Design and Construction
Perry’s last full-keel production design did not arrive from a blank sheet. Her hull shape is a variation on the Baba 40, which itself was a full-keeled descendant of the fast fin-keeled Valiant 40 anchor. On the 31, the leading edge of the modified full keel was pushed further forward, the bilge turn tightened, and the bow entrance fine-tuned, yielding what reviewers called the best boats ever designed with modified full keels. The build quality is superb, and though small on the outside the interior is big and opulent, as is typical of Taiwanese builder Ta Shing. At 13,790 lbs displacement with 4,705 lbs of standard ballast (4,100 in the pilothouse), she is a solid, lead-ballasted cruiser of 10-foot-8 beam and 25-foot-10 waterline.
Rig and Handling
The 31 is quick, close to the breeze, sturdy, and well-balanced, a character consistent with her refined modified full keel and 550 square feet of sail area. A Yanmar 3GM30F of 27 hp provides auxiliary power, with 35 gallons of diesel and 90 gallons of water carried. The standard draft is 5 feet, with a 4-foot-6 shoal option available. These are boats that reward attentive steering rather than demanding it, and the fine-tuned bow and forward-raked keel lead give her a directional steadiness rare in a sub-36-foot double-ender.
Accommodations
Ta Shing offered the Tashiba 31 in three variants. Two were aft-cockpit layouts: one with a seagoing quarter-berth proved the most popular, while the other placed a forward stateroom with the head aft. A pilothouse version was also produced — unusual for a boat of this length — though only two were made. The compact deck masks a surprisingly generous and richly finished interior, the kind of opulent belowdecks space that made Ta Shing’s reputation and that continues to surprise visitors who step down from the modest cockpit.
Known Issues
The Baba 30 and the Tashiba 31 are frequently confused as variations on the same boat despite the years between the designs.
The Verdict
The Tashiba 31 is a short-run, Perry-designed double-ender that distills bluewater pedigree into a 31-foot hull with a lavish interior and a refined modified full keel. She is a collector-grade small cruiser rather than a volume production boat, best suited to a buyer who values build integrity and helm manners over fleet availability.
Pros
- Final Bob Perry full-keel production design with Baba 40/Valiant 40 lineage
- Superb build quality with opulent, roomy interior on a small hull
- Quick, well-balanced, close-winded handling under modified full keel
Cons
- Only 26 built; scarce on the used market
- Frequently confused with the Baba 30 by unaware buyers
- Pilothouse variant effectively unobtainable at two units
