Design and Construction
Perry's early-eighties design pairs a 34.5-foot waterline with a 6-foot draft that varies between 6.0 and 6.30 feet depending on load, a long-keel configuration that trades upwind agility for directional stability in a seaway. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with the interior finished in teak as was common in Ta Shing's cruising builds. A displacement-length ratio of 278 and a length-beam ratio of 3.09 describe a moderate, volume-bearing hull; the wetted surface of about 505 square feet is consistent with a full long-keel form that holds its track offshore. An immersion rate of 1,617 pounds per inch underscores how heavily she sits for her length, a trait that serves comfort but limits liveliness in marginal breeze.
Rig and Handling
The Panda 40 is built with a cutter rig, a sensible offshore arrangement for a boat of this displacement. With the ISO reference sail her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 14.7; fitted to a 135 percent genoa that figure rises to 17.8, giving a useful turn of speed when the breeze fills. Period specifications list a mainsail halyard and jib/genoa halyard each at 119.3 feet with a half-inch diameter, while the working sheets run about 40 feet at 14 millimeters, dimensions that tell the buyer she was engineered for secure, low-stretch control under load. A capsize screening value of 1.67 and a motion comfort ratio of 41.48 place her among the steadier cruising designs of the era, and her theoretical maximal speed of 8.0 knots is reached from a cruise of 6.0 and a measured max of 7.0.
Accommodations
Below, the Panda 40 offers two cabins and a berth plan listed as four plus three, a galley, and a toilet facility, all set off in teak. The fresh-water capacity of 174 US gallons and the fuel tank of 105 US gallons support extended independent cruising without constant resupply. The two-cabin layout with a separate saloon berth complement suggests a boat arranged for a cruising couple with occasional guests rather than charter-grade crowding, and the teak interior speaks to the period's expectation of a warm, enclosed cabin.
Equipment and Power
The Panda 40 may be equipped with an inboard Yanmar 150 EH diesel rated at 52 horsepower, turning a shaft drive rather than a saildrive. That installation, with a 105-gallon fuel capacity, returns a cruise of 6.0 knots and a top of 7.0 under power, figures that align with her displacement and long-keel efficiency. The shaft-drive transmission is a straightforward, serviceable arrangement for a boat of this class.
The Verdict
The Panda 40 is a Perry-designed, Ta Shing-built long-keel cruiser with the volume, ballast, and comfort numbers of a true offshore boat. Her cutter rig, deep ballast ratio, and teak-finished two-cabin interior make her a credible candidate for serious cruising, though the heavy displacement and moderate sail plan reward patience in light air.
Pros
- Long-keel solid-fiberglass hull with 41 percent ballast ratio for offshore stability
- Cutter rig with practical 135 percent genoa sail-area gain
- Generous 174-gallon water and 105-gallon fuel capacity for extended cruising
- Comfortable motion and capsize-screening figures for a 40-foot cruiser
Cons
- Heavy displacement and 278 D/L ratio limit liveliness in light winds
- Six-foot-plus draft with load dependence restricts shallow anchorages
