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Vancouver 36
Designer: Tony Taylore  ·  Builder: Northshore Yachts Ltd.  ·  First built: 1989
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About the Vancouver 36

Renowned among bluewater cruisers, the Vancouver 36 is a serious offshore passagemaker with a loyal following among sailors who prioritize seaworthiness and long-distance capability over speed or flash. Designed by Robert Harris and built by Pacific Boat Builders in Canada, this full-keel cutter carries a reputation as one of the more capable ocean-going cruisers produced in North America during its era. The design reflects traditional bluewater philosophy — a deep, full keel for directional stability and ground-tackle protection, a cutter rig for flexible sail handling offshore, and a sturdy hull built to handle demanding conditions far from shore. These characteristics make the Vancouver 36 particularly well suited to extended bluewater passages and high-latitude sailing, where reliability and seakeeping matter far more than racing performance. Owners frequently praise the boat's confident motion in heavy weather and its ability to inspire trust when conditions deteriorate. For the prospective buyer seeking a capable, self-sufficient cruising vessel with genuine offshore credentials and a well-established community of experienced owners, the Vancouver 36 deserves serious consideration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.92 ft / 8.51 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 20,494.00 lb / 9,296 kg
Ballast 7,600.00 lb / 3,447 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 691.00 ft² / 64.20 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Tony Taylore
Builder Northshore Yachts Ltd.
First Built 1989
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
183
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
14.82
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
42.81
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.61
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.08
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
0.93
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 46.7
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.2
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.6
SA Fore 378.27
SA Main 312.44
How It Compares

vs. Bayfield 36, Cape George 36, Cs 36 Merlin, Sabre 36, Tashiba 36 Ph

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Vancouver 36 ★
36.0 ft
Bayfield 36
36.0 ft
Cape George 36
36.0 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
36.0 ft
Sabre 36
36.0 ft
Tashiba 36 Ph
36.0 ft
LWL
Vancouver 36 ★
27.9 ft
Bayfield 36
30.5 ft
Cape George 36
31.5 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
29.2 ft
Sabre 36
29.3 ft
Tashiba 36 Ph
30.4 ft
Beam
Vancouver 36 ★
11.0 ft
Bayfield 36
12.0 ft
Cape George 36
10.5 ft
Cs 36 Merlin
11.5 ft
Sabre 36
11.3 ft
Tashiba 36 Ph
11.8 ft
Displacement
Vancouver 36 ★
20 lbs
Bayfield 36
18 lbs
Cape George 36
23 lbs
Cs 36 Merlin
13 lbs
Sabre 36
13 lbs
Tashiba 36 Ph
20 lbs
Ballast
Vancouver 36 ★
7 lbs
Bayfield 36
6 lbs
Cape George 36
10 lbs
Cs 36 Merlin
5 lbs
Sabre 36
5 lbs
Tashiba 36 Ph
8 lbs
Sail Area
Vancouver 36 ★
691 sq ft
Bayfield 36
738 sq ft
Cape George 36
806 sq ft
Cs 36 Merlin
608 sq ft
Sabre 36
610 sq ft
Tashiba 36 Ph
705 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Vancouver 36 ★
183 s/nm
Bayfield 36
192 s/nm
Cape George 36
180 s/nm
Cs 36 Merlin
126 s/nm
Sabre 36
144 s/nm
Tashiba 36 Ph
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Vancouver 36 ★
14.8
Bayfield 36
16.9
Cape George 36
15.9
Cs 36 Merlin
17.7
Sabre 36
17.5
Tashiba 36 Ph
15.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Vancouver 36 ★
Bayfield 36
35.1 %
Cape George 36
45.1 %
Cs 36 Merlin
43.0 %
Sabre 36
Tashiba 36 Ph
43.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Vancouver 36 ★
42.8
Bayfield 36
32.5
Cape George 36
47.8
Cs 36 Merlin
24.9
Sabre 36
25.9
Tashiba 36 Ph
36.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Vancouver 36 ★
1.61
Bayfield 36
1.82
Cape George 36
1.47
Cs 36 Merlin
1.96
Sabre 36
1.91
Tashiba 36 Ph
1.72
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Vancouver 36 ★
Bayfield 36
291
Cape George 36
332
Cs 36 Merlin
233
Sabre 36
Tashiba 36 Ph
322
Hull Speed
Vancouver 36 ★
7.1 kts
Bayfield 36
7.4 kts
Cape George 36
7.5 kts
Cs 36 Merlin
7.2 kts
Sabre 36
7.3 kts
Tashiba 36 Ph
7.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Vancouver 36 ★
0.9
Bayfield 36
1.9
Cape George 36
1.4
Cs 36 Merlin
2.4
Sabre 36
2.4
Tashiba 36 Ph
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