Her waterline measures 46 feet 9 inches, and her beam is 16 feet 6 inches. She displaces 48,500 pounds and carries 19,600 pounds of internal lead ballast in a GRP fin. That 40-percent ballast ratio supports a moderate, seakindly hull form.
Design and Construction
Ta Shing built the Taswell 56 to Lloyd's Register specifications. The hull is hand-laid solid fiberglass below the waterline, with foam-filled longitudinal stringers and PVC-foam-cored transverse floors. The outer three laminate layers use vinylester resin to resist osmotic blistering.
The decks and cabin structures are cored with end-grain balsa, with marine plywood substituted where hardware loads are concentrated. The deck is bonded to the hull's inturned flange with 3M 5200 and stainless steel through-bolts.
Ballast is sealed inside the GRP fin. The hull's moderate plan view and displacement-length ratio of 212 identify the 56 as a heavy bluewater cruiser rather than a light-displacement racer.
The rudder rides on a partial skeg, which allowed the design to use a midpoint bearing and a slimmer rudder stock.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The cutter rig carries 1,389 square feet of sail area, giving a sail-area-displacement ratio of 16.71. That's a moderate figure suited to offshore work rather than sprinting.
The mainsheet uses end-of-boom sheeting, which the design review called the best arrangement for control and sightlines. Wetted surface is roughly 839 square feet, and theoretical hull speed is 9.2 knots. The capsize screening value of 1.81 places her firmly in the offshore-safe band.
Standard draft is 7 feet 6 inches, while loaded draft is about 7 feet 7 inches. A 6-foot shoal-keel option was also available. Auxiliary power comes from a 100-horsepower Yanmar 4LH-TE diesel driving a direct shaft.
Accommodations
Taswell offered three interior plans—A, B, and C. All share an expansive owner's stateroom aft, with minor differences in the head and dresser arrangements.
Layout B provides three staterooms, each with a double berth, plus two heads with private shower stalls. It's a practical arrangement for two couples. Layout C has the largest galley of the three and favors the liveaboard cook.
A small raised doghouse adds light and sitting headroom without inflating the profile.
Verdict
The Taswell 56 is a thoughtfully engineered Dixon design from a yard known for disciplined laminate work. Its cutter rig and three adaptable interior plans suit long-range cruising. The moderate ratios and internal-ballast fin favor steadiness over speed, while the partial-skeg rudder is a structurally conservative choice.
Pros
- Internal lead ballast in a solid GRP fin
- Vinylester outer laminate layers for blister resistance
- Three distinct interior plans, all with a large aft owner's stateroom
- Partial-skeg rudder that allows a reduced stock diameter
- Cutter rig with end-of-boom sheeting and 1,389 square feet of sail area
Cons
- The 7-foot-6-inch standard draft limits marina access
- The moderate sail-area-displacement ratio of 16.71 is underwhelming in light air
- The shoal-keel option trades 18 inches of draft for an unspecified change in performance
