Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Tashiba 36 PH was to deliver an uncompromising, seaworthy passage-maker capable of transiting the world's most demanding oceans while keeping its crew dry, warm, and comfortable. Robert Perry sought to improve upon his earlier traditional designs, such as the Baba 35, by refining the underwater profile and creating a firmer turn to the bilge to enhance initial stability. Compared to contemporary competitors of the era, such as the Pacific Seacraft 37 or the Cape George 36, the Tashiba 36 PH distinguished itself through its integration of a true pilot station, which offered a distinct alternative to standard aft-cockpit arrangements.
The interior design is a masterclass in the traditional joinery that defined Ta Shing’s reputation. Avoiding the clinical, modular fiberglass liners common in modern mass-production boats, the builder utilized hand-fitted, satin-varnished solid teak throughout the cabin. The joinery features exquisite details such as louvered locker doors, laminated door frames, and a solid teak table, contrasted beautifully by a white laminate overhead and cabin-sides that prevent the interior from feeling dark or cave-like. The fit and finish are paired with practical cruising details, including heavy bronze opening portlights and a prominent centerline butterfly hatch that provides abundant light and ventilation.
Variations & Configurations
While the standard Tashiba 36 was built as a traditional low-profile aft-cockpit cutter, the Pilot House (PH) variation is a significant and rare departure. It features an elevated deckhouse with large, 10-millimeter tempered glass windows, which dramatically alters both the exterior profile and the interior layout. This pilothouse configuration incorporates a dual-station steering arrangement: a mechanical wheel pedestal in the cockpit and a fully functioning hydraulic steering station inside the cabin, complete with secondary engine controls and navigation instruments.
This layout shift reconfigures the living spaces below. Instead of the standard model’s single forward stateroom and aft quarter berth, the Tashiba 36 PH offers a highly desirable two-cabin, single-head layout. The master stateroom remains forward with a spacious V-berth, while a second midship/aft stateroom is tucked beneath the raised portion of the salon. The head features a separate, molded fiberglass stall shower—a luxury rarely found on a vessel of this length. The raised salon contains an elevated dinette to port, allowing those seated to enjoy panoramic views through the large deckhouse windows. This design trade-off slightly reduces the cockpit’s seating length but delivers a spacious, airy interior volume that makes the 36-foot vessel feel and function like a much larger yacht.
Sailing Performance & Sea-Keeping
The physical behavior of the Tashiba 36 PH in a seaway is directly tied to its technical design ratios. With a displacement of 20,350 pounds and a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 42.95%, the yacht is incredibly stiff and possesses excellent righting capabilities. Its displacement-to-length ratio of 322.73 firmly establishes it as a heavy displacement cruiser, designed to carry its momentum through chop rather than accelerate rapidly in light air. Under sail, its sail area-to-displacement ratio of 15.13 indicates a conservative cutter rig that is highly manageable for short-handed crews but can feel somewhat underpowered in light breeze under 10 knots.
At the helm, the yacht is characterized by exceptional tracking and predictable, gentle motion. The long, modified full keel features a deeply cutaway forefoot, which helps balance the boat's straight-line directional stability with improved agility compared to more traditional full keels. In heavy seas, the high comfort ratio of 36.82 translates to an easy, slow-rolling motion that significantly reduces crew fatigue on long passages. The capsize screening ratio of 1.72 is well below the safety threshold of 2.0, confirming its status as a premier choice for bluewater passages. However, close-quarters maneuvering is a known challenge. Under power from its 44-horsepower Yanmar diesel engine, the substantial keel and attached rudder make backing down in tight marinas difficult, requiring helmsmen to anticipate strong prop walk and utilize assertive prop-wash techniques.
Known Issues & Technical Triage
Despite its exceptional build quality, the Tashiba 36 PH has aged into a period where specific structural and mechanical issues require systematic inspection. First among these is the integrity of the teak decks. Most units left the Ta Shing yard with thick teak planks fastened with thousands of screws into a balsa-cored fiberglass sub-deck. Over time, the sealant around these fasteners degrades, allowing water to migrate into the balsa core and cause rot and delamination. Prospective buyers should perform a thorough moisture meter survey and tap-test of the decks.
The fuel system presents another critical area for triage. The original builds utilized a black iron fuel tank, which is highly susceptible to corrosion. Water pooling in the bilge can rust the bottom of the tank, while deck leaks or condensation can attack the top. Replacing this tank is a labor-intensive, costly endeavor that typically requires cutting into the teak-and-holly salon floor.
Additionally, the stainless steel chainplates are robust but are buried behind the elaborate teak interior cabinetry, making them difficult to inspect. Water leaking through the deck chainplate slots can cause crevice corrosion in the stainless steel. A prudent owner must systematically access, unbolt, and inspect these plates to prevent rig failure. Finally, some owners report that the chain locker drainage at the bow is easily clogged, which can lead to standing water migrating into the forward wooden bulkhead if left unmanaged.
Modernization & Cruising Upgrades
As these vessels are increasingly prepared for modern, off-grid blue-water cruising, owners have developed successful paths for refitting and updating their systems. A common major upgrade is the complete removal of the original teak decks. Rather than re-laying expensive teak, many owners strip the wood, patch the thousands of screw holes, repair any soft spots in the balsa core with structural foam, and apply a low-maintenance, high-durability non-skid pattern using gelcoat or Awlgrip paint.
Rusted mild-steel fuel tanks are frequently replaced with custom-fabricated 5052 marine-grade aluminum or heavy-duty polyethylene tanks. Some owners resolve the space constraint during this swap by installing two smaller tanks connected by a manifold, allowing the replacement units to be carried through the companionway without damaging the interior cabinetry.
Electrical modernization is another popular trend. The heavy hull construction of the Tashiba 36 PH easily carries the weight of advanced electrical setups. Veteran owners are converting the standard house battery banks to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) systems, which fit neatly into the under-sole compartments. These lithium conversions are typically paired with high-output alternators on the Yanmar diesel and modern solar arrays mounted either on custom stern-mounted arches or directly on the pilot house roof, providing true energy independence for long-term liveaboards.
The Verdict
The Tashiba 36 PH is an aristocrat of the traditional cruising world, appealing to sailors who prioritize sea-kindly handling, robust structural integrity, and exquisite woodwork over maximum interior cabin count. While its heavy displacement and traditional hull form mean it is not a light-air racer, its ability to protect its crew in comfort at sea remains almost unmatched in its size class.
Pros
- Exceptional craftsmanship and world-class, solid teak joinery throughout the interior.
- Safe, predictable, and comfortable motion in heavy seas with a low capsize risk.
- High-latitude utility provided by the protected interior helm and 360-degree pilothouse visibility.
- Excellent dual-cabin layout with a separate stall shower, which is unusual for a 36-foot boat.
- Modified full keel with a cutaway forefoot balances tracking stability with decent maneuverability.
Cons
- Maintenance-intensive exterior teak trim and potential for balsa core deck rot.
- Vulnerable and difficult-to-replace original black iron fuel tanks.
- Challenging close-quarters maneuvering in reverse due to prop walk and a long keel.
- Heavy displacement design makes it slow and underpowered in light air.
