1983 Tayana Tayana 37 Ct

Media Description:

With several hundred boats sailing the seas of the world, the Tayana 37 has been one of the most successful products of the U.S's Taiwan-built boat invasion that began in the early 1970s. Its shapely Baltic stern, scribed plank seams molded into the glass hull, and lavish use of teak above and below decks have come to epitomize the image associated with Oriental boats.

Not all thoughts of Far Eastern boats are pleasant, however. To some, Taiwan-built boats mean poor workmanship, overly heavy hulls, unbedded hardware of dubious heritage, wooden spars that delaminate, and builder-modified boats lightyears removed from the plans provided by the designer. Add to that a serious language barrier and the inevitable logistical problems of dealing with a boatyard halfway around the world, and you have a readymade nightmare for the boat buyer. To the credit of the builder, the designer, the primary importer, and a powerful owners association, the Tayana 37 has weathered an astounding production run while making steady improvements and maintaining a steady output with about 600 boats in existence.

The Tayana 37 began life as the CT 37. In 1979, the boat became known as the Tayana 37, named for Ta Yang Yacht Building Co. While some snobbishness exists among owners who own the CT version, Perry has insisted that this is illusory. According to the designer, the CT 37 and the Tayana 37 are the same boat, built by the same men in the same yard. In much the same way that the early Swans imported by Palmer Johnson were known by the name of the importer - the names Nautor and Swan were unknown here in the late 1960s - early Tayanas were known as CTs because the name CT had already become known in this country.

Handling Under Power:

Three different engines have been used in the Tayana 37: the Yanmar (Naturally aspirated), the Perkins, and the Volvo.

Although all of the engines offer adequate power for the boat, don’t expect the Tayana 37 to win any drag races. With her substantial wetted surface and fairly heavy displacement, performance under power is sedate rather than spritely. Owners rate handling under power as fair to good, although one reported that his boat backs up like a drunken elephant.

While the engine box removes completely to provide good access for service, there is no provision for easy access to the oil dipstick. This means that this vital task is likely to be ignored. A simple door in the side of the engine box would solve the problem.

The placement of the fuel tank also has caused substantial discussion on the part of owners. The standard 90-gallon, black iron tank is located under the V-berth in the forward cabin. When full, this tank holds almost 650 pounds of fuel. This is about the same weight as 375 feet of 3/8-inch anchor chain-a substantial amount to carry around in the bow of a 37-footer. A Tayana 37 with the bow tank full and a heavy load of ground tackle will show noticeable bow-down trim. The design was originally drawn with the fuel tanks under the settees, but the builder put the tank forward to create additional storage in the main cabin.

This is a good example of one of the basic recurring problems with Far East-built boats. Frequently, the builders have good glass men and good interior joiners, but their inexperience in sailing results in inconsistencies that compromise their boats. Fortunately, thanks to the pressure from owners, the builder began offering optional tankage amidships, where it belongs.

Handling Under Sail:

The Tayana 37 was built as a ketch or cutter, with wood spars or aluminum, with mast-stepped on deck or on the keel. Few builders have offered so many options. The standard rig is a masthead cutter with wooden spars; the mast is stepped on deck and supported by a substantial compression column. The designer strongly recommended the aluminum cutter rig, and we heartily concur. 

The cutters mainsail is 342 square feet.The cutter rig is tall and well proportioned. Her working sail area of 864 square feet is generous.

Deck Layout:

With its bulwarks, high double lifelines, and substantial bow and stern pulpits, the Tayana 37 gives the sailor a good sense of security on those cold, windy nights when he's called out for sail changes. A teak platform grating atop the bowsprit coupled with the strong pulpit relieves that appendage of its widowmaker reputation.

The bowsprit platform incorporates double anchor rollers, which can house CQR anchors. There are hawseholes through the bulwarks port and starboard, well aft of the stem. These will be fine for docklines, but are too far aft to serve as good leads for anchoring. There is room at deck level, outboard of the bowsprit, to install a set of heavy chocks for anchoring, although anchor rode led to this point will chafe on the bobstay as the boat swings to her anchor.

Cockpit locker configuration varies with the interior options chosen, but the lockers are large enough to provide reasonable storage, although you should resist the temptation to load them heavily so far aft.

Below Decks:

The interior of the Tayana 37 probably sells more boats than any other feature of the boat. Every boat was custom built so there has never been a standard interior.

Like other Taiwanese boats, the interior of the Tayana 37 is all teak. This can result in a cabin that is oppressively dark to some people, and exquisitely cool to others. To keep it looking good, owners must do a lot of oiling or varnishing.

The interior joinerwork on the boat we examined was some of the best we have seen. Joints were just about flawless, paneled doors beautifully joined, drawers dovetailed from solid stock. There were no fillers making up for poorly fitted joints, no trim fitted with grinders, no slop anywhere. Older Tayana 37s (70s-80s vintage) we have seen did not boast quite this caliber of workmanship, but their joinerwork was certainly of good quality.

With such an array of interior options, it is difficult to really evaluate the boats interior. Although, in all fairness, there is a standard interior. It is prosaic but good, with a V-berth forward, followed by the head and lockers just aft. The main cabin has a U-shaped settee to port, and straight settee. Aft is a good U -shaped galley to port, nav station and quarterberth to starboard. 

Accommodations:

Teak interior with exceptional joinery. Centerline companionway with 4 steps down puts you in a very comfortable sea going yacht.  Galley is to port.  Adjacent to starboard is the Nav Station which uses a portion of the stb aft quarter berth for seating.   Moving forward you have a long "C" dinette to port and a lone bench seat along the starboard mid ship.  Forward to port is full "wet" head with storage adjacent to starboard.  Large "V" berth forward with additional storage.

• Burmese teak interior
• Teak and spruce sole

Galley:

"U" shaped Galley lies to port of companionway. Ample storage and working counter space.  

• Deep double SS sink 
• Pressure Hot / Cold water 
• 2 burner propane gimbaled stove / oven
• Ice Box  

Hull and Deck:

Masthead, single spreader, double ender, full keel cutter with  aluminum rig deck stepped that is  supported by a substantial compression column.

• Lines led aft to clutches.
• Standing rigging has been upgraded recently by owner to include relocation and  modification of chain plates
• Bowsprit platform incorporates double anchor roller
• Partial batten main 
• Wide and tall cabin trunk with teak full-length handrails along each side
• Bronze portlights and hardware offer rugged durability
• Aft cockpit - teak covering the seating and floor
• The hull to deck joint is built into a strong hollow box section, which forms a high standing bulwark.  
• Wide sidedecks, convenient handrails and high bulwarks offer reassurance in a seaway.
• Cowl vents offer a good ventilation 
• Center cabin has a "traditional" butterfly hatch for ample light and air