Robert H. Perry had already drawn the earlier CT-54 for the same yard, and the CT-56 was inspired by Perry's earlier designs like the CT 54. It was a larger evolution of that proven lineage rather than a clean-sheet design. Many boats left the factory customized for blue-water sailing, and the type has since undertaken global adventures, including circumnavigations.
Design and Construction
The CT-56 combines robust solid-fiberglass construction with the full keel associated with the classic Ta Chiao approach to seaworthiness. The deck is also solid fiberglass.
At 55.5 feet overall and 44.5 feet on the waterline, the hull displaces 61,688 pounds and carries 19,750 pounds of ballast. Its ballast-displacement ratio is 32.02, and its comfort ratio is 51.85—figures that place it firmly among the steadiest traditional offshore cruisers. The long-keel footprint and attached rudder provide the directional stability wanted on passages where the helm may be left to itself. A draft of 6.83 feet is modest enough for warm-water cruising grounds.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig provides balanced sail plans for short-handed sailing, dividing 1,563 square feet of working sail area into manageable units. The mainsail measures 573 square feet and has a 59-foot luff. The standard inventory also includes the mizzen and a 115-percent jib measuring 755 square feet. An asymmetric sail of 1,804 square feet and a 271-square-foot storm jib extend the sail plan’s range.
Dividing the sail plan this way allows a small crew to reef or strike sails in heavy weather without handling one overwhelming piece of canvas. The type’s proven record of global adventures also supports the rig’s suitability for offshore sailing.
Heavy displacement and a long keel come with clear trade-offs. The CT-56 isn’t a light-air performer, and maneuvering in tight marina quarters can be demanding.
Accommodations
Below, the 15.5-foot beam and raised-quarterdeck aft arrangement provide genuine liveaboard room. The spacious teak interior was conceived for couples or small families undertaking coastal or offshore passages. Teak surrounds the saloon and cabins, giving the interior the warm, traditional character buyers associate with the CT name.
Many hulls were customized for blue-water voyages, so owners should expect considerable variation in equipment, finish, and interior configuration rather than a single standard plan.
Refits and Ownership
A buyer should treat each CT-56 as an individual specification because of the fleet’s wide variation in equipment and interior finish. The solid-fiberglass hull and full keel are structurally straightforward, but the teak interior and deck details require the same care as those on any traditional cruiser. Its traditional systems also demand ongoing owner commitment.
With only 20 to 30 boats built, the CT-56 remains comparatively rare. Fleet support and comparable sales data are limited, and prospective owners should budget for the realities of maintaining a 1980s Taiwanese cruiser rather than expect turnkey modern systems.
The Verdict
The CT-56 is a serious offshore ketch for sailors who value Perry’s proven full-keel architecture and a teak-lined interior sized for extended living aboard. It isn’t a light-air performer or a marina maneuvering toy, but its construction and balanced rig suit a couple or small family with blue-water ambitions.
Pros
- Robust solid-fiberglass hull and full keel for seaworthiness
- Ketch rig divides the sail area for manageable short-handed sailing
- Spacious teak interior suited to living aboard and offshore passage-making
- Proven on global adventures, including circumnavigations
Cons
- Heavy displacement and a long keel make tight-quarters maneuvering demanding
- Only 20–30 were built, limiting fleet support and comparable sales data
- Teak interior and traditional systems require ongoing owner commitment
