Design and Construction
The Vancouver 42 is a solid-fiberglass hull in polyester laminate, with about 11,800 pounds of iron ballast encased as a single casting inside the thick walls of a long fin keel anchor. Decks are cored with wood-block squares isolated in resin to limit moisture retention, and at hardware-mounting points the layup was further reinforced. After 1985 the yard switched to isophthalic gelcoat to resist blistering, and from 1992 onward hulls were laminated with vinylester resin. Joints between hull and deck, along with acute osmotic blistering, have not generally been trouble spots on these boats, and Ta Yang’s construction methods have been rated among the best in the industry. Most were delivered with teak decks, though that feature can admit water into the core if it fails.
Rig and Handling
Above the slippery underbody sits a tall rig with a generous sail plan of 1,009 square feet at 100 percent, driving respectable passagemaking speeds. Most boats left the yard with sturdy double-spreader Isomat spars, deck-stepped and heavily stayed. Harris’ distinctive diamond stay at the upper spreaders, carried on an aluminum arc some call the cowcatcher, removes the need for running backstays and simplifies short-handed sail handling anchor. The skeg-hung rudder and fin-keel configuration give predictable steering for a boat of this displacement.
Accommodations
Every Ta Yang build was semicustom, and owners exercised wide latitude in arranging the interior; even bulkheads could be moved to suit. Most cabins were finished in vertical spruce staving with teak trim, a warm and durable scheme. Of the approximately 200 hulls, about 130 were aft-cockpit cruisers offered with two house designs, while roughly 70 were center-cockpit layouts, and a single buyer’s pilothouse commission grew into five more factory examples.
Known Issues
The black-iron fuel tanks, holding 120 gallons in two cells, can rust if their external paint is chipped, so surface integrity matters on any survey. Some older hulls have shown corrosion at the chainplates and the bolts securing them belowdecks. Teak decks, fitted to most boats, can permit water intrusion into the deck core if seams or fastenings degrade.
Refits and Ownership
The most common engine was a 50-horsepower Perkins 4-108, a robust unit with ample power for the displacement. With 150 gallons of water in two stainless-steel tanks and the semicustom flexibility of the original build, these boats adapt well to owner-refit programs aimed at extended cruising. The canoe stern and substantial ballast give a comfortable motion that supports liveaboard and passagemaking use.
The Verdict
The Vancouver 42 is a well-built offshore cruiser with cruising range, load-carrying capacity, and a comfortable motion that few sub-45-foot designs match. Its semicustom heritage and solid construction make it a credible candidate for serious voyaging, provided the known corrosion and deck-core risks are addressed.
Pros
- Extremely seaworthy cutter with comfortable motion for its size
- Solid fiberglass hull with encapsulated iron ballast and reinforced deck hardware
- Semicustom interiors with movable bulkheads for owner customization
- Diamond stay eliminates running backstays for easier handling
Cons
- Black-iron fuel tanks prone to rust if paint is chipped
- Teak decks can allow water into the core
- Chainplate corrosion on some older boats
