BoatsBaba 40

Baba 40

Cutter · Long Keel · 1980–1982

A 13-ton cutter with a 41.5 comfort ratio, built between 1980 and 1982 for steady, long-distance passage making

Designed by Robert H. Perry, built by TA Shing Shipyards (Taiwan).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Baba 40, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Adventureman Dan

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 42 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 42
CoastalBluewater

At 1.67 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.67
LightHeavy

315 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 315
EasygoingPowered-up

14.7 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.7
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~86% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~88% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 390 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Baba 40, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Baba 40 is a Robert Perry-designed cutter-rigged, long-keeled sailboat built by Ta Shing Shipyards in Taiwan from 1980 to 1982, sharing its design with the Panda 40 and Tashiba 40.0:05 With an LOA of 12.1 meters and a displacement of 13,154 kg, it is considered a heavy-displacement, offshore-capable vessel.0:03 A 1983 Baba 40, *Hornblower*, was extensively rebuilt by its owners, who replaced teak handrails with stainless steel, refinished interior woodwork, and fabricated a hard-top dodger. *Hornblower* carries an 88-pound Rocna and a 55-pound Delta anchor, with a Lighthouse 1502 windlass and a single powered cockpit winch that also lifts the dinghy.0:43 Its electrical system features Victron components, lithium batteries, and a 45-hp Yanmar diesel.0:51 The Baba 40 is noted for its robust construction suitable for long-distance passage-making.0:26

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Baba 40 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
$49,000Median asking

  • Baba 40 listed for $49,000, a good price for a boat that typically sells for around $100,000

    from Be The Captainseen April 20253:13

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.7
Displacement / length
315.3
Comfort ratio
41.5
Capsize screening
1.67
Hull speed
7.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1582
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1980–1982
Units built
115
Designer
Robert H. Perry
Builder
Ta Shing Shipyards (TAIWAN)

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Panda 4012.16 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Perry-designed cutter with a long keel and heavy displacement, sharing the classic lines of the Baba 40
Freeing A Stuck Mast on a 1981 Panda 40 at Seaview Boatyard in Seattle, Washington0:16from Sailing Triteia
Cape George 3811.58 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 1985 cutter with a 1.58-meter draft and high comfort ratio, designed by Atkin and Lange for steady offshore work
Our Mast Doesn't Quite Fit Anymore.0:46from Sailing Magic Carpet
Morgan Yachts Out Island 4112.57 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA prolific long-keeled masthead sloop designed by Charles Morgan Jr. that became a staple of the global charter trade
The Real Cruising Sailboat - Morgan - Episode 115 - Lady K Sailing6:25from Lady K Sailing
Hans Christian 38T11.56 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA traditional cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built between 1976 and 1989 for steady offshore cruising
the BRUTAL take down of a Hans Christian 38T - Ep 237 - Lady K Sailing0:53from Lady K Sailing
Hans Christian 4312.99 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA 12.99-meter staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built from 1974 to 1992 for steady offshore work
This Bluewater Legend Might Be the Wrong Boat – Hans Christian 43Tfrom Lady K Sailing
Formosa 4112.47 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA William Garden-designed masthead ketch with a long keel, also marketed as the Yankee Clipper 41 and Atlantic Clipper
WORST Sailboats to Buy in 20250:49from Be The Captain

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Baba 40 Pilot HouseA pilot house cutter with a heavy displacement and high comfort ratio, designed for protected offshore watch-keepingBaba 35Originally marketed as the Flying Dutchman 35, this heavy-displacement cutter offers a stable, long-keel platformPanda 40A Robert Perry-designed cutter with a long keel and heavy displacement, sharing the classic lines of the Baba 40Baba 30A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, built by Shing Sheng and Ta Shing between 1976 and 1986Tashiba 40A 13-ton cutter with a high comfort ratio of 41.48, engineered for steady, long-distance passage makingPanda 34A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Gary Grant as a refined evolution of the BABA 35

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The fleet has more to say

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