Tayana 37 Pilothouse

1981 Tayana 37 Pilot House – Ready for Your Next Adventure!

Location: Shelter Bay Marina, Caribbean side of the Panama Canal (in a slip)

Condition: Surveyed as “Good Condition”

Coast Guard Documented Vessel 

 

Looking for a proven, reliable, and adventure-ready bluewater cruiser? My beloved 1981 Tayana 37 Pilot House is now for sale. After nearly a decade of exploring stunning coastlines and open waters, it’s time for me to move on as I transition to a catamaran. This well-equipped, extensively upgraded vessel is ideal for serious cruisers or those dreaming of extended liveaboard life.

 

Vessel History & Ownership

 • Built: 1981

 • Coast Guard Documented Vessel: Hull #TYA372990981

 • Ownership: I am the third owner

 • Second Owner: Sailed from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver Island, then down to San Diego

 • Third Owner (Me):

 • Purchased in San Diego in 2016

 • Mexico (3 years) – Cruised Baja, Sea of Cortez, and Pacific coast

 • El Salvador & Nicaragua (1 year) – Exploring Central America

 • Costa Rica (2 years) – Lived aboard while cruising

 • Panama (2 years, Pacific Side) – Extensive anchorages and coastal sailing

 • Crossed the Panama Canal in March 2024 and is now in Shelter Bay Marina (Caribbean Side)

 

This Tayana 37 Pilot House has proven itself as a safe, capable bluewater cruiser and comfortable liveaboard over thousands of miles of real-world offshore sailing.

 

Specifications & Features

 

General:

 • Make/Model: Tayana 37 Pilot House

 • Year: 1981

 • Engine: Perkins 4.108 (50 hp) – approx. 2,500 hours

 • Current Maintenance: Completing 3,000-hour service (replaced injector nozzles, overhauled high-pressure fuel pump)

 

Fuel & Water Systems:

 • Fuel: 90-gallon diesel fuel tank

 • Water: 100-gallon stainless steel (SS-316) water tank

 • Fuel Filtration: Dual Racor 500 fuel filtration system for added engine reliability

 

Hull & Anchoring System:

 • Solid fiberglass hull (bluewater proven)

 • Two new coats of bottom paint applied in December 2024

 • Anchors:

 • 33 lb Bruce anchor

 • 45 lb CQR anchor

 • 300 ft of anchor chain (new in 2023)

 

Sails & Rigging:

 • Main Sail: Good condition

 • Foresail (Genoa) on Furler

 • Staysail on Furler

 • Cruising Spinnaker – For downwind sailing

 • Storm Trysail – Essential for heavy weather conditions

 • Standing Rigging: All replaced in February 2022

 • Running Backstays: Installed February 2022

 • Chainplates: External bronze chainplates installed (Feb 2022)

 • Traveler: Harken Big Boat traveler (installed Jan 2023)

 • Mainsail Track: Tides Marine Strong Track system (installed Apr 2021) – for easy hoists and drops

 • Spinnaker Pole

 

Electronics & Communication:

 • VHF Radio: Standard Horizon (with AIS & GPS)

 • Handheld VHF: Standard Horizon portable unit

 • SSB Radio: ICOM IC-M710 marine transceiver (long-range comms)

 • Emergency Beacon: EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)

 

Safety Equipment:

 • Emergency Tiller

 • Companionway Storm Shutter

 • Life Sling Overboard Rescue System

 • Jack Lines

 • Bosun’s Chair

 • Ditch Bag (grab-and-go emergency kit)

 

Additional Upgrades (since 2016):

 • Electric Windlass: Lofrans Tigress (powerful windlass for easy anchoring)

 • Through-Hulls: All through-hull fittings replaced in August 2022

 • Watermaker: Installed – makes extended cruising possible

 • Inverter/Charger: Mastervolt Mass Combi 110V/2500W (reliable power management)

 • Refrigeration: Built-in refrigerator (like new) + portable Dometic cooler (can function as freezer or fridge)

 • Life Raft: Six-man life raft, recently recertified

 

Navigation & Instrumentation

 • Chartplotter: B&G Zeus² 9-inch display (modern nav suite)

 • Radar: B&G 4k radar for tracking weather cells and traffic

 • AIS: Vesper AIS transponder (see and be seen by other vessels)

 • Autopilot: Simrad NAC-3 Autopilot with hydraulic RAM T2 (12V) and wireless remote – a robust self-steering system

 • Windvane: Monitor Windvane (installed new in 2016) – reliable self-steering for long passages

 • Steering: Wheel steering in cockpit (pilothouse interior wheel is currently disabled by choice)

 

Galley & Comfort Features

 • Range & Oven: Hillerange two-burner propane stove with oven and stovetop fiddles

 • Propane System: Two aluminum propane tanks in a dedicated propane locker

 • Sleeping Comfort:

 • Custom V-Berth Mattress by Handcraft Mattress Company (superior comfort for offshore sleeping) (very comfortable!)

 • Ventilation & Protection:

 • Screens for all portholes, hatches, and companionway

 

Power & Utilities

 • Generator: Honda 2 kW portable generator (used sparingly for backup power)

 • Solar: 300W fixed solar panels + 150W flexible/removable panels (total 450W)

 • Solar Controller: Victron 50A MPPT charge controller (efficiently manages solar input)

 • Water Heater: Isotherm/Isotemp marine water heater for hot showers onboard

 

Tender & Extras

 • Dinghy: Walker Bay 8’10” hard dinghy (2018) – perfect for reaching shore

 • Outboard for Dinghy: Nissan 8 hp 2-stroke (1993) – runs well

 • Tools & Spares: An extensive collection of tools, spares, and maintenance parts will be included, so you’re well-prepared for any eventuality

 

Why This Tayana 37?

 

This boat is proven, well-equipped, and ready to go. Whether you’re looking for a serious bluewater cruiser, a comfortable liveaboard, or a long-distance passage-maker, this Tayana 37 has everything needed to set sail today.

 • Proven Voyage Record – Thousands of miles of real-world cruising experience.

 • Offshore Ready – Equipped with a watermaker, windvane, autopilot, solar, AIS, and EPIRB – self-sufficient for ocean crossings.

 • Refit & Upgraded – Standing rigging, chainplates, mainsail track, traveler, thru-hulls, and more already upgraded—sail worry-free.