Vancouver 38 Pilothouse

Vancouver 38 Pilothouse 1996 for sale Kent £114,950

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a well-proven 1996 Vancouver 38 Pilot House, renowned for its exceptional build quality, seaworthiness, and long-distance cruising capability. Designed for serious passagemaking in comfort and safety, this example features the highly regarded cutter sloop rig, offering versatility and ease of sail handling across a wide range of conditions, complemented by an extensive inventory of sails.

She has been in the same careful ownership for the past 20 years, a testament to her reliability and enduring appeal. Powered by a dependable Yanmar 4JH engine, she is equipped for extended cruising with a comprehensive specification including generator (requires attention), water maker, wind generators, and an impressive inventory of spares valued in excess of £5,000.

This Vancouver 38 presents an excellent opportunity for a knowledgeable buyer to acquire a capable bluewater cruiser with all the essential equipment already in place. Now offered for sale as the owner is relocating, she represents outstanding value for those seeking a vessel ready to be recommissioned for serious offshore adventures. The owner is currently removing a wealth of personal belongings, after which internal photos will be taken. 

Please call our Kent Office +44 (0)1634 571605 for further information or to arrange a viewing.

The Vancouver 38 Pilot has a classic, robust bluewater cruiser designed for long-distance comfort and safety. Like others in the Vancouver line (notably from Pheon Yachts and later Northshore Yachts in the UK), it features a traditional cutter?rigged layout paired with the raised pilot?house configuration that distinguishes the model.

Saloon:

Entering from the cockpit, you step down into a spacious pilot house with excellent visibility through large, toughened-glass windows. To starboard sits an inside steering station with full engine controls, navigation instruments, and a comfortable helm seat. To port, there’s a U-shaped settee or watch berth, which can double as a sea berth on passage. The raised sole offers dry, protected access to all living spaces below without compromising headroom, which is approx 6ft 4 inches. 

Finished in rich teak joinery, it has a U?shaped settee to port that surrounds a large, folding-leaf table with pink colour upholstery. Ample storage lockers and bookshelves line the hull sides. Multiple opening ports and ventilators maintain airflow at anchor or underway.

Galley:

A couple of steps lead you to the galley, which is located to starboard and is designed for use in heavy weather. It includes a gimballed 2-burner gas stove with oven, top?loading 12v refrigerator, new in 2023 with a freezer box, deep double stainless sinks, and plentiful counter and locker space—all arranged for secure bracing on either tack. The galley also has a microwave that is located in the saloon area.  It has pressurised hot and cold water that is heated by the engine via a calorifier tank and a 240v immersion heater. 

Navigation Station;

Opposite the saloon table (to starboard) lies a dedicated navigation area with a full?size chart table, electronics panel, and additional storage. Being adjacent to the pilot house makes it convenient for communication between inside and outside helm positions.

Forward Cabin;

The forecabin has a comfortable V?berth with an infill to create a double berth. Hanging lockers and drawers provide storage for extended cruising gear. A deck hatch above ensures light and ventilation.

Head and Shower

A spacious head compartment sits just aft of the forward cabin ( to starboard), fitted with a marine toilet, washbasin, and shower facility, with easy?clean surfaces and good drainage all with hot and cold water. 

Midship Cabin:

The midship cabin hosts a large double berth, hanging lockers, and drawers that provide storage for extended cruising gear. A deck hatch above ensures light and ventilation.

Aft Cabin / Quarter Berth:

The aft port quarter hosts a large single or small double berth, partly beneath the cockpit sole—ideal for off?watch crew or guests. Access is comfortable from the pilot house level. It has its own head compartment fitted with a marine toilet, washbasin, and shower facility, with easy?clean surfaces and good drainage all with hot and cold water. This head also has a 60Litre holding tank. 

General Comfort and Finish:

Throughout, the finish reflects Northshore’s high craftsmanship—teak interiors, solid fittings, and a layout optimised for both liveaboard life and offshore security. With full standing headroom and excellent insulation from the pilot house, it is a genuinely all-weather vessel, suited for extended voyaging in northern or southern latitudes.

• Main Anchor 45lb CQR (galvanised), 60m x 3/8ths inch chain and 100m warp
• Kedge Anchor, Fortress
• Electric Windlass Lofran's 
• Double stainless steel bow roller
• Lifeline gate
• Mainsail cover  - Blue
• Sprayhood - Blue
• Full white boat cover for warmer climates
• Binnacle and wheel cover - Blue
• Boarding Ladder
• 6 x Fenders
• 6 x Mooring warps 
• Sea anchor and droge
• Mast steps 
• Dinghy inflatable 3 person
• Outboard Honda 2.3 HP
• Mast steps
• Harken tri-roller genoa cars
• Spinnaker turning blocks
• 2 x Boat hooks
• Over £5,000 of engine, watermaker, generator and other spares onboard

• Compass (Rigel)
• Depth (Raymarine Tridata
• Speed/Log (Raymarine ) Tridata
• Wind (Raymarine)
• VHF ICOM M411 DSC 
• Hand Held VHF ICOM 
• Yeoman Plotter
• Chart Plotter - Garmin - colour
• Radar Furuno
• SSB Radio ( Not known if working)
• Auto pilot (Raymarine) with S100 smart pilot
• Windvane self-steering (HYDRO VANE )
• Navtex 
• Electronic Charts (Navionics)
• Navigation Lights plus steaming light
• Masthead Tri-colour and anchor light
• Some Paper Charts and navigation books
• Clock and Barometer 

• 5 x Fire Extinguisher 
• 1 x Fire Blanket
• Gas DAlarm
• Jack Stays x 2
• Cockpit Harness points x 3
• Deck Light
• Horseshoe Lifebuoy with floating Light
• Danbouy
• MOB Sling
• EPIRB - 2015 
• Emergency Tiller
• 2 x Bilge Pumps - manual
• 1 x Bilge Pumps - electric
• First Aid Kit -
• Radar Reflector - Echomax 

The hull and deck are generously laid-up by hand using bi-directional mat with Isophthalic resin (better resistance against osmosis) and substantially reinforced all around her long, encapsulated fin keel.

This design helps keep ropes and debris away from the prop, while a cutaway forward helps speed up tacking and improve manoeuvrability under power. The topsides and deck of the Vancouver 38 Pilothouse are sandwiched with end-grain balsa for insulation and weight reduction, and the hull deck join is both through-bolted and bonded over for watertight integrity. It has a Teak Deck.  The yacht has been cruised extensively in Western Europe and the Canary Islands, which is why she has been well-maintained and updated over the years. 

This yacht has been owned by the current owner for the past 20 years. It has had only one previous owner. The current owner is only selling as he is relocating to France and retiring from sailing.  The vessel w will be coming ashore in April 2026 for its annual maintenance and an insurance survey. She was last out of the water in 2025 when she was antifouled, hull polished, and anodes changed.  There are lots of spares and manuals included with the sale. 

Title Documents: 

When preparing these details, we have seen the following documentation: 

• Bill of Sale in the owner’s name.
• Builders Certificate
• British Ships Part 1 Certificate valid until June 2026
• The invoice showing VAT has been paid at the time of purchase.
• Proof of location on 31^st December 2020.
• Invoices for work completed on the vessel.

Marine Insurance:

As one of the UK’s largest Brokers with over 700 boats for sale we can introduce you to Boat Insurance providers that offer all types of Boat Insurance, including insurance for Yachts, Sailing Boats, Motor Cruisers, Narrowboats, Inland Waterway Craft, Barges, Houseboats, Speedboats, Rigid Inflatable Boats, Waterski Boats, Jet Skis, Personal Watercraft and Dinghies.

Just click on the following link to request an insurance quote for this boat or your current boat: www.networkyachtbrokerskent.co.uk/marineinsurance/ 

Network Yacht Brokers Kent Ltd has the largest range of boats for sale in Kent.  The company normally acts as brokers for the vendor who, unless otherwise stated, is not selling in the course of a business. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of these particulars, the correctness is not guaranteed and they are intended as a guide only and do not constitute a part of any contract. A prospective buyer is strongly advised to check these particulars and, where appropriate and at his own expense, to employ a qualified marine surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted, which, if conducted by us shall not imply any liability on our part.

General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment, such as liferaft, fire extinguishers and flares etc., is usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on board as part of the sale of a used vessel, may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owner’s specific needs.

This Vancouver 38 has a Bermudan cutter deck stepped, masthead rig with Kemp alloy mast and boom. It also has two spinnaker poles. The stainless steel standing rigging is original, and its replacement is reflected in the listing price.  The running rigging was mostly replaced in 2024. It has two manual backstay adjusters. 

There is a fully battened Mainsail with Frederiksen cars and compression fittings with single-line slab reefing and drops into a stack pack. Headsail (Yankee) and Genoa with Furlex furling system.  It also has a hank on Staysail and a Trisail.  It has twin Genoas to enable it to sail as a "Solent Rig"

Winches:

• 2 x Sheet Lewmar 48, self-tailing
• 2 x Halyard Lewmar 16, self-tailing 
• 2 x Haylard Lewmar 16. self-tailing at the Mast
• 2 x Spinnaker  Lewmar 30 self-tailing 

Sails:

• Mainsail, fully battened Dacron/Dynema (Arun Sails) Ocean specification, 2022. Very good condition
• 2 x Genoa, Dacron, Jackells, 2024. Excellent condition
• Slutter Dacron (Arun Sails). Good condition
• Staysail Dacron (Arun Sails) with deck bag. Good condition
• Storm Stay Sail (Arun Sails). Good condition
• Storm Jib Dacron (Arun Sails). Good condition
• Tri-sail (Arun Sails). Good condition
• Cruising Chute with snuffer, with sheets and guys.