TA Chiao CT-56 for sale

The Ta Chiao CT-56 is a classic 56-foot ocean ketch designed for a very specific type of navigation: long-distance cruising, life on board and voyages where autonomy, stability and solidity are more important than the lightness of a modern production sailboat. This 1992 unit is located in Marbella / Puerto Banús and stands out because its current owner began a wide-ranging update in 2020, acting on several of the most valuable systems in a boat of this size.
The CT-56 was designed by Robert H. Perry and built in Taiwan by Ta Chiao Ship Building Co. Her architecture reflects the school of large Taiwanese heavy displacement cruisers: GRP hull, long keel, generous beam, ketch rig and an interior layout designed to spend a lot of time on board.
In this unit, that classic base is combined with a 165 HP Doosan L136 installed during the renovation, Vetus bow thruster, Fischer Panda generator, Raymarine electronics, hot/cold air conditioning, large fuel and water capacities, three double cabins and two full bathrooms. Added to this are particularly relevant recent actions such as teak deck and sails in 2021, wind instrument in 2024 and shaft and propeller in 2025.
It is not a boat designed to compete with a light 56-footer in pure performance. Its appeal lies elsewhere: character, volume, autonomy, stowage capacity, slower movement at sea and a serious platform for traveling and living on board.
Why this CT-56 deserves attention
On a sailboat of this age the difference between two units of the same model can be enormous. In this case, much of the interest is in the combination between a classic ocean platform and an extensive modernization: engine, electricity, electronics, deck, sails, kitchen, cold, upholstery, mattresses, shaft and propeller have received attention in recent years.
The layout of three double cabins, the large owner’s cabin aft, the 900 liters of water, the 1,350 liters of fuel, the generator and the air conditioning make the CT-56 something closer to a small cruising house than to a sailboat designed only for weekend outings.
The maneuver is also important. The ketch rig divides the sail area between main, mizzen and headsails, allowing the boat to be configured in different ways depending on wind and course. In port, the 160 kgf Vetus bow thruster provides especially valuable help in a boat of this length and displacement.
CT-56 architecture and navigation philosophy
Historical design specifications place the CT-56 at 16.92 m in length, 4.72 m in beam, approximately 27.98 tons of displacement, 8.96 tons of ballast and 145 m² of declared sail area. The unit is advertised rounded to 17.00 x 4.70 m.
The published ratios of the model - a displacement/length greater than 300 and a comfort ratio above 50 - describe its character well: a heavy, stable cruiser with a lot of inertia. The long keel provides continuity under the hull and the ketch allows efforts to be distributed over several sails, a combination historically appreciated in large cruising boats.
The design draft of the model is approximately 2.08 m and the published theoretical hull speed is around 8.9 knots. These are figures consistent with a boat designed to maintain pace and comfort for hours, not to seek rapid accelerations.
Main data of the unit
Shipyard: Ta Chiao Ship Building Co.
Model: CT-56
Year: 1992
Designer: Robert H. Perry
Type: ocean cruise ketch
Construction: GRP
Keel: long
Model design draft: approx. 2.08m
Cabins: 3 doubles
Bathrooms: 2 full
Interior height: up to 2.20 m
Capacity: 14 people
Flag: Spanish
Location: Marbella / Puerto Banús, Spain
Price: €330,000
Engine, transmission and maneuver
Engine: Doosan L136 6-cylinder
Engine year: 2020
Power: 165 HP / 121 kW
Hours: approx. 600 hours
Fuel: diesel
Transmission: shaft line
Propeller shaft: replaced in 2025
Propeller: replaced in 2025
Bow thruster: Vetus 160 kgf
Repowering is one of the most practical updates to the ship. A 165 HP Doosan offers a reasonable power reserve for a unit of this size and, together with the replacement of the shaft and propeller in 2025, leaves a very significant part of the propulsion chain renewed.
The 160 kgf bow thruster is not a minor extra: on a ketch of around 17 meters and high displacement it can make a significant difference when maneuvering in tight spaces or with cross winds.
Generator and electrical system
Generator: Fischer Panda 16000 series
Reference power: 16 kW
Generator hours: approx. 90 hours
Chargers: Victron 12 V and 24 V
Inverter: installed
Shore power: installed
Batteries: bank renewed during the refit
Electrical installation: renewed during the renovation
Lighting: Interior ambient LED
In a boat intended for long stays on board, energy generation and management directly determine comfort. The Fischer Panda set, Victron chargers, inverter, shore power connection and battery bank allows you to power domestic services, air conditioning and electronics without depending exclusively on a dock outlet.
Tanks and autonomy on board
Fuel: 1,350 L
Fresh water: 900 L
Black water: 1,000 L
Capabilities are one of the strong points of the CT-56 concept. The 1,350 liters of diesel and 900 liters of water fit the concept of a boat designed to stay days or weeks away from its home port, while the large black water tank provides additional margin for extended stays.
Sails, masts and maneuvering
Rig: ketch
Mast: aluminum
Mast height: 20 m
Sails: set renewed in 2021
Mainsail: 60 m², with lazyjacks and lazy bag
Mizzen: renovated in 2021
Genoa: 120 m², furling
Staysail / jib: 25 m²
Asymmetrical / spinnaker: 35 m²
Rigid boom vang: Rodkicker 30
Winches: 10 manual Lewmar
The ketch allows you to work with very varied sail combinations: main and genoa in normal conditions, mizzen support to balance the boat or more conservative configurations when the wind increases. On a heavy cruiser, this ability to distribute surface area and reduce panel sizes is an important part of the design philosophy.
Anchoring and deck
Deck: teak replaced in 2021
Cockpit: teak finish
Windlass: Lofrans Falcon 1,700 W
Chain: 100 m stainless steel
Main anchor: stainless steel, 45 kg
Second anchoring: second anchoring system
Exterior protection: bimini and sprayhood
Cockpit: table and outdoor shower
Access to water: swimming ladder
Boarding: gangway
Tender handling: davits
Renewing the teak on a boat of this size is an important intervention both in terms of cost and work. Added to the powerful windlass, the 100 meters of chain and the 45 kg anchor, the deck maintains a focus clearly oriented towards cruising and long anchorages.
Electronics, communications and navigation
Plotters: two Raymarine screens
Radar: Raymarine
AIS: installed
Autopilot: with remote control
Wind: instrument renewed in 2024
Depth and speed: depth sounder and speed log
Positioning: GPS
Steering: compass
VHF: two devices, exterior and interior
Long range radio: installed
Connectivity: internet on board
Electronic security: EPIRB and MOB system
Radar reflector: installed
The electronics and communications upgrade bridges one of the common gaps between a classic ’90s cruiser and a boat ready to sail today. The combination of radar, AIS, double plotter, pilot with remote control, double VHF and long-range communications is especially consistent with its travel orientation.
Interior, distribution and life on board
The interior maintains one of the features that gives the most personality to this type of Taiwanese construction: abundant teak carpentry, teak and holly flooring, and a much warmer and more solid feeling than that of many contemporary interiors. The interior height reaches approximately 2.20 m in the main areas, something especially appreciated for long stays.
The layout offers three double cabins: two cabins in the bow and a large owner’s cabin aft. It is completed with two full bathrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen and stowage spaces typical of a ship designed to transport luggage, spare parts and provisions during long cruises.
Upholstery and mattresses have been updated during the refurbishment, and ambient LED lighting helps update the ambience without eliminating the boat’s classic character.
Kitchen
Countertop: Dekton
Dishwasher: installed
Refrigerator: with renewed compressor
Freezer: with renewed compressor
Oven: installed
Microwave: installed
Kitchen: electric / ceramic hob
Sink: installed
Extraction: extractor hood
The kitchen is closer to the approach of a home on board than to that of a small auxiliary kitchen. The Dekton, the dishwasher and the independent refrigerator are especially useful for a couple or family who wants to spend long periods on the boat.
Comfort
Air conditioning: hot/cold air conditioning in the rooms
Hot water: installed
Washing machine: installed
Television: installed
Audio: stereo and speakers in cockpit
Connectivity: Bluetooth and internet on board
Security
Life raft: included
Lifejackets: 14 units
Fire protection: five manual extinguishers and one automatic system
EPIRB: installed
MOB system: installed
Navigation lights: installed
Bilge pumps: electric and manual
Refit and main updates
The refit is probably the element that most differentiates this unit from another CT-56 preserved only with period equipment. This is not a single aesthetic improvement, but rather a succession of works that affect navigation, propulsion, energy, habitability and deck.
Since 2020: comprehensive renovation promoted by the current owner
2020: Doosan L136 engine installed during modernization
2021: teak deck replaced
2021: sail inventory renewed
During the refit: electrical installation and battery bank renewed
During the refit: modernized Raymarine electronics
During the refit: updated kitchen, cold compressors, upholstery and mattresses
2024: renewed wind instrument
2025: shaft and propeller replaced
For a buyer, this type of work has more value than a simple list of accessories because it acts on expensive and difficult to renew systems on a 17-meter boat. The result is a classic platform that retains its identity, but with an important part of its infrastructure updated.… » whole text » less text