Design and Construction
Ta Chiao built the CT-47 with a solid fiberglass hull, and the design was offered with different keel alternatives from the outset. One configuration draws 6.00 to 6.30 feet depending on load, while a fin-keel version stretches to 6.76–7.06 feet; both limit the boat to major-marina access different keel alternatives. At a displacement near 29,400 pounds with roughly 12,000 pounds of lead ballast, the 41 percent ballast ratio sits higher than 76 percent of comparable designs, and the 250 displacement-length figure places her among “moderate racers,” with 46 percent of similar boats rated heavier. Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.57 makes her slimmer than two-thirds of her peers, a proportion that reads as a sea-kindly cruiser rather than a beamy charter hull.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig carries a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.38 against a 908-square-foot sail plan, and the running rigging follows predictable cruiser dimensions: jib and genoa sheets of 47 feet at 5/8-inch diameter, a 117.5-foot mainsheet, and a 103.4-foot spinnaker sheet, all 5/8-inch estimated mainsheet length. Under power, a 60-horsepower inboard diesel with shaft drive pushes the theoretical maximum to about 6.5 knots, while the displacement hull’s theoretical top speed is 8.2 knots. The capsize screening value of 1.70 would, by that formula alone, admit her to ocean racing, and the Motion Comfort Ratio of 36.3 beats 62 percent of similar designs. The wetted surface of about 538 square feet and an immersion rate near 1,719 pounds per inch speak to a substantial hull that holds her line in a seaway.
Accommodations
Below, the CT-47 is equipped with seven berths, a count that supports extended cruising with a small crew or family. The layout is not itemized in the record beyond that figure, but the beam and waterline suggest a full-size cruising interior rather than a stripped racer. The 13-foot-2-inch beam and 37-foot-6-inch waterline give the volume a moderate-displacement hull can use without resorting to extreme beam.
Known Issues
The principal buyer-relevant caveat is draft: both keel options restrict her to major marinas, and the fin-keel variant in particular demands deeper berthing fin keel version.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a sub-100-production Ta Chiao means a small fleet with limited shared knowledge. The solid-fiberglass hull and the CT-47’s specific keel alternatives mean any survey must confirm which draft the individual hull carries. A 60-horsepower diesel with shaft drive is a conventional, serviceable platform for repower or transmission work.
The Verdict
The CT-47 is a thoughtfully proportioned Ta Chiao cruiser that pairs a slim, high-ballast hull with a comfortable motion profile and ocean-capable screening numbers. She is no lightweight, but her moderate displacement and cutter rig make her a credible bluewater candidate for the knowledgeable owner.
Pros
- High 41 percent ballast ratio exceeds most similar designs
- Comfort ratio better than 62 percent of comparable boats
- Capsize screening admits ocean-racing consideration
- Seven berths for extended cruising
Cons
- Both keel options restrict to major marinas
- Fewer than 100 built limits shared owner knowledge
