CT 54
Description
The CT 54 (also known as the Ta Chiao CT-54 or CT-54) is a classic Taiwanese-built bluewater staysail ketch from the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Designed by Robert H. Perry (with structural input from Ted Brewer), it was one of Perry's early fiberglass designs and became iconic for its stout, traditional lines, clipper bow, long keel, and exceptional seaworthiness. Originally intended as the Hans Christian 54 (though none were sold under that name), it was built by Ta Chiao Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) for export markets. The boat is celebrated as a "pirate ship" or heavy cruiser: heavily overbuilt (thick fiberglass layup), stable in heavy weather, comfortable for long passages or liveaboard use, with a classic aesthetic (bowsprit, tailboards, molded plank seams, low freeboard, and striking sheer). It's not a light-air racer but excels in moderate-to-strong conditions, with proven bluewater credentials (many circumnavigations and ocean crossings).
Construction Details
| Designer | Robert H. Perry |
|---|---|
| Builder | Ta Chiao Enterprises |
| Length | 54.000 ft |
| LOA | 54.000 ft |
| LWL | 42.500 ft |
| Beam | 15.250 ft |
| Displacement | 57000 lb |
| Ballast | 16500 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1975 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 60 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 24 ft |
| p | 54 ft |
| e | 19 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 ft | 24 ft | 54 ft | 19 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
CT 54 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 54 ft - (16459 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 19 ft - (5791 mm) |
| Leech | * 56.34 ft - (17172 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 56.62 ft - (17258 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 524.39 ft² |
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CT 54 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 51.7 ft - (15758 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 33.21 ft - (10122 mm) |
| Leech | * 43.2 ft - (13167 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 27.6 ft - (8412 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.98 ° |
| Area | * 713.5 ft² |
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CT 54 - DRIFTER
| Luff | * 61.39 ft - (18712 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 41.91 ft - (12774 mm) |
| Leech | * 53.76 ft - (16386 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perp | * 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9 ° |
| Area | * 1104.96 ft² |
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CT 54 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 61.39 ft - (18712 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 39.6 ft - (12070 mm) |
| Leech | * 56.48 ft - (17215 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 1823 ft² |
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CT 54 - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 35.54 ft - (10833 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 19.02 ft - (5797 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.23 ft - (8300 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 14.4 ft - (4389 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19 ° |
| Area | * 255.85 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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