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Queen long marine, her shine marine, jet tern marine, boat builders in taiwan and in other countries.

Queen Long Marine has been shaping the future with it's innovative, award-winning, luxury Hylas Yachts for over 40 years

Hylas legacy.

Third-generation family owned and operated for three decades and counting, Queen Long Marine shipyard and Hylas Yachts have been built on decades of dedication and commitment, producing boats that are both imbued with history and tradition while staying adapted for the world today and beyond.

From the elegant designs down to the meticulous internal wiring, the quality of a Hylas Yacht is evident throughout.

Luxury Design

Hylas yachts are equipped with reliable equipment and expert engineering, all while blending comfort and style to meet even the most stringent cruising needs. Our design team features renowned naval architects such as Sparkman & Stephens, German Frers, Bill Dixon, and Dean Salthouse. The shipyard is constantly working on new design turn-out, with our most recent range innovation being thanks to collaborations with Zurn Yacht Design (US) and Hot Lab (Italy). We actively work to improve and innovate based on industry advancements as well as customer contributions.

Customization

We offer elegant custom interiors to reflect each owner’s style and taste, backed by the durability and expert engineering that has come to be synonymous with the Hylas name. The in-house team will readily execute your preferences in a both tasteful and seaworthy manner so that any place you travel with your Hylas will feel like home.  Whether you are enjoying the handcrafted interiors or the spacious deck above, Hylas delivers on its reputation for a luxurious cruising experience.

About Queen Long Marine

The Queen Long Marine shipyard, founder and owner of the Hylas Yachts brand since 1985, has produced sailboats for over 40 years. Located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the shipyard is home to a 32,000 sq ft main construction hall, a laminating hall, a large paint facility, extensive design and administration offices, as well as the famous full-sized yacht testing tank complete with a thriving population of ornamental Koi Carp.

With over 520 vessels launched so far, we pride ourselves on a reputation for customized luxury yachts at a competitive price point.  We sell direct to the customer to offer the best possible service. 

Queen Long Marina Founded

Stevens 47 Built | 1981

Peterson 46 built | 1982

Hylas 44 Built | 1984-92

Hylas Brand Established

Hylas 47 Power Built | 1988-91

Hylas 41 Power Built | 1988-92

Hylas 53 Convertible Power Built | 1988-92

Hylas H49 Built | 1992- In Production

Hylas H46 Built | 1995-In Production

Hylas H66 Built | 2004-05

Hylas H70 Built | 2005-In Production

Hylas H56 Built | 2010-In Production

Hylas H63 Built | 2013-In Production

Hylas M44 Built | 2015-In Production

New Hylas H57 & H60 | Coming Soon

New Hylas H60

New Hylas H57

New Hylas M49

New Hylas M47

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Taiwan Sailing Boat Manufacturers of the past 100 Years

Published by sail on march 18, 2023 march 18, 2023.

These are just a few of the many sailboat manufacturers that have operated in Taiwan over the past century. Taiwan has a long history of boatbuilding and has earned a reputation for producing high-quality, seaworthy sailboats.

Here is a list of some of the most notable Taiwan sailboat manufacturers of the past century, along with a brief description of their history and products:

Ta Shing Yacht Building Co. Ltd. –

Ta Shing Yacht Building Co. Ltd. was founded in 1977 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company produces a range of high-quality sailboats, including the Baba 30, the Norseman 447, and the Taswell 56.

Hans Christian Yachts –

Hans Christian Yachts was founded in the 1970s in Taipei, Taiwan. The company produces luxurious, bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Hans Christian 33T, the Hans Christian 38T, and the Hans Christian 48T.

Island Packet Yachts –

Island Packet Yachts was founded in 1979 by naval architect Bob Johnson in Largo, Florida. However, the company has been building its boats in Taiwan since the 1980s. Island Packet Yachts produces a range of cruising sailboats, including the Island Packet 349, the Island Packet 420, and the Island Packet 525.

Formosa Boat Building Co. Ltd. –

Formosa Boat Building Co. Ltd. was founded in 1978 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company produces a range of traditional-style sailboats, including the Formosa 41, the Formosa 51, and the CT-54.

Cheoy Lee Shipyards –

Cheoy Lee Shipyards was founded in 1870 in Shanghai, China. However, the company moved to Hong Kong in the 1950s and later established a manufacturing base in Taiwan. Cheoy Lee Shipyards produces a range of sailing and motor yachts, including the Cheoy Lee Offshore 28, the Cheoy Lee 35, and the Cheoy Lee 66.

Horizon Yachts –

Horizon Yachts was founded in 1987 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company initially focused on producing powerboats, but later expanded into the production of sailing yachts, including the Horizon PC60, the Horizon V68, and the Horizon V80.

Kha Shing Enterprises Co. Ltd. –

Kha Shing Enterprises Co. Ltd. was founded in 1977 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company produces a range of powerboats and sailing yachts, including the Kha Shing Monte Fino 78, the Kha Shing 50, and the Kha Shing 58.

Ocean Alexander –

Ocean Alexander was founded in 1977 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, by Alexander Chueh. The company produces a range of luxury powerboats and sailing yachts, including the Ocean Alexander 45 Divergence, the Ocean Alexander 45 Aquila, and the Ocean Alexander 120 Megayacht.

Hylas Yachts –

Hylas Yachts was founded in 1985 in Taiwan. The company produces a range of cruising sailboats, including the Hylas 45, the Hylas 63, and the Hylas 70.

Tayana Yachts –

Tayana Yachts was founded in 1973 in Taipei, Taiwan. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Tayana 37, the Tayana 48, and the Tayana 64.

Grand Soleil Yachts –

Grand Soleil Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1974. The company produces a range of racing and cruising sailboats, including the Grand Soleil 34, Grand Soleil 43, and Grand Soleil 58.

North Wind Yachts –

North Wind Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1986. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the North Wind 47, North Wind 56, and North Wind 68.

Chien Hwa Boat Manufacturing –

Chien Hwa Boat Manufacturing is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1970. The company produces a range of powerboats and sailing yachts, including the Chien Hwa 34, Chien Hwa 42, and Chien Hwa 35.

Hake Yachts –

Hake Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1991. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Seaward 26RK, Seaward 32RK, and Seaward 46RK.

Mason Yachts –

Mason Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1979. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Mason 33, Mason 43, and Mason 63.

Pacific Seacraft –

Pacific Seacraft is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1976. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Pacific Seacraft 31, Pacific Seacraft 34, and Pacific Seacraft 40.

Tas Marine Co. Ltd. –

Tas Marine Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1987. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Tasman 35, Tasman 42, and Tasman 48.

Ta Chiao Yacht Building Co. Ltd. –

Ta Chiao Yacht Building Co. Ltd. is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1973. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Ta Chiao CT-41, Ta Chiao CT-54, and Ta Chiao CT-56.

Trans World Yachts –

Trans World Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1980. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Transworld 41, Transworld 45, and Transworld 52.

Young Sun Yachts –

Young Sun Yachts is a Taiwanese sailboat manufacturer founded in 1975. The company produces a range of bluewater cruising sailboats, including the Young Sun 43, Young Sun 50, and Young Sun 35.

These are just a few more Taiwanese sailboat manufacturers that have been active over the past few decades. Each of these companies has contributed to Taiwan’s reputation as a leading sailboat manufacturing hub, known for its quality craftsmanship and seaworthy vessels.

For a complete picture, please use our free searchable database here!

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70 Marlow Explorer

• By Jay Coyle
• Updated: October 4, 2007

There are a lot of decent boats built in Taiwan these days, but the 70 Marlow Explorer is different. She has the very special feel of a boat built without compromise.

“In the early days of the trawler boom, the Taiwanese were inspired by example and simply copied practices and techniques imported from other countries, said David Marlow, who spends 22 weeks a year at the yard. “Today, a more confident generation of Taiwanese craftsmen are far more inventive.

That attitude, combined with Marlow’s personal history, tells you a lot about this yacht. Marlow is the son of a commercial fisherman, was building boats before he could shave and went to sea before he could drive. After six years of service aboard commercial ships, he made landfall. Through hard work and a bit of luck, he earned a solid reputation and success in yacht sales. He spared no expense in creating the 70, yet not a cent was invested in her thoughtlessly. Her outfitting and finish are exceptional, yet her price is a bargain in her class.

“In the past, the focus was on doing things faster, Marlow said. “I challenge our craftsmen to do things better.

The 70 is, in many ways, a showcase of details. All cabinet interiors, even the cutouts for built-in appliances, are finished. Drawers have dovetailed wood interiors and hearty metal slides. End grain on the exterior teak rails is capped, and joints are scarfed. With the exception of the German interior hardware, all of the 70’s stainless steel is custom fabricated in Taiwan by a company that specializes in aviation-grade weldments. The work is spectacular.

Marlow has the cost advantage of selling the 70 factory-direct, but there is more to the story. Whether bypassing middlemen and buying teak by the log or bargaining for container space to ship U.S.-made components to the yard, Marlow is tenacious in his quest to trim the fat.

“I learned the value of money early on because I didn’t have any, he said.

His facility is designed specifically for and dedicated to the 70’s production. Developing tooling and training craftsmen in the use of modern materials required a significant investment. Stitched multi-directional reinforcements are used exclusively, and the 70’s bottom and topsides are cored with foam, which is vacuum-bagged in place. Two layers of Kevlar reinforcement beneath the gelcoat provide additional puncture resistance. Bulkheads are cored fiberglass, and stringers are molded fiberglass over foam. Foam coring is also used in non-structural bulkheads and to stiffen interior and exterior decks.

In all, Marlow’s approach is high-tech for a market where more traditional fiberglass construction methods are the norm. Carefully designed and detailed systems complement the 70’s clean, finished bilges.

While yacht designer Doug Zurn assisted, Marlow penned the profile and arrangement. Her silhouette has a salty, traditional flavor, yet is too contemporary to be branded a trawler yacht. This is in large part because of her reverse transom, the feature that sets her apart from her smaller sister.

Dark colors do not favor poorly tooled fiberglass, and the 70’s rich blue gelcoat is as fair and blemish-free as any I have seen. Teak decking is bonded in place, and dimpled nonslip surfaces are effective, yet easy on the flesh. Tempered, laminated safety glass, custom made in England, is bonded into molded-in receivers in the superstructure tooling and should be leak-free.

Marlow has a number of stock interior and exterior layouts for the 70, however, he is handy with the pen and seems to take pleasure in dealing with challenging clients. To date, no two boats have been quite the same.

I tested hull number six of the 65-70 series, which was created for an East Coast yachtsman moving up from a 55-footer. The 70’s covered afterdeck has built-in seating, a wet bar, a barbecue and controls hidden in the molded-in cabinetwork. There is also bench seating on the bow. Stairs lead to the boat deck/flying bridge, and there is direct access to the exterior helm station from the pilothouse. The flying bridge helm is not segregated and is central to a lounge area with a wet bar, a refrigerator and a barbecue. This is a feature owner-operators will appreciate.

The detail and craftsmanship in the 70’s satin-finished teak interior is well above average and some of the finest work I have seen from Taiwan’s gifted joiners. Access is from the afterdeck, or from pilothouse doors to port and starboard. The deckhouse’s open arrangement enhances the sense of interior volume. The saloon is aft, the galley is amidships and the pilothouse/lounge is forward. This is a conventional approach, however, Marlow cleverly arranged things so that it is possible to eyeball the stern from the pilothouse-an advantage for shorthanded operation.

A stair in the saloon leads to a split-level master stateroom with a king berth. There are separate head and shower compartments, and an office area is a step down. Two guest staterooms with private heads are accessible from a stair in the pilothouse. Stairs aft in the saloon lead to a crew/kids’ cabin, and to engineroom access. Exterior access to the engineroom is possible by sacrificing the afterdeck wet bar and barbecue.

Marlow spent many hours fussing with hull forms, and the result is rather unique. While the 70’s foundation is a conventional semi-displacement form, she has twin strut keels that surround the propeller shafts in hydrodynamic fairings. Marlow’s own data, gleaned from comparing the 65 with and without the fairings, suggest the strut keels improve efficiency and tracking. They also offer partial protection of the wheels, and modest propeller pockets keep draft to just 4 feet, 5 inches.

It took no more than five minutes for Marlow and me to crank up the 70’s pair of 800 hp Caterpillar 3406Es and cast off. With full side decks, plenty of power and a two-speed bow thruster, an experienced couple would have no problem handling her. I would suggest either wing stations or a plug-in remote on her Portuguese bridge.

Our sea trial was conducted all up with full fuel, full water, a tender and about 14,000 pounds of owner’s gear aboard. I recorded a top speed of 23.2 knots at 2300 rpm and a cruising speed of 20.5 knots at 2100 rpm. Marlow’s data indicate that she gains a few knots lightly loaded. Easing along at 2000 rpm, I recorded a speed of 17.9 knots and the Caterpillar electronics indicated a fuel burn of 54 gallons per hour.

If the 70 were just an average boat, her $1,500,000 base price would be a good deal. She is much more. She is proof that it’s not simply money that makes a great boat.

Contact: Marlow Explorer Yachts, (941) 729-3370; [email protected] ; www.marlowmarine.com .

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Introduction

Nova Marine Co., Ltd, established in 1983, is ranked as one of the top luxury yacht manufacturers in Taiwan. Its facility is conveniently located 10 minutes from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Taoyuan High Speed Train Station. Nova's primary market is the United States; nevertheless, its premium-quality yachts have successfully extended clientele to Europe, Australia, Dubai, and Asia. To date, Nova has manufactured and delivered over 1,500 yachts to satisfied owners worldwide.

Unlike most boat yards in Taiwan, Nova Marine is proud to market its yachts under their own brand name: Novatec . After initiating the popular 40' & 42' motor yachts, Nova Marine has strived to continue designing a variety of models by working with famous designers such as Bill Dixon (UK), Tommaso Spadolini (Italy), and Carlos Mezzera (Italy) to satisfy the demands of all types of clients. Currently, Novatec's production line includes three main yacht series, the Classic Sedan 46'-56', the Islander 48'-60', and the Euro 52'-84'. The interior of these yachts can be semi-customized to make each yacht truly unique to their owners.

C.E.O. Eddy Tao, as a founder, has accumulated over 30 years in yacht construction and business. He graduated from China Maritime College and holds double M.B.A. degrees from Oklahoma City University in USA and National Cheng Chi University in Taiwan. His success in the yacht industry has led to numerous meetings with government leaders.

The facilities of Nova Marine consists of five large buildings (approximately 108,000 square feet), including weather protected and dust-free FRP and paint shops, both with air condition and humidity control system to allow optimal working environment. In 2001, the shipyard passed ISO 9002 regulation and received TUV Cert. In addition, the shipyard has also attained one of the highest regulations, CE certification, issued by RINA, to ensure its design and quality are in par with leading European and American brands.

Nova Marine is committed to uncompromisingly meet the highest attainable standard for all of its products, regardless of size and price. To accomplish this goal, Nova Marine meticulously uses the best design, craftsmen, engineering, methods, and materials available to assure that each buyer's expectations are met and exceeded.

Owning a Novatec goes beyond than just owning a quality yacht, our Novatec T.O.E (Total Ownership Experience) is carried out to each owner by providing thorough after-sales service offered by Novatec trained and certified dealers world-wide, backed by manufacture's direct warranty.

Photo 1: Novatec C.E.O, Mr. Eddy Tao sharing the success of Novatec with President of Taiwan, Dr. Ma

Photo 2: Novatec's prominet brand has been the top choice of broadcast by the press

Photo 3: Not only is Mr. Tao a boat builder, he is also an experienced boater, which in return benefits the quality and ergonomics of the yachts

Photo 4: Famous Publisher published an autobiography for Mr. Tao, sharing his life story and the success of Novatec.

Photo 5: Mr. Tao discusses new SuperNova projects with famous designer Mr. Carlo Mezzera

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KHA SHING ENTERPRISE (KSE)

Welcome to monte fino yachts & kha shing enterprise.

Our company began life as the Kha Shing Lumber Co., Ltd. At the time, it was a small factory involved in the timber trade located in Linhai Industrial Park Kaohsiung. In 1977 the three Gong brothers began a joint venture with shareholders Cheng, Ho and Chuang to buy the factory and started building yachts. The company continued using the name Kha Shing Lumber Co., Ltd. until 1997 when it officially changed its name to Kha Shing Enterprises Co., Ltd. A year later, in 1978, Khs shing delivered its very first pleasure yacht into Seattle, WA.

Kha Shing' business continued to grow steadily over the next ten years and became the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for several brands including Albin Marine, Bell Marine, Breeze Yachts, Kaufman, Ranger Marine, Royal Yacht, Tarquin Trader Motor Yacht and Spindrift Motor Yacht. Kha Shing even set a record of delivering 94 yachts in one year, winning Taiwan the accolade of being "The Yacht Kingdom of Asia"".

Kha Shing did not sit still at this point but began to investing in improved infrastructure and technologies for building larger, high quality and custom-built luxury yachts to fulfill demand from both OEM and Monte Fino Yachts clients. A decision that has stood the test of time.

The shipyard continued winning over clients, and in October 2007 launched their 1000th yacht, making Kha Shing the first shipyard to reach this milestone in Taiwan. Our yachts have been well received and won various international awards including the latest "Motor Boat Award 2014” in the Custom Yacht category from Motor Boats Monthly Magazine in UK for the Monte Fino E85 Echo. We were also ranked as a World Top 20 builder for yachts over 24m in Global Order Book for several years running.

Over many decades, Kha Shing still stands at the pinnacle of the yacht building industry. Today and into the future, we continue the development and innovation of even more refined and unique yachts ensuring Kha Shing will continue to be recognized as one of the world's most respected yacht builders.

Video about Kha Shing Enterprise and Monte Fino Yachts

Why build your dream yacht with us.

The most important reasons to build your perfect yacht with us

WORLD RECOGNITION

One of the leading custom yacht builders in Asia and was ranked World Top Builders for yachts over 24m for several years

EXPERIENCED & RELIABLE

Built and delivered over thousand yachts since 1975. Today, we continue to offer supports for yachts still in service

BUILDING TRUST

Developed trusted relationship with clients and build reputations from building more than one yacht for the same clients

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Yacht Builders In Taiwan Are Flourishing Thanks To Quality Production And Value

By Rob Bowman | Posted On Sep 04, 2019 Updated On Mar 23, 2022

The business of building yachts in Taiwan might have begun in the 1960's, but today it is regarded as one of the leading countries in the world for producing high-quality vessels at the same pace as their European counterparts. As a country in constant economic growth, the evolution of the Taiwanese shipyards has led to ground-breaking achievements in construction, style, and design. "We are seeing an extremely well-built and intelligently designed boats coming out of Taiwan in the last few years," said Mike Kutrybala , a long time yacht broker with United who specializes in Taiwanese manufacturers. "The majority of designs are aimed at the cruising yacht customer and are all "westernized". Taiwanese builders understand our market, what the American buyer is looking for, and they have been able to execute it on larger scales."

Consider that there are now over 35 shipyards building boats over 50-feet in Taiwan, an island country that is just over 22,000 square miles in size. According to an article by Barche Magazine, the number of yachts registered under the Taiwanese flag increased from just 15 in 2012 to over 120 in 2017. And with over 70% of yachts produced being exported out of Asia, Taiwan has become a big player in the international yachting industry. Taiwan is now the largest producer of yachts over 50 feet in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world . If you increase that threshold to 78 feet in length, Taiwan becomes the fourth largest country building yachts only behind Italy , the Netherlands, and Turkey .

(Seen Below: The Taiwan International Boat Show has become the largest indoor boat exhibition in Asia and displays all the local shipyards latest models. Photo cred: Horizon Yachts.)

The Greater Kaohsiung area is the largest yacht producing part of Taiwan with more than 80% of boats built here leaving out of Kaohsiun Harbor. This is actually a 10% decrease in yachts leaving the Harbor as other areas in Taiwan increase their own production. Below are a list of shipyards and yacht builders currently active in Taiwan.

The Horizon Yachts Shipyard

Horizon Yachts has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 20 years to the point where their factory in Kaohsiung now encompasses 463,000 square feet and employs over 300 craftsmen and workers. Everything from the new V68 to Horizon's power catamaran line to the EP 150 are built in this factory which also has its own service and re-fit center. Recently, Horizon Yachts was the recipient of the "Best Asian Yacht Builder" award at the 2019 Asia Boating Awards. Horizon is now an established worldwide brand and it all started in Taiwan back in 1987.

The Dyna Yachts / Dyna Craft LTD. Shipyard

Dyna Craft LTD was formed in 1986 by a team of extremely talented and experienced yachting industry professionals. Founder and current President Mr. Terry Yen is an esteemed naval architect and continues to design all Dyna Yacht models today. With more than 30 years in business, the Dyna shipyard also has experience building Marlow Yachts for almost a decade. Known for exceptional quality, gorgeous interiors, and incredible value when compared to many European brands, Dyna Yachts have delivered over 300 vessels. United Yacht Sales will be displaying a new Dyna 68 Motor Yacht at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.

The Ocean Alexander Shipyard  (Photo cred below: Yachting Magazine)

The story of how the Ocean Alexander empire came to be is a rather interesting story. It starts back in 1977 when Alex Chueh was repaid a loan in the form of a company. Alex's friend couldn't repay the initial loan, so he came Alex the factory instead as payment. Once Alex met with Ed Monk Jr., a famous yacht architect, the beginning of Ocean Alexander Yachts was taking root. In 2015, Ocean Alexander was named as one of the top 5 luxury motor yacht builders in the world by Showboat International Magazine. Today, Ocean Alexander has even opened a U.S. based factory in Florida .

The Zhuhai Shipyard - Selene Yachts

The Selene Yachts factory, also known as the Zhuhai Shipyard, is known as one of the best equipped and largest scale yards in the world. The original Selene factory, however, was not in Zhuhai but rather Dongguan, known for its high-end furniture. This benefitted Selene immensely as the interior accommodations used local furniture for a very luxurious feel. After the Zhuhai was constructed and the process of getting the boats into the water became easier, construction was consolidated to Zhuhai. Today, there are over 400 Selene Yachts cruising around planet Earth.

The Tung Hwa Shipyard - Fleming Yachts 

Tony Fleming originally started developing the idea for Fleming Yachts in 1985 and made it clear that he wanted only the best materials and the highest quality construction methods used. The Tung Hwa shipyard was chosen for their commitment to Tony's ideology and today Fleming Yachts is one of the most reputable, highly regarded, and quality cruising yachts built in the world. Approximately 18 Flemings are now built every year at Tung Hwa and over 340 are currently in use by their owners.

The Mares Yachts Shipyard

If there was ever a boat builder that exudes the quality and attention to detail that comes out of Taiwan, it's Mares Power Catamaran Yachts . Every Mares model is built to the ultimate toughness and kept light for optimal performance by the use of a resin infusion system. The 70% to 30% glass-to-resin ratio is much stronger and lighter than the traditional 40% glass to 60% resin ratio often used. All hardware, fabrics, and components are personally chosen by Lenny Noble, founder of Mares, to ensure an industry leading quality control process is executed. Mares will debut an all-new 65 foot catamaran coming soon in 2020.

The President Yachts Shipyard - Jianjun Boat Harbor  

President Yachts have been building luxury boats since 1968 when founder Eddie Yeh developed the brand. From the 41 Sun Deck to the 150-foot plus motor yachts being produced, President Yachts has excelled at design, quality, fit-and-finish, and overall value compared to other vessels in its class. Over 1,200 boats and yachts have been delivered all over the world. Most of the company's yachts are custom-built to the owner's requirements, offering exceptional quality control and buyer satisfaction.

There are many more yacht builders in Taiwan today than 20-30 years ago, over 35 to be exact, and the work force has become incredibly skilled at the nuances of building a yacht. Workers have become craftsmen and as you can see, many of the world's most reputable brands call Taiwan home. United Yacht Sales will be representing several Taiwanese builders at the 2019 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show including Dyna Yachts, Mares Catamarans, and President Yachts. If you have any interest in building a new yacht or finding the right pre-owned yacht for sale on today's brokerage market, please give our home office a call at (772) 463-3131 to be connected to a professional yacht broker that specializes in your interests.

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South Taiwan has a unique history in the luxury yacht industry. Due to the rich materials and local suppliers the region provides an ideal environment for boatbuilding. Its benefits include a talented and well-trained labor force and the availability of state-of-the-art construction techniques.

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40 Best Sailboats

• By Cruising World Editors
• Updated: May 24, 2024

Sailors are certainly passionate about their boats, and if you doubt that bold statement, try posting an article dubbed “ 40 Best Sailboats ” and see what happens.

Barely had the list gone live, when one reader responded, “Where do I begin? So many glaring omissions!” Like scores of others, he listed a number of sailboats and brands that we were too stupid to think of, but unlike some, he did sign off on a somewhat upbeat note: “If it weren’t for the presence of the Bermuda 40 in Cruising World’s list, I wouldn’t even have bothered to vote.”

By vote, he means that he, like hundreds of other readers, took the time to click through to an accompanying page where we asked you to help us reshuffle our alphabetical listing of noteworthy production sailboats so that we could rank them instead by popularity. So we ask you to keep in mind that this list of the best sailboats was created by our readers.

The quest to building this list all began with such a simple question, one that’s probably been posed at one time or another in any bar where sailors meet to raise a glass or two: If you had to pick, what’re the best sailboats ever built?

In no time, a dozen or more from a variety of sailboat manufacturers were on the table and the debate was on. And so, having fun with it, we decided to put the same question to a handful of CW ‘s friends: writers and sailors and designers and builders whose opinions we value. Their favorites poured in and soon an inkling of a list began to take shape. To corral things a bit and avoid going all the way back to Joshua Slocum and his venerable Spray —Hell, to Noah and his infamous Ark —we decided to focus our concentration on production monohull sailboats, which literally opened up the sport to anyone who wanted to get out on the water. And since CW is on the verge or turning 40, we decided that would be a nice round number at which to draw the line and usher in our coming ruby anniversary.

If you enjoy scrolling through this list, which includes all types of sailboats, then perhaps you would also be interested in browsing our list of the Best Cruising Sailboats . Check it out and, of course, feel free to add your favorite boat, too. Here at Cruising World , we like nothing better than talking about boats, and it turns out, so do you.

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

40. Moore 24

39. Pearson Vanguard

38. Dufour Arpege 30

37. Alerion Express 28

36. Mason 43/44

35. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43DS

34. Nor’Sea 27

33. Freedom 40

32. Beneteau Sense 50

31. Nonsuch 30

30. Swan 44

29. C&C Landfall 38

28. Gulfstar 50

27. Sabre 36

26. Pearson Triton

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

25. Islander 36

24. Gozzard 36

23. Bristol 40

22. Tartan 34

21. Morgan Out Island 41

20. Hylas 49

19. Contessa 26

18. Whitby 42

17. Columbia 50

16. Morris 36

15. Hunter 356

13. Beneteau 423

12. Westsail 32

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

10. Alberg 30

9. Island Packet 38

8. Passport 40

7. Tayana 37

6. Peterson 44

5. Pacific Seacraft 37

4. Hallberg-Rassy 42

3. Catalina 30

2. Hinckley Bermuda 40

1. Valiant 40

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Dear Readers

• Sailboat Reviews

Bob Perrys Salty Tayana 37-Footer Boat Review

Tayana 37s traditional approach still draws big dreamers.

With several hundred boats sailing the seas of the world, the Tayana 37 has been one of the most successful products of the U.S.s Taiwan-built boat invasion that began in the early 1970s. Its shapely Baltic stern, scribed plank seams molded into the glass hull, and lavish use of teak above and belowdecks have come to epitomize the image associated with Oriental boats.

Not all thoughts of Far Eastern boats are pleasant, however. To some, Taiwan-built boats mean poor workmanship, overly heavy hulls, unbedded hardware of dubious heritage, wooden spars that delaminate, and builder-modified boats lightyears removed from the plans provided by the designer. Add to that a serious language barrier and the inevitable logistical problems of dealing with a boatyard halfway around the world, and you have a readymade nightmare for the boat buyer. To the credit of the builder, the designer, the primary importer, and a powerful owners association, the Tayana 37 has weathered an astounding production run while making steady improvements and maintaining a steady output with about 600 boats in existence.

Washington-based boat designer Bob Perry had just hung out his own shingle when he designed Tayana 37 in the early 70s. The Sherman-tank Westsail 32 had just come lumbering onto the scene, bringing with it a resurgence of interest in the double-ended hull form, and more people than ever before were beginning to have the dream of chucking it all and sailing away to a tropical paradise.

Perry has become an enormously successful designer of cruising boats, from traditional, full-keel designs such as the Tayana 37 to modern, fin-keel cruisers such as the Nordic 40, GoldenWave 42, and the Valiant 40. A remarkable number of his designs have been built in the Orient, in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Perry conceived the Tayana 37 as a cruising boat of traditional appearance above the water, with moderately heavy displacement, a long waterline, and a reasonably efficient cutter rig of modern proportions. (A ketch rig was also available). Below the water, the forefoot of the long keel has been cut away, and a Constellation-type rudder was utilized rather than a more traditional barn door. Perry sought to cash in on the popularity of the double-ended hull while keeping displacement moderate and performance reasonable, avoiding the plight of boats such as the Westsail 32-the inability to go to windward and sluggish performance in anything short of a moderate gale. The stern design of the Tayana 37 borrows heavily from the well-known Aage Nielsen-designed ketch, the Holger Danske, winner of the 1980 Bermuda Race. It is one of the more handsome Baltic-type sterns on any production sailboat.

The Tayana 37 began life as the CT 37. In 1979, the boat became known as the Tayana 37, named for Ta Yang Yacht Building Co. While some snobbishness exists among owners who own the CT version, Perry has insisted that this is illusory. According to the designer, the CT 37 and the Tayana 37 are the same boat, built by the same men in the same yard. In much the same way that the early Swans imported by Palmer Johnson were known by the name of the importer-the names Nautor and Swan were unknown here in the late 1960s-early Tayanas were known as CTs because the name CT had already become known in this country.

Perry, who worked with many yards in the Far East, considers Ta Yang one of the best. The yard always was very responsive to input from both dealers and owners. Over the years, this resulted in steady improvement in the quality of the boat.

Handling Under Power

Three different engines have been used in the Tayana 37: the Yanmar 3QM30, the Perkins 4-108, and the Volvo MD17C. The latest change was to the Yanmar as standard propulsion. This makes good economic sense, as Japan is closer to Taiwan than either England or Sweden.

Although all of the engines offer adequate power for the boat, don’t expect the Tayana 37 to win any drag races. With her substantial wetted surface and fairly heavy displacement, performance under power is sedate rather than spritely. Owners rate handling under power as fair to good, although one reported that his boat backs up like a drunken elephant.

While the engine box removes completely to provide good access for service, there is no provision for easy access to the oil dipstick. This means that this vital task is likely to be ignored. A simple door in the side of the engine box would solve the problem.

The placement of the fuel tank also has caused substantial discussion on the part of owners. The standard 90-gallon, black iron tank is located under the V-berth in the forward cabin. When full, this tank holds almost 650 pounds of fuel. This is about the same weight as 375 feet of 3/8-inch anchor chain-a substantial amount to carry around in the bow of a 37-footer. A Tayana 37 with the bow tank full and a heavy load of ground tackle will show noticeable bow-down trim. The design was originally drawn with the fuel tanks under the settees, but the builder put the tank forward to create additional storage in the main cabin.

This is a good example of one of the basic recurring problems with Far East-built boats. Frequently, the builders have good glass men and good interior joiners, but their inexperience in sailing results in inconsistencies that compromise their boats. Fortunately, thanks to the pressure from owners, the builder began offering optional tankage amidships, where it belongs.

Handling Under Sail

The Tayana 37 was built as a ketch or cutter, with wood spars or aluminum, with mast-stepped on deck or on the keel. Few builders have offered so many options. The standard rig is a masthead cutter with wooden spars; the mast is stepped on deck and supported by a substantial compression column. The designer strongly recommended the aluminum cutter rig, and we heartily concur. The wooden mast is poorly proportioned, with a massive section and extremely thick sidewalls. One mast we looked at had a large knot on the forward side of the mast just at spreader level. Despite the huge mast section, we feel the knot could weaken the mast significantly.

In contrast to the large section of the mast, the boom was an extremely small spruce box section. With mid-boom sheeting, this spar will probably bend like a rubber band, complicating mainsail shape. The clew outhaul slide is far too flimsy for a boat of this size, and owners report that the outhaul slide frequently distorts or explodes. Once again, these problems are rather typical in Taiwan boats, where you frequently find excellent craftsmanship but a poor understanding of engineering or the forces involved in ocean sailing.

In contrast, the aluminum rigs, which may come from a variety of sources including France, New Zealand, and the U.S., are well proportioned and suited to the task.

We see no reason to select the ketch rig. Both performance and balance with the cutter rig will be better. The cutters mainsail is 342 square feet. Any couple healthy enough to go world cruising should be able to cope with a sail of this size.

The cutter rig is tall and well proportioned. Perry has drawn an unusually high-aspect rig for a cruising boat, and the result is a boat with good performance on all points of sail. With the aluminum rig, the optional Nicro Fico ball-bearing mainsheet traveler and a well-cut suit of sails, the Tayana 37 will be surprisingly fast. Her working sail area of 864 square feet is generous.

Despite a ballast/displacement ratio of 33 percent, the Tayana 37 is not a stiff boat. This is due in part to the tall, heavy rig and the substantial amount of other weight above the boats vertical center of gravity. Much of the boats heavy joinerwork and glasswork is well above the waterline, raising the center of gravity and reducing initial stability. Perry believes the initial tenderness to be an asset, reducing the snappiness of the boats roll and making her a more comfortable sea boat. We agree.

Many owners report that the boat carries substantial weather helm. The sailplan is drawn with significant rake to the mast. This creates just enough shift in the center of effort of the sailplan to create a lot of weather helm. Bringing the mast back toward the vertical by tightening the headstay and forestay while loosening the backstay should cure much of the problem, according to reports from other owners. It may be necessary to shorten the headstay to do this.

The weather helm and initial tenderness may also be due in part to the poor cut of the standard sails provided with the boat. Many of the boats in existence came with standard sails made by Lam of Hong Kong. These sails have the reputation of being stretchy and having very poor shape. Mainsail draft with this fabric is almost uncontrollable, with the sail becoming baggy and the draft moving aft as the wind increases. This will create weather helm and increase the angle of heel.

Deck Layout

With its bulwarks, high double lifelines, and substantial bow and stern pulpits, the Tayana 37 gives the sailor a good sense of security on those cold, windy nights when called out for sail changes. A teak platform grating atop the bowsprit coupled with the strong pulpit, relieves that appendage of its widowmaker reputation.

The bowsprit platform incorporates double anchor rollers, which can house CQR anchors. Unfortunately, there is no good lead from the rollers to any place to secure the anchor rode. Line or chain led to the heavy bowsprit bitts would chafe on the platform. An anchor windlass mounted to port or starboard of the bowsprit would provide a good lead.

There are hawseholes through the bulwarks port and starboard, well aft of the stem. These will be fine for docklines, but are too far aft to serve as good leads for anchoring. There is room at deck level, outboard of the bowsprit, to install a set of heavy chocks for anchoring, although anchor rode led to this point will chafe on the bobstay as the boat swings to her anchor.

This is a classic problem of the boat with a bowsprit. The anchor rode must really lead well out the bowsprit to avoid the bobstay, yet the long lead complicates securing the inboard end of the rode. A common solution is a bridle led to the hawseholes.

The long staysail boom makes it difficult to cross from one side of the boat to the other forward. The standard staysail traveler is merely a stainless-steel rod on which a block can slide on its shackle. Under load, this can bind when tacking, so that it may be necessary to go forward and kick the block over after every tack. By all means look for boats with the optional Nicro Fico travelers with their roller-bearing cars. Complaints about the standard travelers are rife.

Standard winches on the boat were Barlow. We suggest that you try to find self-tailing winches for all sheets.

Although the sidedecks are relatively narrow due to the wide cabin trunk, there is reasonable access fore and aft. A full-length handrail on either side of the cabin trunk provides a good handhold.

The cockpit of the Tayana 37 is small, as befits an oceangoing sailboat. There are cockpit scuppers at each of the four corners of the cockpit well, with seacocks on the through-hull outlets.

With the pedestal steering, the cockpit seems to have shrunk. Only three can be seated in real comfort, although this is no real problem for the cruising couple. It is not a cockpit for heavy entertaining in port. The elimination of the coaming around the stern of the boat has made the cockpit seats long enough for sleeping on deck, but at the expense of exposing the helmsman to a wet seat in a following sea.

Cockpit locker configuration varies with the interior options chosen, but the lockers are large enough to provide reasonable storage, although you should resist the temptation to load them heavily so far aft.

The interior of the Tayana 37 probably sells more boats than any other feature of the boat. Every boat was custom built so there has never been a standard interior.

Like other Taiwanese boats, the interior of the Tayana 37 is all teak. This can result in a cabin that is oppressively dark to some people, and exquisitely cool to others. To keep it looking good, owners must do a lot of oiling or varnishing.

The interior joinerwork on the boat we examined was some of the best we have seen. Joints were just about flawless, paneled doors beautifully joined, drawers dovetailed from solid stock. There were no fillers making up for poorly fitted joints, no trim fitted with grinders, no slop anywhere. Older Tayana 37s (70s-80s vintage) we have seen did not boast quite this caliber of workmanship, but their joinerwork was certainly of good quality.

With such an array of interior options, it is difficult to really evaluate the boats interior. Although, in all fairness, there is a standard interior. It is prosaic but good, with a V-berth forward, followed by the head and lockers just aft. The main cabin has a U-shaped settee to port, straight settee and pilot berth to starboard. Aft is a good U -shaped galley to port, nav station and quarterberth to starboard.

Conclusions

The Tayana 37 is both typical and atypical of Taiwanese boats. It is typical in the problems that existed due to the builders inexperience with seagoing yachts, common with communication and language problems.

It is atypical in that many of these problems have been solved over its many years of production. Anyone considering a Tayana 37 should join the owners association and read all the back newsletters before buying the boat.

The total cost of a well-equipped Tayana 37 with most of the desirable options compares very favorably with other boats of her size, type, and displacement. The Tayana 37 would make an excellent retirement cruiser for the experienced sailing couple. Properly handled and equipped, she could take you anywhere with confidence and reasonable dispatch.

Editors note: This review is an updated and expanded version of one previously published.

• Heavy Glass Hull Marks Tayana 37

• Tayana Yachts
• Tayana Owners Group

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

The word “cost” without a number associated with it is just meaningless drivel. So how much would a “well-equipped Tayana 37 with most of the desirable options” cost? Ballpark, of course.

They run about $50K to 80K, depending more on condition, and whether or not they have been recently re-powered, than what year built.

A Baltic stern makes it impossible to have davits for the inflatable and difficult to have solar panels, and therefore is not wise for most cruising. Passage-making is another matter.

The excessive weather helm problem of the Tayana 37 has more to do with the mast position than anything else. The Tayang builders chose to place the mast 1′ farther aft than Bob Perry’s designs called for. Their reason was for larger accommodations in the forward cabin, namely dry lockers for hanging clothes and bedding, plus generous sized clothes drawers, and depending upon the floor plan, the addition of a private doorway entry into the head. And, as Darrell Nicholson points out, Tayang’s interior choices should not have been a greater priority than sailing characteristics. However, Tayana owners who have shortened the foot of the main & boom by 16″ to 18″ report that this has cured the weather helm problem without any noticeable loss of speed.

And, the point is well taken in regard to the nuisance and potential danger of the staysail boom. It’s really not an essential item and after removing it the sheeting can be configured in different ways to get good use out of the staysail.

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