Comparing a classic bluewater cruiser with three rivals
Issue 41 : Mar/Apr 2005
The Bob Perry-designed Tayana 37 has long been considered one of the classic bluewater cruisers in her size range, as have the other three yachts in this comparison. Certainly the Tayana has a lot going for her: husky displacement, generous sail area, a high comfort ratio, very low capsize factor, and reasonable draft, neither too deep nor too shoal. Many cruising sailors will favor her full-keel configuration over that of the moderate fin keel of the Crealock 37 although I, for one, feel that either configuration is quite acceptable for offshore cruising.
My only concerns about the Tayana would be for her modest ballast ratio and her deck-stepped mast. Her good draft helps allay fears about the ballast ratio to some degree, and the deck-stepped mast (though not my preference) is acceptable, provided the tube is adequately strong. A friend of mine, a retired USCG commander, has sailed all over the world in his Tayana 37, and I’ve never heard a word from him about any problems with either her stability or her rig.
The three double-enders in this comparison have, far and away, the heaviest displacement/length ratios. There is certainly nothing wrong with that for an oceangoing vessel as long as the sail area is commensurate with the displacement. The Hans Christian has a rather low sail area/displacement ratio, though, and, with her long waterline and full keel, would not be at her liveliest in a light breeze. She may not be the best choice for summer sailing on Long Island Sound, but she definitely appears to be eminently suitable for rounding Cape Horn or equally adventurous voyages.
The Crealock 37 appears a bit light on sail area also, when compared to the Tayana and the Island Packet, but her narrower beam, shorter waterline, and moderate fin keel eliminate a great deal of wetted surface so I expect she would perform quite well in our usual summer breezes. Indeed, if it came to an around-the-buoys race, the Crealock may well have a slight edge over her full-keel competition.
The Tayana and Hans Christian have it in spades when it comes to motion comfort, due to their generous displacement. They would be the boats of choice to ride out a gale, but the other two are still in a normal range for yachts of their size and should have no problems encountering the usual ocean swells.
Selecting one of these four yachts over the others will definitely come down to a personal choice. They all have unique advantages: the versatility of the Tayana, the huskiness of the Hans Christian, the performance of the Crealock and, not to be overlooked, the shoal draft of the Island Packet for the kind of coastal gunkhole cruising that so many of us love. It’s your choice.
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