The Vancouver 34 epitomises the best of British boatbuilding — strong construction, high-quality finish, and a superb reputation for offshore voyaging.
Designed for sailors who enjoy extended cruising in all conditions, she is equally suited to ocean passages and coastal exploring. Despite her offshore pedigree, the relatively shallow draft of the long keel allows you to venture into creeks and harbours that deeper-keeled yachts cannot. The cutter rig makes it easy to adjust sail area, whether powering along in light airs or shortening down for heavy weather. Below decks, the accommodation is comfortable and cosy with excellent storage, all designed with practicality firmly in mind.
This one-owner example boasts a high specification, including a bow thruster, Eberspächer heating, wheel steering, Flexiteek decks and toerail, modern instrumentation, autopilot, radar, a fully battened mainsail, and much more.
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Peter Keats by phone, email or WhatsApp.
Construction, Rig & Machinery
Construction and Dimensions
GRP Hull, deck and superstructure
Blue gelcoat topsides
Long keel
Wheel steering with Whitlock edestal
Last antifouled Spring 2025
Flexiteek decks and toe rail (New 2015)
Teak laid cockpit seating
Teak laid cockpit floor
Treadmaster replaced for Kiwi Grip (2019)
Midship mooring cleats with fairleads
APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS:
Length Overall: 10.44m (34'3")
Length Waterline: 8.38m (27'6")
Beam: 3.2m (10'6")
Draft: 1.44m (4'9")
Displacement: 6,350kg
Ballast: 2,722kg
Rig
Masthead cutter rig
Kemp aluminium mast and spars
Spinnaker pole
Stainless steel standing rigging replaced March 2016
Furlex 304s Yankee furler (New 2021)
Furlex 200s Staysail furler
All line led aft via Spinlock clutches
Single line reefing with three reefs
Lazyjacks with stackbag
Lewmar cars
Lewmar traveller
Twin backstays
WINCHES:
2 x Lewmar 44 Self tailing primary winches
2 x Lewmar 16 self tailing halyard winches
1 x Mast halyard winch
SAILS:
Fully battened mainsail by Arun Sails in 2015
Yankee by Arun Sails in 2015
Staysail by Arun Sails in 2015
Furling Gennaker by Arun Sails
Machinery
Yanmar 3GM30 27hp diesel engine
954cc three cylinder motor with fresh water cooling
2194 hours run
Last serviced June 2025
Exhaust temperature early warning alarm
Maximum speed: 7 knots approx
Cruising speed: 6 knots approx
Shaft drive to feathering Darglow three blade propeller
Ambassador rope cutter
Single lever throttle/shift on the pedestal
Sleipner Side Power bow thruster with control panel at the helm and wireless remote control
ELECTRICS:
1 x Engine start battery (New February 2024)
2 x Domestic batteries (New September 2023)
1 x Bow thruster battery in (New September 2023)
Batteries charged by engine alternator (New 2025) and Sterling 240v shore power battery charger
Sterling battery monitor and power manager (New 2023)
Shore power inlet with outlets at the galley, saloon and forward cabin
Twin USB outlets and 12V accessory outlet in the forward cabin
12v Accessory outlet at the companionway
WATER SYSTEM
Pressurised hot and cold water system
Water heated by engine calorifier and 240v shore power immersion heater (New calorifier and immersion heater in June 2025)
TANKAGE:
180 litre (40 gallon) fuel tank
227 litre (50 gallon) water tank
Holding tank with deck and overboard discharge
Accommodation & Inventory
Sleeps six in one cabin and the saloon
Eberspacher diesel fired warm air heating
Teak and holly cabin sole
Lewmar opening port hatches (with new perspex in 2020) throughout the accommodation
Curtains (New 2016)
FORWARD CABIN:
Large double V berth with storage below
Dressing table with mirrow and storage
Hanging locker
Shelf
HEADS/SHOWER COMPARTMENT:
Jabsco sea toilet (New 2015, New pump 2022) with SeaSmart sanitation system
Handbasin with hot and cold mixer/shower wand
Shower rail
High and low level lockers and shelves
Cup holder
Mirror
Toilet roll holder
SALOON:
C Shaped dinette sofa (with storage below and behind) converts to a double berth
Settee berth (with storage below and behind) with trotter box
Drop leaf saloon saloon table
Drinks cabinet
Hanging locker
High level lockers and shelves
GALLEY:
Stainless steel sink with drainer, hot and cold mixer, manual pump
Plastimo Voyager 4500 stainless steel 2 burner cooker with oven and grill (New 2019)
Refrigerator (New 2017) - Located under the navigator's seat
Retractable cooker cover
High and low level storage lockers and drawers
Kitchen roll holder
Wet hanging locker with slatted teak floor
NAVIGATION AREA:
Full size chart table with storage below
Navigator's seat - with refrigerator below
Book case
Electrical distribution panel
COCKPIT:
Folding drop leaf teak table
Teak cup holders
Deep locker to port
2 x Gas bottle lockers
2 x Stern lockers
Inventory
NAVIGATION AIDS:
Silva 125 pedestal mounted compass
Raymarine A50 pedestal mounted GPS/Chartplotter display
Raymarine autopilot (stripped and serviced in 2023) with p70 control unit
Raymarine i70 multi function display
Autohelm Speed (Companionway)
Autohelm Depth (Companionway)
Raymarine i70 Wind (Companionway) New 2019
Raymarine Axiom 7 touchscreen GPS/plotter display (Chart table and New 2019)
Furuno radar (Chart table)
Autohelm Multi (Chart table)
Icom IC-M423G DSC VHF radio with integrated GPS
Icom Commandmic VHF handset for the pedestal
Clock and barometer
Navigation lights
GROUND TACKLE:
Delta anchor with 30 metres chain and warp
Lofrans Royal manual windlass with drum and gypsy
Twin roller stemhead fitting
GENERAL INVENTORY:
Cannister liferaft with cradle (Service due)
Gas detector (New 2016)
Cockpit harness rings
Webbing Jackstays
Jonbuoy
Fire blanket
2 x Manual bilge pumps
Rule automatic bilge pump (New 2016)
Boarding ladder
Beaching legs
Pushpit mounted outboard bracket
Sprayhood with grab rail
Fully enclosed cockpit tent
Dodgers
Winter sprayhood with new windows
Winter washboards
Fenders and warps
Boathook
Cockpit seat cushions
Fusion stereo radio/MP3 player with Fusion waterproof cockpit speakers and Blaupunkt speakers in the saloon
Owner's Comments
After sailing our Westerly Merlin, we decided we wanted to extend our cruising range now that we were able to sail as a couple, with our children growing up. We were looking for a long-keel yacht that would give us sure-footed, seakindly handling in varying conditions — something that would allow us to pop down to the chart table or put the kettle on, confident that the boat would still be heading in the right direction when we returned to the cockpit!
We explored various options but chose the Vancouver for her relatively shallow draft, ideal for our enjoyment of “ditch-crawling” in Poole Harbour, as well as exploring West Country and continental rivers. We also wanted a well protected propeller to reduce the risk of fouling fishing lines. The quality of build and finish from Northshore was another deciding factor.
We bought Aquila new in 1995 and have kept her on a marina berth at Poole Yacht Club ever since. We have loved — and still love — her. Aquila has been everything we hoped for and more. We have cruised the length of the South Coast, the Channel Islands, and the north coast of France from Le Havre to the Morbihan, including the offshore islands.
We have maintained her continuously, renewing the standing rigging, sails and navigation equipment, with the engine serviced annually by Yanmar dealers.
It is with a heavy heart that we are offering Aquila for sale, for reasons that include spending more time with our grandchildren.