Design and Construction
Ta Chiao built the Scorpio 72 in fiberglass, with a solid hull and long full keel. The boat displaces 114,000 pounds and carries 56,000 pounds of lead ballast, giving it a ballast-to-displacement ratio of just over 49 percent.
Its 17.75-foot beam and length-to-beam ratio of 3.66 describe a voluminous, directional hull rather than a light-footed racer. Wetted surface is close to 936 square feet, while the immersion rate is roughly 3,150 pounds per inch. The hull therefore settles heavily as weight comes aboard, consistent with a draft that varies from 6.76 to 7.06 feet depending on load.
A capsize screening value of 1.46 places the Scorpio 72 firmly in the offshore-cruiser range. Its theoretical hull speed is 9.6 knots, typical for a displacement boat with a 50.92-foot waterline.
Rig and Handling
The Scorpio 72 carries a ketch rig. A 1991 rig reference lists sheet dimensions that convey the scale of the sail plan and its associated gear. Jib and genoa sheets are about 65 feet long and 5/8 inch in diameter. The mainsheet is roughly 162 feet long, and the spinnaker sheets about 143 feet; all are listed at the same 16 mm specification.
Those lengths point to a large sail plan requiring substantial winches and lead blocks. The ketch configuration divides the driving sail area, making downwind sail trim easier for a short-handed crew. A skeg-hung rudder and full keel provide predictable tracking, though the high immersion rate means the boat responds more slowly to changes in trim than lighter craft.
Accommodations
Available information classifies the Scorpio 72 as a large sailboat, with a 50.92-foot waterline and a broad 17.75-foot beam. The volume implied by those dimensions, together with a comfort ratio of 69.35, suggests a roomy, stable platform suited to liveaboard cruising. Detailed information about the interior arrangement isn’t available in the existing facts.
Verdict
The Scorpio 72 is a Perry-designed, Ta Chiao-built offshore ketch with stability figures and straightforward construction that will appeal to long-distance cruisers. Its solid-fiberglass, full-keel hull and heavy ballast provide reassuring seakeeping margins, while the ketch rig divides the sail area into more manageable portions.
The trade-offs are those expected of a 114,000-pound displacement boat: modest theoretical top speed, high immersion, slow responses to changes in trim, and the cost of maintaining large-dimension running rigging.
Pros
- Robert H. Perry design with a documented offshore stability figure: a capsize screening value of 1.46
- Solid-fiberglass hull and long full keel built by Ta Chiao
- Ketch rig divides sail area for more manageable handling
Cons
- Heavy displacement limits speed and responsiveness
- Long, large-diameter sheets imply significant wear and replacement costs
- Available facts don’t describe the interior in detail
