1984 Tayana Vancouver 42

The Tayana Vancouver 42 has long held a special place among traditionalist, bluewater-minded sailors who value seaworthiness, carrying capacity, practical offshore layout, and enduring design integrity over passing trends. Designed by Robert Harris and respected for her comfortable motion, handsome lines, and serious cruising temperament, the model continues to be sought after by sailors who want a yacht with real offshore credibility and timeless character. 

ELECTRIC PASSAGE stands apart even within that well-regarded company. This is the aft-cockpit version of the Tayana Vancouver 42, already a highly appealing configuration for sailors who appreciate the secure feel and traditional profile of a true offshore cruising yacht. What makes her exceptional is the level to which she has been upgraded, modernized, and reimagined. She retains the warmth and craftsmanship of a classic Taiwan-built cruiser, including the rich wood interior that gives the boat so much of her traditional appeal, while offering a systems package and onboard capability that place her in an entirely different category from the average vintage cruiser. 

This is not a lightly refreshed classic with selective upgrades. ELECTRIC PASSAGE has undergone a deep and highly intentional modernization centered around a sophisticated 48VDC electrical architecture, 24 kWh lithium battery bank, substantial solar charging, custom 48V alternator charging, inverter generator, electric galley, high-efficiency three-zone air conditioning, watermaker, multiple refrigeration and freezer systems, modern communications and electronics, and substantial deck and structural work. The result is a yacht that preserves the soul of a renowned bluewater design while delivering a level of comfort, energy independence, and real-world liveaboard functionality that is extraordinarily rare in this class. 

For the buyer looking for a true offshore cruiser with traditional lines, proven pedigree, and a refit standard that is genuinely uncommon, ELECTRIC PASSAGE represents a very rare opportunity. There is no other Tayana Vancouver 42 on the market configured like this, and it is difficult to imagine another being brought to this level anytime soon. 

KEY FEATURES: 

• Aft-cockpit Tayana Vancouver 42 
• 48VDC Victron Energy power electronics system 
• 24 kWh lithium battery bank 
• Large solar array aft plus additional side-mounted solar panels 
• Custom 48V 5.5kW alternator with custom bracket and Arco Zeus regulator 
• WhisperPower Piccolo 5 inverter generator with sound enclosure 
• Generator used primarily in hybrid configuration to recharge the battery bank 
• Perkins 4-108M diesel with external rebuild and repaint 
• Victron autotransformer providing both 120V and 240V AC onboard 
• Victron isolation transformer for shore power inlet 
• Worldwide shore power capability with 120/240VAC and 50/60Hz compatibility 
• Termodinamica VRV air conditioning with one central compressor and three zones 
• Ability to cool the forward sleeping cabin independently at night 
• 40 GPH watermaker mounted forward and running on 240V power 
• GN Espace OceanChef gimbaled electric cooker with induction cooktop and electric oven; no propane onboard 
• Multiple refrigeration and freezer systems including front-opening refrigerator, large deep freezer, and chest freezer in the main saloon 
• Craig Millar sails including mainsail, genoa, stackpack, staysail, and asymmetrical spinnaker 
• Dyneema halyards 
• Dyneema standing rigging 
• Titanium chainplates 
• Johnson turnbuckles 
• Schaefer 3100 furler 
• Continuous-line staysail furler 
• 48VDC Maxwell vertical windlass 
• Reconfigured anchoring system with chain locker moved aft 
• Rocna Vulcan anchor with 260' of G8 chain 
• Teak decks removed, deck recored, repainted, and reassembled with new hardware 
• Deck hardware properly backed with FRP plates and new 316 stainless fasteners 
• Newfound Metals opening portlights 
• New acrylic fixed portlights 
• B&G electronics and autopilot computer with Orca navigation 
• Octopus hydraulic autopilot actuator 
• Raymarine Axiom radar with gimbaled Scanstrut mast mount 
• Starlink wired to run on 48VDC 
• Peplink router with upgraded antennas 
• Tecma Nano electric toilet 
• Mini clothes washing machine 
• Fully enclosed cockpit shade 
• 4-man liferaft 

Interior Accommodations & Layout

ELECTRIC PASSAGE is the aft-cockpit version of the Tayana Vancouver 42, a layout favored by many serious cruising sailors for its secure cockpit, traditional offshore feel, and practical separation between living spaces and deck operations. The interior reflects the warmth and substance expected of a classic Tayana, with meaningful updates that improve comfort, function, and livability without stripping away the yacht’s character.  

The accommodations are well suited for extended cruising and full-time living aboard, with upgraded upholstery, improved lighting, enhanced ventilation, practical storage, and a number of thoughtful liveaboard refinements throughout. Heavy-duty lee cloths for every berth further reinforce the boat’s offshore intent, while the warm wood finish gives the boat the timeless feel that so many sailors still seek in a serious cruising yacht. 

Main Saloon

The main saloon retains the warm, traditional atmosphere that makes these boats so appealing, while benefiting from a number of modern upgrades that improve comfort and day-to-day life aboard. The richness of the wood interior remains a defining part of the boat’s appeal, giving ELECTRIC PASSAGE the kind of timeless character that modern production boats often lack. 

• New interior cushions and upholstery (2021)
• Custom Corian countertops
• Samsung“The Frame”saloon TV
• Fusion, Bose, and Wet Sounds audio system
• Chest freezer in main saloon
• Lumitecred/white dimmable interior light fixtures throughout
• Caframofans in every berth
• Heavy-duty custom lee cloths for every berth
• New interiorAlexsealpaint on fiberglass surfaces and a coat of fresh varnish throughout
• Teak and Holly floors fully sanded to bare wood and coated with high traffic polyurethane

Galley

The galley aboard ELECTRIC PASSAGE is one of the defining parts of the refit story. Rather than relying on the typical older-boat propane setup, she has been reconfigured around an all-electric approach, made possible by her advanced battery, charging, solar, and power-generation systems. The setup is designed to support genuine long-range liveaboard use rather than occasional dockside convenience. 

• GN EspaceOceanChefgimbaled electric cooker, Inductioncooktopand electric oven; No propane onboard
• Front-opening refrigerator
• Large deep freezer
• Additionalchest freezer in main saloon
• Custom refrigeration and freezer boxes
• SeafrostBDXP condenser systems with stainless steel cold plates and digital controls
• Stainless steel sink and faucet in galley
• Isotherm 4-gallon hot water heater
• Mini clothes washing machine with hot water and spin cycle

Forward Cabin

The forward accommodations benefit from the classic Tayana sense of security and practicality, enhanced by upgraded ventilation and berth functionality. This space also benefits directly from the zoned air-conditioning system, allowing the forward sleeping cabin to be cooled independently overnight for efficient use at anchor. 

• Updated cushions and upholstery
• Caframofans
• Heavy-duty custom lee cloths
• Red/white dimmable lighting
• Independent overnight cooling capability from zoned air-conditioning system

Aft Cabin

As expected in the aft-cockpit configuration, the aft accommodations offer privacy and comfort that suit both extended voyaging and liveaboard use. 

• Updated cushions and upholstery
• Caframofans
• Heavy-duty custom lee cloths
• Red/white dimmable lighting

Head

The head has been upgraded with more modern components and practical plumbing updates, including an unusually thoughtful use of space for a cruising yacht of this size. 

• TecmaNano electric toilet
• Seawater and freshwater flushoption
• Stainless steel sink and faucet in head
• Mini clothes washing machine integrated beneath custom countertop
• Interior shower arrangement present but not presently in service
• Outdoor shower used in practice to keep moisture out of the interior

Nav Station, Electronic Systems, & Helm Stations

• B&G electronics
• B&G autopilot computer
• Orca navigation system
• Octopus hydraulic autopilot actuator
• Raymarine Axiom radar
• Gimbaled Scanstrut mast mount
• Starlink wired to run on 48VDC
• Peplink router with upgraded antennas
• Cat5 Ethernet network
• Custom fabricated Starlink mount

Hull

ELECTRIC PASSAGE has received major structural and deck work that materially separates her from the average vintage example. During the refit, the teak decks were removed, the entire deck was recored, the boat was repainted, and hardware was removed and reinstalled as part of a comprehensive rebuild rather than a piecemeal patch-up. 

• Teak deck removal
• Full deck recore
• Deck painted with Alexseal
• Deck core replaced with solid glass under mast step
• All deck hardware properly backed with FRP plates
• New 316 stainless fasteners used throughout
• Groco bronze seacocks (2021-2023)
• Major deck rebuild completed as part of intensive refit

Deck & Cockpit

The aft cockpit is secure, practical, and exceptionally well set up for cruising, with meaningful upgrades in safety, ergonomics, and everyday usability. The foredeck and anchoring arrangement were also substantially rethought to improve real-world function and eliminate the chain-handling frustrations common to older setups. 

• Fully enclosed cockpit shade
• Custom SeaDek in cockpit
• Custom multifunction stern arch and cockpit handrails with ladder
• Large solar array aft plus additional side-mounted solar panels
• Stainless steel lifelines
• Heavy-duty stainless Vetus deck cleats
• Outdoor shower
• Lumitecred/white LED deck flood lights (2024)
• Newfound Metals opening portlights
• New acrylic fixed portlights
• Reconfigured anchoring system
• Chain locker moved aft for improved chain handling
• Vertical windlass installation

Mast & Rigging

The rigging package is one of the strongest elements of the offering. Beyond newer sails, ELECTRIC PASSAGE has been upgraded with Dyneema standing rigging, titanium chainplates, modern furling systems, and a more thoughtfully engineered staysail arrangement than the original setup. 

• Dyneema halyards (2021)
• Dyneema standing rigging
• Titanium chainplates
• Johnson turnbuckles
• Schaefer 3100 series furler
• Original staysail jib boom and athwartship track removed
• New staysail tracks installed
• Staysail recut for new geometry
• Continuous-line staysail furler
• Selden deck hardware
• New Selden Rodkicker (not installed)

Sails & Winches

• Craig Millar mainsail, genoa, stackpack, and custom battens (2022)
• Craig Millar staysail
• Asymmetrical spinnaker
• Four new Lewmar self-tailing mast winches, with two installed and two in storage

Engine & Mechanical

The propulsion and charging systems aboard ELECTRIC PASSAGE reflect the same thoughtful depth seen throughout the boat. The Perkins has undergone major in-shop work, and the charging system has been significantly modernized with a custom high-output 48V alternator setup. The generator was selected specifically for compact installation in a boat that did not originally carry one, while still supporting the yacht’s substantial electrical loads. 

• Perkins 4-108M diesel
• External rebuild and repaint by Transatlantic Diesels in Virginia
• Approximately 476 hours since rebuild
• Custom 48V 4kW alternator
• Custom engine bracket
• Arco Zeus regulator
• Racor fuel filtration
• New diesel fuel lines and fill hoses
• Three-blade Max Prop
• Stainless steel prop shaft
• Bronze cutlass bearing
• WhisperPower Piccolo 5 installed in compact machinery space

Plumbing & Tankage

• 40 GPH watermaker mounted in the forepeak
• Watermaker operates on 240V electricity
• Two 60-gallon fiberglass diesel tanks
• Two 100-gallon stainless steel water tanks
• Isotherm 4-gallon hot water heater
• Automatic primary bilge pump
• High-capacity bilge pump with alarm
• Manual Mark V bilge pump
• Outdoor shower

Electrical

This is the area where ELECTRIC PASSAGE most clearly sets herself apart from other Tayana Vancouver 42s and from most vintage cruising boats in general. Her electrical architecture is a major part of the value proposition and a central reason the boat is so unusual. The boat is configured around a modern battery-powered cruising lifestyle, supported by substantial battery capacity, solar generation, custom alternator charging, and a compact inverter generator integrated into the overall system. 

• 48VDC electrical architecture
• 24kWh lithium battery bank
• Victron Energy power electronics
• Large solar array aft plus additional side-mounted solar panels
• Victron autotransformer providing both 120V and 240V AC onboard
• Victron isolation transformer for shore power inlet
• Worldwide shore power compatibility with 120/240VAC and 50/60Hz service
• Custom 48V 4 kW alternator with custom bracket and Arco Zeus regulator
• WhisperPower Piccolo 5 inverter generator
• Generator used primarily in hybrid configuration to charge the batteries
• Starlink wired to run on 48VDC
• Integrated power-generation approach designed to support electric cooking, air conditioning, watermaking, refrigeration, and daily liveaboard loads

Air Conditioning

• Termodinamica VRV air conditioning system
• One central compressor with three-zone air handlers
• High-efficiency variable system designed to reduce onboard power demand
• Ability to cool the forward sleeping cabin independently at night for efficient overnight use on battery power
• Hybrid setup allows air conditioning use without requiring the generator to run continuously
• Custom canvas closure arrangement used to help retain conditioned air efficiently

Audio-Visual

• Fusion, Bose, and Wet Sounds audio system
• Samsung “The Frame” saloon TV

Safety

• Safety equipment package
• 4-man liferaft
• Liferaft currently due for recertification

Broker's Comments

ELECTRIC PASSAGE is the kind of yacht that will resonate with a buyer who understands exactly what the Tayana Vancouver 42 represents. This is a renowned traditional offshore design, respected for its strength, comfort, load-carrying ability, and passagemaking character, and one that continues to attract sailors who want a real cruising boat with substance and staying power. 

What makes this yacht so exceptional is that she combines those classic virtues with a refit and upgrade program of uncommon depth. This is a Tayana Vancouver 42 reimagined around modern cruising independence: advanced 48V power architecture, 24 kWh lithium battery capacity, major solar input, hybrid charging strategy, electric cooking, efficient zoned air conditioning, watermaker, substantial refrigeration and freezer capacity, and extensive supporting systems work. That level of integration is exceptionally rare on any classic bluewater cruiser, let alone on a Tayana Vancouver 42. 

This is not a boat for someone looking to take on a large unfinished project. Nor is it a typical older offshore cruiser with a few selective updates. It is a highly unusual example of a beloved bluewater design being elevated to a level of functionality, comfort, and energy independence that most buyers would never have the time, appetite, or budget to reproduce on their own. 

For the sailor who values traditional lines, true offshore pedigree, aft-cockpit appeal, and genuine onboard capability, ELECTRIC PASSAGE is an exceptional and highly uncommon offering. 

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com