CT 54 / 51 Formosa

[islandchief60]

Dose anyone out there have information on CT54 or Formosa 51 sailboats? Is there a dedicated website? I have heard a mixed bag of comments from "Don`t waste your money to Great Boat" I`m looking for some first hand knowlege about how they sail either in heavy seas or placid waters. Strengths and weaknesses about the boat and so on.

Thanks, Chuck[/b][/i]

[RichH]

CT54 is a Bob Perry design. Bob has a 'consulting service' that would be helpful to you if you are favoring this or any other boat. This is obviously a for-fee service. He's pretty critical of his own past designs. www.perryboat.com

All the CTs that Perry designed generally seem to have a good reputation.

[RichH]

http://list.sailnet.net/read/?forum=ct

Sailnet went bankrupt but their server is still functioning. The archives of the "CT" email discussion group is still posted/listed at the above URL. Most email groups on Sailnet are migrating to SailJazz, etc. and the Sailnet server will probably do down in a few days ..... so go to the above URL and read **as fast as you can** in case they pull the plug on the server. You might want to contact some of those 'members' listed.

hope this helps.

[Tim]

http://list.sailnet.net/read/?forum=ct

Sailnet went bankrupt but their server is still functioning.



Sailnet Went Bankrupt???

Not the Sailnet that on monday said, "We're going to vigorously pursue the perpetrators of these libelous rumors of our untimely demise" sailnet???

No, couldn't be the same sailnet. I'm sure the sailnet I'm thinking of, is alive, well and prospering...

:lol: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Too funny for words.

[bob perry]

The CT 54 was my very first GRP design and I asked Ted Brewer to help me with the structure and to generally look over my shoulder while I was working on the design. It's a good boat built with medium quality. It sails well for a big heavy boat but I was never keen on the hydraulic steering. I cruised one for two weks in the Caribean and I was quite impresed with it's performance but then, if I do say so myslef, I am a very competant sailer. They are very handsome boats. I was 27 years old when I designed it. I am proud of that design to this day.

The Formosa was built dow the street from Ta Chaio. That design is often credited to Bill Garden but it is not Garden design. It may have Garden's earmarks but I can assure you he did not draw that boat. Formosa was generally considered the worst yard in Taiwan but from time to time. with the right supervison they were capable of building a decent boat.

I imagine you could expect sedate performance from the Formosa.

[Rick Beddoe]

You were 27???

:shock:

wow,

What were you thinking? :lol: You don't often hear of 27 year olds making something of their life.

They sure are pretty boats. And if anyone reads that biker/sailor rag Lats and Atts, you'll get a pretty good idea regarding the quality of Formosa boats. I would guess that Bob 'Bitchin' Lipkin is putting $200k fixing their Fomosa 56 (which they had listed for sale for around $400k).

Heck, you could BUY a brand new Formosa 56 (http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet&checked_boats=886052&slim=quick&) for $400k FOB.

If you're curous about Bill Garden boats, there's an interesting website: http://www.wholeboat.net/content/blogsection/4/41/

Keep in mind, you don't see Bill Garden posting any messages here.

Thanks again, Bob.

[Bryan Sawyer]

I have a Vagabond 42 drawn by George Stadle III. They say that he doesn't want anything to do with the boat business or supply any information on his designs.

[bob perry]

Bryan: that's too bad. I see all of my designs and even some designs that are improperly attributed to me as part of my "family" I may be mad at them from time to time but I will not abandon them. I am always available to work with owners. I won't always do it gratis but this is my bisness and I need to take a professional approach. But for the odd question or two I will always help. If an owner wants to get into his boat in great detail then I would prefer to do it as a consultant with a fee.

I never met Mr. Stadel but I think the marine busines may have beaten him up pretty bad. I too have had my share of knocks but I always spring back up, strike my best karate pose and then carry on.

[Brad Whitehurst]

... I too have had my share of knocks but I always spring back up, strike my best karate pose and then carry on.

Wow, "Samurai Yacht Designer"? Sorry, was just musing on old SNL shows.

:-)

http://www.bbring.com/samauri.jpg

[Tim]

Wow, "Samurai Yacht Designer"? Sorry, was just musing on old SNL shows.

:-)

http://www.bbring.com/samauri.jpg

OMG, is that Belushi? We were so very young... sigh.

[Rick Beddoe]

actually, I think that IS Robert Perry

:shock:

[Jeff H]

That is interesting about Stadel's son not cooperating with you. In the 1970's my father and I owned 'Indian', a 1939 George Stadel Jr. designed (Joel Johnson built) 'Pilot class' cutter (not to be confused with the S&S designed, Hinchley and Knudson built Pilot class). We ran into a number of issues when we were restoring the boat and I ended up calling George Stadel, who provided a wide range of information both about the restoration and about the specific history of our particular boat, and offered to sell me a complete set of the drawings for the boat for something like $150.

Actually the conversation with Stadel came at the end of a very monumental day for me. When we were restoring Indian we ran into a problem figuring out how to remove the Samson post and Bowsprit. I did not know where George Stadel lived, but I noticed that in Howard Chappelle's book, 'Boat Building', Chappelle acknowledges George Stadel's assistance in writing the book.

Growing up Howard Chappelle had been a hero of mine. As a kid, I wanted to be a yacht designer and had read Chappelle's book on yacht design and the companion book on Boatbuilding so many times that I could just about tell you by page number where to look for almost any topic in the books. I was also extremely interested in historic small craft, and Chappelle was a pioneer in realizing the importance of working watercraft. At first on his own, later with government grants, and ultimately as head marine curator at the Smithsonian Institute, Chappelle measured and documented hundreds of working watercraft and conducted numerous interviews with people who had actually used these craft. As a kid, he was a hero of mine, and his books were the stuff of dreams.

On the off chance that Chappelle had kept track of Stadel, or knew how the stem iron had been installed I decided to call Chappelle. I was about 24 or so when this story occurred, which meant I still had a young man's impulsiveness and trepidation. I called the Smithsonian and was referred to the watercraft collection curator, who told me that Howard had been retired from the Smithsonian for some time. The curator after listening to my tale told me that Howard lived on the coast in Dewey or Lewes, Delaware if I remember correctly.

I was living in Florida at the time. In those days it was a big deal to make a long distance call but I called information for the town Howard Chappelle was supposedly living in and sure enough, as was usually the case in those simpler times, he was listed in the directory.

With great nervousness I called the great Howard Chappelle, and a woman answered the phone. I asked to speak to Mr. Chappelle and she replied, "Mr. Chappelle was gravely ill and could not talk on the phone." adding, in grave tones, words that conveyed in effect that Mr. Chappelle was dying. I was heartsick. But in the background I heard a man's voice say, "Who's that on the phone?" And the woman answered, "A young man who wants to talk about boats." The man's voice said, "Please give me that phone." And sure enough Howard Chappelle got on the line and we had a very nice chat. He talked about the Pilot class and George Stadel and about his new book about to be published on American Schooners. At the end of the conversation he told me where George Stadel was located and asked that when I called George I should send his regards.

Well, having been so fortunate to have talked to Chappelle, I thought that I should press my luck and call George Stadel on the same day. Sure enough I reached George and we too had a nice chat. He offered to sell me a set of plans for the Pilot Class for $150.00 (The same price they had been in the 1930's and the same price they cost at WoodenBoat last time I looked). He was helpful in explaining how the jibstay iron was originally made. (The town blacksmith came out and actually shaped and hammer-welded the bronze right on the boat.)

At the end of our conversation, I said as casually as I could, "By the way, I was speaking to Howard Chappelle this morning and he asked me to send you his regards." George asked about Howard Chappelle's condition and I sadly reported what I knew. George said some flattering words about Howard and the conversation ended. About a month or so later Howard Chappelle passed on.

[Rick Beddoe]

That is a fabulous story, Jeff.

Thanks for sharing.

[bob perry]

Great Story Jeff. Thanks. Sometimes kids don't know enough not to make that first move. I once had a nice chat with Alfred Hitchcock at the airport. Nobody else was talking to him so I thought "what the hell?"

[Calypso]

Chuck,

We own and live on our CT54 Calypso. Love the boat! If you post an email address I will send my cell phone number if you still have quetions about CT's.
Bob

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/memberimages/18987_970_1.jpg