on an aluminum arc sometimes called the “cowcatcher.” This arrangement eliminates the need for running backstays and makes short-handed sail handling simpler. This arrangement eliminates the need for running backstays and makes short-handed sail handling simpler.
The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder provide predictable steering for a boat of this displacement. Combined with the canoe stern and substantial ballast, the hull form gives a comfortable motion suited to passagemaking and living aboard.
Accommodation and Layouts
Every Vancouver 42 built by Ta Yang was semicustom, and owners had considerable freedom when specifying the interior. Even the bulkheads could be moved to suit individual requirements. Most cabins were finished in vertical spruce staving with teak trim, creating a warm, durable interior.
Of the approximately 200 boats built, about 130 were aft-cockpit cruisers offered with two house designs. Roughly 70 had center cockpits. One buyer’s pilothouse commission also led to five more factory-built examples.
The original semicustom construction makes these boats adaptable to owner refits for extended cruising. Tankage supports that role: the Vancouver 42 carries 150 gallons of water in two stainless-steel tanks and 120 gallons of fuel in two black-iron cells.
Engine and Systems
The most common engine was the 50-horsepower Perkins 4-108, a robust unit with ample power for the boat’s displacement.
The two black-iron fuel tanks can rust if their exterior paint is chipped, so their surface condition matters during a survey. Some older hulls have also developed corrosion at the chainplates and at the bolts securing them belowdecks.
The Verdict
The Vancouver 42 is a well-built offshore cruiser with load-carrying capacity, cruising range, and a comfortable motion that few designs under 45 feet match. Its semicustom heritage and solid construction make it a credible candidate for serious voyaging, provided its known fuel-tank, chainplate, and deck-core risks are addressed.
Pros
- Extremely seaworthy cutter with a comfortable motion for its size
- Solid-fiberglass hull with encapsulated iron ballast
- Reinforced deck layup at hardware-mounting points
- Semicustom interiors with movable bulkheads
- Diamond stay eliminates running backstays and simplifies handling
Cons
- Black-iron fuel tanks can rust if their paint is chipped
- Teak decks can allow water into the core
- Some older boats have developed corrosion at the chainplates and their securing bolts
