Design and Construction
Perry's CT-56 carries the robust solid fiberglass construction and full keel for seaworthiness that define the classic Ta Chiao cruising ethos. At 55.5 feet overall with a 44.5-foot waterline, the hull displaces 61,688 pounds and carries 19,750 pounds of ballast, yielding a ballast-displacement ratio of 32.02 and a comfort ratio of 51.85 — numbers that place her firmly among the steadiest of traditional offshore cruisers. The long-keel footprint and attached rudder give directional stability suited to passages where the helm is left to itself, and the 6.83-foot draft is modest enough for warm-water cruising grounds. The deck is solid fiberglass, and the interior is finished in spacious teak, an environment well matched to couples or small families on coastal or offshore passages.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig provides balanced sail plans for short-handed sailing, splitting the 1,563 square feet of working area into manageable units. The mainsail measures 573 square feet on a 59-foot luff, while the mizzen and a 115-percent jib of 755 square feet round out the standard inventory; an asymmetric sail of 1,804 square feet and a 271-square-foot storm jib extend the range. That division lets a small crew reef or strike sails in heavy weather without wrestling a single overwhelming canvas, and the proven global-adventure record speaks to the rig's suitability offshore.
Accommodations
Below, the spacious teak interior reflects the boat's volume — a 15.5-foot beam and the raised-quarterdeck aft arrangement give genuine liveaboard room. The layout was conceived for couples or small families undertaking coastal or offshore passages, and the customization many hulls received for blue water means owners should expect varied interior configurations rather than a single standard plan. Teak surrounds the saloon and cabins, lending the warm, traditional character buyers associate with the CT name.
Refits and Ownership
Because many CT-56s were customized for blue-water voyages, the fleet shows wide variation in equipment and interior finish, and a buyer should treat each hull as an individual specification. The solid fiberglass hull and full keel are straightforward structurally, but the teak interior and deck details demand the same care any traditional cruiser requires. With only 20 to 30 built, the model remains a comparatively rare sight, and prospective owners should budget for the realities of maintaining a 1980s Taiwanese cruiser rather than expecting turnkey modern systems.
The Verdict
The CT-56 is a serious offshore ketch for those who value Perry's proven full-keel architecture and a teak-lined interior scaled for extended living aboard. She is not a light-air performer or a marina maneuvering toy, but her construction and rig balance suit a couple or small family with blue-water ambitions.
Pros
- Robust solid fiberglass hull with full keel for seaworthiness
- Ketch rig splits sail area for manageable short-handed handling
- Spacious teak interior suited to liveaboard and offshore passage-making
- Proven on global adventures including circumnavigations
Cons
- Heavy displacement and long keel make tight-quarters maneuvering demanding
- Only 20–30 built, so fleet support and comparable sales data are limited
- Teak interior and traditional systems require ongoing owner commitment
