History
The Tayana 37 is a Robert Perry design built in Taiwan by Ta Yang Yacht Building Co., one of the most respected Asian boatbuilders of the 1970s and 1980s. The design was commissioned by Will Eckert of Flying Dutchman Yachts, working with C.T. Chen of Ta Yang, and quickly became one of the most popular offshore bluewater cruisers ever built, with 588 hulls completed and the design still available to special order decades later.
The Tayana 37 is often cited alongside the Westsail 32 and Valiant 40 as the holy trinity of affordable American bluewater cruising. It offers more space, speed, and build quality than the Westsail while being considerably less expensive than the Valiant.
Design & Construction
Perry drew a traditional double-ended hull with a full keel for the Tayana 37, giving it excellent directional stability and a comfortable motion offshore. The stern is a canoe shape reminiscent of the Westsail, but the hull sections are finer and the displacement, while heavy, is better proportioned to the waterline length.
Taiwanese construction quality on these boats is exceptional. The hand-laid fiberglass hulls are thick and solid, joinery is first-class teak throughout, and hardware choices were robust. Many owners report that the Tayana 37 feels better built than American production boats of the same era costing significantly more.
The cutter rig gives excellent options for headsail configuration. Most examples have been fitted with roller furling on both the jib and staysail, and the sail plan is well-suited to short-handed passagemaking.
Offshore Performance
At 22,500 lbs, the Tayana 37 is a heavy boat, and its performance reflects that. Upwind in a chop, 4-5 knots is typical. Off the wind in a good breeze, the boat moves well and its motion is extremely comfortable. The full keel tracks beautifully, and many owners cross oceans with just an autopilot and minimal sail adjustments for days at a time.
The Tayana 37 is not a racer, but reviewers who have sailed it back this up in their own words. Charles Doane wrote in 2019 that it “sails remarkably well and can serve effectively as both a coastal and bluewater cruiser,” adding that it has “a particularly strong reputation as an offshore boat” and that “reportedly at any given time there are more Tayana 37s out there wandering the globe than any other single type of sailboat.” Richard Sherwood’s 1994 review called it “typical of the many high-performance designs built today that retain a traditional appearance.” The combination of build quality, offshore comfort, and price-to-value ratio has made it a perennial favourite among those who actually go offshore.
Known Issues
- Teak decks: Many examples have original teak decks that are reaching end of life. Replacement or removal and re-nonskid is a significant expense.
- Chainplate leaks: The deck-mounted chainplates are a known leak source. Inspect and re-bed as needed.
- Fuel and water tanks: Original tanks are often aluminum and may have corrosion issues. Inspect carefully.
- Transmission: Some early examples have outdated transmission designs. Verify operation and parts availability.
- Weight distribution: The heavy full keel means the boat is slow to accelerate but the momentum carries it through chop well.
Verdict
The Tayana 37 combines a proven offshore record with the maintenance demands of an older boat. Condition, equipment, and the quality of past refits matter more than the model name when comparing individual examples.
