TAIPAN

The ssection does not show the Northern Lights Generator which is
positioned under the Binacle.


TAIPAN was designed by  Kaufman and Ladd of Annapolis Maryland USA. She was built in the Kha Shing Shipyard in Taiwan in 1987 and launched in Fremantle, Western Australia for US owners to use to follow the Americas Cup that year and then to cruise the Australian coastline.

The original design was a 47 foot model but later they had the transom modified and the extended model became know as the Taiwan Swan at 49 feet. Taipan was one of the last boats built.
 The interior layout is slightly different.

Taipan was extensively optioned for her purchaser as an owner version not a charter version. There are no sea berths in the saloon above the saloon seating. Instead there are teak doors on good size lockers on both port and starboard. Sea berths are still usable in the folded-down table seating and on the opposite settee. Taipan still sleeps 7. As owners we find it is always comfortable on long passages, sleeping in either the forward berth downwind or in the aft cabin on the wind

On the hardstand at Tiger Point Fernandina Beach 2015

Big MPS up.

Taipan was purchased by us in 2001 in Sydney and sailed back to Fremantle for the first of several refits.
 The first job was the removal of the teak decks and teak coach roof. The mast, stanchions, all the deck fittings, etc were removed and Taipan was put into a shed in Fremantle. 
All the teak was screwed down so it was a laborious and soul-destroying job which required unscrewing around 4000 screws and then with special wide chisels inching the teak off in slivers. The job including the fairing, filling, and repainting, took several months to complete. We applied a white painted aggressive nonskid. The desired effect, which was to stop the leaks, was achieved! 
Fiberglass binnacle and table. Extra tops seat up to 8 people.
Taipan had a long history of difficult or impossible deck leaks. The major problem was only discovered when the teak was removed. There are 12 deck lights that provide light below decks. None of them were properly finished off. We had to make all new moldings and have them spliced into the Airex deck. The result has been NO Leaks for the past 19 years.

Foam core dodger and bimini tops with solar panels.
Over the years we have made many changes to Taipan both interior and exterior. Now fitted with hard dodger and Bimini, new motor, and interior layout which does away with the port side aft cabin in favor of laundry and workshop inside and very large lazarette accessed from the cockpit.

Companionway access was improved by cutting out the seat in front of the entrance and reducing the steps from 6 to 4. This was probably the single biggest improvement to comfort aboard! 

New companionway
Engine access.













Access to the front of the engine is now also very easy with the large lifting stair panel. The cockpit floor lifts and panels in the aft cabin and aft lazarette also provide access. The engine can be approached with ease from all sides.

Queen size forward berth with big overhead hatch.
The forward cabin has a queen-size bed and en-suite and the aft starboard cabin has a generous double bed with a large en-suite.
Aft Cabin





Galley.


The Galley has a nice Broadwater 4 burner gas stove with oven and grill, a huge 400litre refrigerator with top and front opening. The laundry / Workshop has a full-size front load washer and a small freezer.


Year Built 1987
Air Draft
19.5m
Length
14.95m
Rig
Cutter/Sloop
Beam
4.2m
Keel
Intergral Fin
Draft
2.1m
Rudder
Skeg Hung
Displacement
16 Ton (Fully laden.)
GRP Hull
 Airex Core Deck
Country of Registration Australia.



The Kaufman is a well proven offshore heavy weather design. John Kretchemer writes books, is a regular contributor to Sailing Magasine, and has been teaching heavy weather offshore techniques in a Kaufman 47 for some years.
For the adventures of John Kretschmer aboard his Kaufman 47, Quetzal,, and his wonderful sailing books click this link to open a new window. 


UP TO DATE BOAT SPECS



Fwd Head / Shower



Chart Table with Corian top

Aft Head / Shower


Laundry and Workshop.










Great Engine access from all sides and top. The Mase Generator has been replaced with a
 Northern Lights Gemerator in 2018





 SOLID SS RAILS around the entire deck provide excellent safety
The pole is now mounted on a new track up the front of the mast.
Deck Ventilation (The Bimini Dodger cover is not fitted in this photo)
Companionway and instrumentation There is another instrument console above the helm, with 2 autopilots and a storage compartment. The adjoining window between the Bimini and Dodger is not fitted in this photo..
NEW 3.1M SWIFT DINGY OCT 2021



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