BoatsTA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56

TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56

Masthead Ketch · Long Keel · First built 1986

A Robert Perry-designed masthead ketch with a long keel, built for heavy-displacement offshore comfort and stability

Designed by Robert H. Perry.

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

See her sail

The TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56, on the water

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

Footage from The Sailing Doodles Podcast

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 narrow beam gives 52 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 52
CoastalBluewater

At 1.57 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.57
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 313
EasygoingPowered-up

16.1 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.1
TenderStiff

32% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 32%

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

  • Heavier than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~94% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~94% of boats her size on file

Compared with 98 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Ta Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (TAIWAN) Ct-56 is a Robert H. Perry-designed masthead ketch, built from 1986 to the present, known for its long keel and heavy displacement of 27,981 kg. With an LOA of 16.9 meters, a beam of 4.7 meters, and a draft of 2.1 meters, it has a comfort ratio of 51.9. Aboard *Sailing Doodles*, the 1989 CT-56 *Naughty Dogs* sailed from an anchorage outside Shroud Key in the Exuma Island chain, Bahamas, to Norman's Key to snorkel a crashed airplane wreck.0:17 The crew later anchored off New Bight on Cat Island in the Bahamas to hike to the Hermitage at Mount Alvernia, noting the vessel remained stable in increasing chop due to its heavy displacement.0:03 The owner of *Naughty Dogs* attempted to raffle the boat after failing to sell it, with the winner receiving cash when the reserve price was not met.4:22

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 18 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56 on video

The Captain Threatened to Jump Overboard Mid-OceanBobby discusses redundant coolant pump requirements and in-mast furling benefits for the Island Spirit catamaran.The Sailing Doodles PodcastDutch vs French St. Martin: Cheap Lagoon Living… Then We LEFTSimpson Bay Lagoon offers affordable low-season dockage and convenient dinghy access to St. Martin’s Dutch side amenities.Sailing DoodlesWho Won My Boat?A 1989 CT56 sailboat raffle failed to meet its reserve, resulting in a $53,000 cash prize payout.Sailing DoodlesBikini Dancing, Rum & Sharks | Sailing French PolynesiaA full-island power outage shuts restaurants and the dinghy fuel dock during a nine-day French Polynesia charter.Sailing DoodlesSailing Bora Bora + Meet Chloe | Paradise at SeaBora Bora town dock charges $40 for 100 gallons of water and bans overnight stays.Sailing DoodlesPerfect Day at Soggy Dollar… + Want to Join My Crew?Bobby invites a couple to crew four months in Thailand, then host a Sailing Doodles spinoff channel.Sailing DoodlesThe Insurance Saga Is Finally Over… Here’s What I Can SayMaverick's Malaysia total-loss insurance claim settles; Bobby contracts Island SPIRIT 525 hull five for February delivery in Thailand.The Sailing Doodles PodcastStop Wasting Money on These Boat Fixes!Prioritize lithium batteries, solar, and robust ground tackle before investing in luxury upgrades like electric winches.The Sailing Doodles PodcastSailing 400 Miles with No Rules? | Bahamas to USA AdventureThe crew of Doodles manages a wet exhaust leak during a 400-mile passage from the Bahamas to Charleston.Sailing DoodlesDrama with the Crew, Trouble in ParadiseA 1989 CT 56 navigates the shallow Abacos while the owner manages a crew transition and fuel logistics.Sailing DoodlesExploring a Real Cartel Plane Wreck Underwater!A Commander C-46 Medellin cartel plane wreck sits in 10 feet of water off Norman's Key, Bahamas.Sailing DoodlesWrecked Boat Update and much more!Seven months after the Island SPIRIT 525 grounded in Malaysia, Bobby White's insurance claim remains unresolved.The Sailing Doodles Podcast

What they go for

Market signal

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

2seen for sale
1seen sold
1channel weighed buying one
US$160,000Median asking

For sale

Sold

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
32.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.1
Displacement / length
312.5
Comfort ratio
51.9
Capsize screening
1.57
Hull speed
8.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2465
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1986
Designer
Robert H. Perry
Builder
Ta Chaio Shipbuilding Co

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.

TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-5416.46 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed staysail ketch with a heavy-displacement long keel, originally intended as a Hans Christian 54
Rescuing a stranded boat!2:53from Sailing Doodles
Cabo Rico 5617.07 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement cutter designed by Chuck Paine, featuring a long keel and high comfort ratio for stable blue-water cruising
Farewell S/V Coralia - Pre-Sale Sea Trialfrom Hold Fast!
Formosa Yachts 5115.49 mSame hull family1.4 m shorterA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel that served as the foundation for multiple production yachts
A Huge Upgrade To Magic Carpet!15:32from Sailing Magic Carpet
Vagabond 4714.20 mSame hull family2.7 m shorterA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel, built for heavy-displacement offshore comfort since 1972
1-Week Alone at Sea1:45from Huub Vlogs
Hans Christian 4312.99 mSame hull family3.9 m shorterA 12.99-metre 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
Dolphin 47 (Alden)14.30 mSame hull family2.6 m shorterA heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising
Are Windows Really a Good Idea in Hulls?3:58from Lucky Pete Sailing AQUALIBRA

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-48A Robert Perry-designed staysail ketch built for offshore comfort with a heavy displacement and skeg-mounted rudderTA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-54A Robert Perry-designed staysail ketch with a heavy-displacement long keel, originally intended as a Hans Christian 54TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-47A versatile cutter from the board of F. Michael Kaufman, built in Taiwan with over 80 hulls produced for varied layoutsTA Yang Yacht Building Co. Ltd. Ct-37A Robert Perry-designed long-keel cutter built for heavy-displacement comfort and offshore stabilityTA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-49A traditional-stern cutter offering multiple rig and cockpit configurations for customised offshore cruisingTA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-38A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel and traditional bowsprit, designed for stable, blue-water cruising

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-56

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