Ta Chiao CT-47 Information, Review, Specs

Sailing Performance & Handling

The CT 47 is defined by its balanced, offshore-ready handling. With a displacement-to-length (D/L) ratio of approximately 249 and a sail area-to-displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of 15.3, the vessel is categorized as a moderate-displacement cruiser. Its underbody features a deep fin keel—often found in a Scheel keel configuration for reduced draft without sacrificing lift—and a robust skeg-hung rudder. This combination provides excellent tracking in a seaway while remaining significantly more maneuverable in tight quarters than its full-keeled predecessors.

The cutter rig is the most common configuration, providing a versatile sail plan for heavy weather. According to professional mariner John Kretschmer, who has logged over 100,000 miles on his own Kaufman 47, the hull is remarkably stiff and capable of "hauling the mail" in staunch winds, often maintaining speeds over 7 knots with a double-reefed main and staysail Cruising World. The boat is known for its light steering and ability to remain balanced even when pressed, a testament to the IOR-influenced but cruising-refined hull shape.

Interior Comfort & Variations

Inside, the CT 47 maintains the Ta Chiao reputation for high-quality teak joinery and a luxurious, traditional ambiance. The most frequent layout is a three-cabin, two-head configuration, which was considered highly progressive for a 47-foot boat in the 1980s. The salon is typically characterized by a large U-shaped dinette to port and a straight settee to starboard, with a dedicated navigation station and a sea-kindly U-shaped galley.

Sibling models built on the same hull include the CT 49, which is essentially the same vessel but with an extended traditional transom, adding two feet of overall length. The shipyard also produced a Center Cockpit (CC) variant of the 47, which altered the interior to include a voluminous master stateroom aft, though the Aft Cockpit version remains more sought after for its sleeker profile and better cockpit ergonomics for active sailing. Headroom is generous throughout, often exceeding 6'4" in the main cabin, though the interior can feel somewhat dark due to the extensive use of satin-varnished teak.

Popular Mentions & Media

The CT 47’s most enduring claim to fame is its association with John Kretschmer, a renowned offshore delivery skipper and author. His CT 47, Quetzal, has been featured extensively in his books, such as Sailing A Serious Ocean, and in numerous articles for Cruising World, where he discusses the boat's survivability and performance in extreme conditions. This specific model has become a "poster child" for the performance-cruising genre, proving that Taiwanese-built boats could be both rugged and fast.

Known Issues & Buyer’s Checklist

While the hull is a solid fiberglass laminate of considerable thickness, buyers should focus on the specific "Taiwanese build" quirks common to this era.

• Fuel Vent Design: A unique and problematic feature on some Ta Chiao models involved fuel vents routed through stanchion bases. This design is prone to spilling diesel onto the teak decks during fueling and can lead to water ingress into the fuel tanks if the stanchion bases are not perfectly sealed.
• Black Iron Tanks: Like many Asian builds of the 1980s, the original fuel and water tanks were often made of black iron or low-grade stainless steel. These are prone to internal corrosion and pitting, and replacement often requires significant joinery removal.
• Teak Deck Longevity: Most CT 47s were delivered with thick teak decks screwed into a balsa or foam-cored sub-deck. Over decades, these screws can provide paths for water to enter the core. Prospective buyers should use a moisture meter to check for delamination around the chainplates and deck hardware.
• Rudder Water Ingress: The skeg-hung rudders are typically hollow FRP shells filled with foam. These often "ship water" over time, leading to internal saturation and potential corrosion of the internal stainless steel skeleton.

Community & Resources

Owners and enthusiasts of this model typically congregate within the broader Ta Chiao / CT Owners associations. Technical support and original line drawings are often exchanged through the CT Owners Association and dedicated owner groups on technical forums. Detailed histories of the yard's evolution and its collaboration with designers like Robert Perry and Mike Kaufman can be found through architectural archives at Jordan Yachts.

The Verdict

The Ta Chiao CT 47 is an elite-level bluewater cruiser that offers a rare blend of "old world" interior craftsmanship and "new world" performance.

Pros

• Exceptional heavy-weather performance and sea-kindliness.
• Beautiful, high-end teak joinery and robust interior storage.
• Proven circumnavigation pedigree with significant media validation.

Cons

• High maintenance requirements for exterior teak and aging stainless steel.
• Potentially expensive repairs for original iron tanks and cored decks.
• Heavier and slower in light air compared to modern light-displacement cruisers.