1982–1991 · designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder · built by Ta Yang Yacht Building Co. Ltd.
The Tayana 55 was designed by Pieter Beeldsnijder as a heavy-displacement bluewater cruiser intended for extended offshore passages and long-term liveaboard use. Built to Lloyd's scantlings by Taiwan's Ta Yang yard, it prioritised seakindly motion, generous tankage, and comfortable accommodations over speed. The centre-cockpit layout with a large aft stateroom made it a natural choice for couples doing extended ocean voyaging. It earned a reputation as a well-constructed, go-anywhere cruiser that rewards owners willing to maintain its complex systems.
Check this first — Built to order over a nine-year run, so treat the spec sheet as a starting point rather than a description. Both cutter and ketch rigs were supplied, and layouts and systems vary boat to boat — confirm the rig and the tankage from the boat in front of you, not from the class.
This is a general read on the Tayana 55 class — informed
background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history,
and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class
reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific
listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.
At a glance
Hull form
Fin Keel
Ballast type
Internal Iron
Rudder
Skeg Hung
Mast step
Keel Stepped
Hull construction
Fiberglass
Bridgedeck
Cored
Production
1982–1991
Built in
Taiwan
What the Tayana 55 is known for
Heavy-displacement Lloyd's-scantling hull provides genuine offshore durability and a seakindly, dampened motion in a seaway that lighter modern hulls cannot match.
Centre-cockpit layout with large aft owner's stateroom is one of the most practical arrangements for a liveaboard couple, offering genuine privacy and separation from the saloon.
Skeg-hung rudder provides meaningful protection to the rudder stock and a more predictable helm in following seas compared to a spade rudder.
Large water and fuel tankage built in from design — not an afterthought add-on — supporting extended passages without reprovisioning.
Known trade-offs
Teak decks are the class's most expensive chronic liability — original screw-through teak on every hull is now 35–44 years old and almost universally in some stage of failure.
Original engines are at or well past economic service life; an unrepowered example requires an immediate budget allocation for repower before any serious offshore passage.
Condition varies dramatically across the fleet — some hulls were lavishly maintained by offshore voyagers; others were neglected at a dock for years. Survey findings are highly hull-specific and price alone is a poor quality signal.
Heavy displacement produces sluggish performance in light air; the boat requires 10–12 knots of breeze to come alive, which can make light-air passages frustrating and increases motoring dependence.
Chainplate and deck penetration leaks are a known class pattern and can be difficult to trace fully without headliner removal — budget for a thorough investigation on any prospective hull.
Age-related quirks to expect
Teak deck screws and coring rotseverity: Highaffects: 1982–1991 (all production years)
Original diesel engine age (Perkins or similar) — repower exposureseverity: Highaffects: 1982–1991 (all production years)
Chainplate corrosion and deck-seal failureseverity: Mediumaffects: 1982–1991 (all production years)
Standing rigging age — original or under-documented replacement historyseverity: Mediumaffects: 1982–1991 (all production years)
Systems to check before you buy
Teak decks and subdeck corepriority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal
Original screw-fastened teak decks are a near-universal maintenance liability on this class. Plugs fail, screws corrode, and water migrates into the balsa subdeck core confirmed in production. Probe all low spots and around every deck fitting. Saturated core requires full deck replacement in the worst cases.
Engine and propulsionpriority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal, motor
The class left production with Perkins diesels now 35–44 years old. Assess hours, oil analysis, compression, and heat exchanger condition. Many hulls have been repowered; verify installation quality and alignment if so. A failing engine at sea on a 55-footer is a serious safety exposure.
Chainplates and rig attachmentpriority: offshore, coastal, racing
Leaking chainplates are a documented class issue. Inspect backing plates, the deck seal around each chainplate, and interior headliner concealment that may hide active corrosion or cracking. Stainless chainplates embedded in decks can fail without external warning.
Standing riggingpriority: offshore, coastal
Any rig 10+ years old without documented replacement history should be considered due for replacement before bluewater use. The ketch variant has additional complexity at the mizzen. Check swage terminals for cracking, toggle alignment, and forestay for wire-to-rod transitions if upgraded piecemeal.
Tanks (fuel and water) and through-hullspriority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal
Original aluminum fuel tanks of this era are blister and corrosion risks; original water tanks may carry mineral buildup or biological contamination. Through-hulls and seacocks should be exercised and inspected for bronze dezincification or failure to operate — a common finding on boats that have spent years at anchor.
How it fits your plans
Offshore
One of the stronger candidates in its era for serious bluewater voyaging — the Lloyd's-scantling hull, heavy displacement, skeg-hung rudder, and large tankage were all chosen with ocean passages in mind. Capsize screening factor of approximately 1.8 sits at the acceptable offshore threshold. Suitable for shorthanded couples if well-equipped, but the rig and systems load demands competent seamanship.
Coastal
Capable but overbuilt for purely coastal use; the boat's strengths are not fully utilised on day sails. Draft may limit access to shallow anchorages.
Liveaboard
Genuinely well-suited — the centre-cockpit layout with a separate aft stateroom, generous headroom, and large tankage make it one of the more practical liveaboard platforms of its era. Interior teak joinery is attractive but maintenance-intensive in humid climates.
Weekending
Functional but the boat's size and systems complexity make it more work than most weekenders require.
Racing
Not a racing design; heavy displacement and moderate sail area ratio make it uncompetitive in any performance class.
Motor
Range and tankage are adequate for extended motoring in calms, but it was not engineered as a motorsailer and fuel burn at hull speed is significant.
This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the
listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's
known about the Tayana 55 — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth
a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the
boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.
It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the $249
Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a
Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.
Other people's videos, not ours, and not endorsements — walkthroughs and
reviews of this class that are worth watching before you look at one in person.