Ta Shing Baba 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Ta Shing Baba 30 means entering the world of a Robert Perry double-ender built from 1978 to 1985, more than 230 produced, with two interior versions—a V-berth popular on the West Coast and a double berth favored in the East. These are traditionally styled cruisers conceived by Bob Berg’s Flying Dutchman International and constructed by Ta Shing in Taiwan, and the used fleet spans early boats with full teak-overlaid decks and later fiberglass decks with teak only in the cockpit seating. Knowing which era a listed boat represents tells you what to expect before you step aboard.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Baba 30’s cabin sole is teak and holly, with headroom of 6 feet 4 inches and surfaces teak except galley counters. The galley is a U-shape to port below the companionway; opposite is the nav station with a quarterberth aft, and a triangular head to starboard forward of the saloon. The V-berth fills the bow at 77 by 60 inches in the West Coast version, while the East Coast double-berth model trades that bow arrangement. A hanging locker to port is 43 inches high, and another sits starboard of the engine; water and fuel tanks lie below the settees. Cockpit seating is realistic for four adults on 60-by-20-inch benches, with a 44-by-28-inch footwell and two 2-inch scuppers, plus a port lazarette and vented propane compartment.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, chartplotter, bimini, dodger and teak decks are commonly fitted, while lithium batteries, wind generator, bow thruster and radar are often seen. Heating, spinnaker, asymmetric spinnaker, freezer, AIS, a completed circumnavigation or transatlantic passage are less common owner upgrades. The original boats carried a tall cutter rig with a 4-foot bowsprit, self-tending staysails and Lewmar 30 and 40 two-speed winches; early examples left with one set of shrouds before fore and aft lowers were added after a dismasting, and later boats gained a boom gallows. Builder-era changes also moved early Volvo engines to Yanmar and spruce spars to aluminum.
What to Inspect
Documented issues center on the hull and systems. Some hulls showed minor blistering usually within 12 inches of the waterline, linked by a surveyor to isophthalic rather than orthophthalic resin use. The same surveyor found some chainplate bolts have corroded, though they remain visible from below for easy monitoring. His chief criticism was the steel fuel tank, and owners report actual fuel capacity of just 27 gallons against 40 advertised, with two 40-gallon water tanks holding only 50 combined. Some owners complain oil-filter changes are an acrobatic challenge with the engine reached by removing companionway steps. Water and mud can come aboard with ground tackle through the forepeak louvered doors.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Baba 30 are the United States, Malaysia, Colombia and the United Kingdom. When you go aboard, check chainplate bolt condition from below, probe for blistering near the waterline, confirm fuel and water tank actual capacities, and assess the steel tank for corrosion. Verify rig updates (lower shrouds, aluminum spars, boom gallows per era) and inspect electrical bundling and plumbing noted as sound on well-kept examples.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Ta Shing Baba 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 3 | $ 49,999 | — |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $ 34,900 | -30.2% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $ 34,700 | -0.6% |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $ 13,500 | -61.1% |
| Sep 25 | 3 | $ 49,500 | +266.7% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $ 51,954 | +5.0% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $ 45,000 | -13.4% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 56,500 | +25.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 53,844 | -4.7% |
| May 26 | 3 | $ 35,900 | -33.3% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $ 55,000 | +53.2% |
Where they're listed
Ta Shing Baba 30 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 10 (71.4%), followed by Malaysia and Colombia.
Country view
14 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 45,250 | 10 | 3 | 71.4% |
| Malaysia | $ 44,407 | 2 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Colombia | $ 55,000 | 1 | 1 | 7.1% |
| United Kingdom | $ 53,844 | 1 | 0 | 7.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 30 | 31.08' | $ 55,970 | 114 | 41 |
| Ta Shing Baba 30You are here | — | $ 45,500 | 15 | 4 |
| Cornish Crabbers Pilot 30 | 38.98' | $ 112,423 | 6 | 0 |