panda 34 sailboat review

PANDA 34 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of PANDA 34. Built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. and designed by Gary Grant, the boat was first built in 1983. It has a hull type of Long Keel and LOA is 10.34. Its sail area/displacement ratio 15.36. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on Diesel.

PANDA 34 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about PANDA 34 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, auxillary power tank, contributions, who designed the panda 34.

PANDA 34 was designed by Gary Grant.

Who builds PANDA 34?

PANDA 34 is built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd..

When was PANDA 34 first built?

PANDA 34 was first built in 1983.

How long is PANDA 34?

PANDA 34 is 8.66 m in length.

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Anyone sailed a Moody 34 or 346?

• Thread starter NealB
• Start date 1 Feb 2014

Well-known member

I've just dug out the YM review of the Moody 34, by JJ and AB, written after a gusty test sail, in flat seas, in 1983. As an ex-Moody 33 mk1 owner, I was very surprised to read their opinion on the 34's sailing performance eg rounding up unpredictably in gusts, and being generally unpleasant to windward. They suggested her fat bum was to blame, though there's a ps to the article, where they say Bill Dixon subsequently had a look at the test boat, and declared that her mast had too much rake. Any more up to date views, please? Thanks.  

Suggest you ask on the MOA website, on this page here http://www.moainfoexchange.co.uk/forums/thinking-of-buying-a-moody-post-your-question-here/  

Cantata said: Suggest you ask on the MOA website, on this page here http://www.moainfoexchange.co.uk/forums/thinking-of-buying-a-moody-post-your-question-here/ Click to expand...

My 346 sails beautifully - she's NOT for sale but if your in the Solent mid week drop me an email and you can see for you self John  

Neal - we previously owned a fin keel 346 for 7 years and sailed her for around 1000 miles each year including some pretty heavy windward beats. I was pleasantly surprised at her sailing performance though the new sails we bought in the first season made a dramatic improvement! Like many boats they respond to being sailed in a particular way. It just takes a bit of time to find out the best way.  

BlueSkyNick

Active member.

We had a 346 for 3 years, and it was a great first boat. It depends what you used do, and how you want to use the boat. Not a racer, but a great cruiser easily sailed short handed. The MOA is superb value, and the technical forum which Cantata has mentioned is excellent.  

Thanks for the replies....sounds like it was the mast rake causing the problems. Certainly, we were very happy with the performance of our Moody 33 that we took to the Mediterranean for 18 months, back in the early 90's: decent performance (used to surprise quite a few people, in fact), well balanced and very easily handled. To Zambant... if I can take up your very kind offer, I'll send you a pm.  

I have sailed a Moody 346, and I think you will find that the reviewer in 1983 was just much less used to yachts that round up when heeled than any reviewer would be now. Certainly the 346 would track on happily at greater angles of heel than my present Jeanneau 35. If when looking to buy last I could have found an near-as-new Moody 346 I'd probably have bought it. Most modern boats sail beautifully up to about 15 degrees of heel, but shortly after that you hit an angle at which one degree more means no control. I came to the Jeanneau 35 from owning a heavy long-keeler that you could sail on heeled 45% with sidedecks and coachroof sides awash if you didn't want to bother reefing for a squall. Modern handling is the price you pay for modern interior layouts and space packed into relatively short hulls ..... The nicest handling boat I've ever sailed was a late 70s era She 36 - but there is no practical way you could put a wide double berth cabin into that hull and still have a saloon, even if you started with a bare hull to fit out - and I heard a rumour that there was such a bare hull sitting in Ireland.  

NealB said: I've just dug out the YM review of the Moody 34, by JJ and AB, written after a gusty test sail, in flat seas, in 1983. As an ex-Moody 33 mk1 owner, I was very surprised to read their opinion on the 34's sailing performance eg rounding up unpredictably in gusts, and being generally unpleasant to windward. They suggested her fat bum was to blame, though there's a ps to the article, where they say Bill Dixon subsequently had a look at the test boat, and declared that her mast had too much rake. Any more up to date views, please? Thanks. Click to expand...

GrahamM376 said: I think the used boat test said something along the lines of "the boat would change direction for no apparent reason". Ours was a twin keeler but the test boat was fin. Click to expand...

NealB said: Here's the precise words of wisdom from the article: "To windward, she responded unpredictably in the gusts, luffing up and bearing away in an exaggerated manner. Waves, too, caused her to veer sharply off course, and we found her a hard boat to anticipate". Click to expand...

I have made a few posts on this forum regarding the unstable directional qualities of my 346. The replies you have got so far, mirror the response I got. I was told mostly that the boat must be balanced with good sails. In short I would confirm the review article that the boat tends to charge off in any direction at the least bit of inattention. I have sailed mine for three summer years and I still dare not let go of the wheel to have a pee. I have sailed other boats for years on end so I know it isn't my technique that causes it. This year I will bolt my Aries on which is presently on my other boat to augment the Autohelm 3000 and hope that works. I will also fit a pedestal mounted chart plotter so that I can avoid the near disaster last year when I couldn't go below to get a fresh chart. I sail single handed so I hope the Aries will solve the problem. To me she is like an inverted triangle balanced on its point ready to fall either way at the least excuse. I have installed a new smaller 100kg Yanmar to replace the heavy 300kg Thorneycroft along with the mild steel fuel tank swapped for plastic so a major shift in weight distribution. It could be better or worse I am actually excited to find out in the Spring. EDIT The angle of mast rake is a new one on me and never heard of it as a reason before so I will try that in the Spring. My mast is presently vertical with no rake so who knows, playing with the rake may improve things.  

BurnitBlue said: I have installed a new smaller 100kg Yanmar to replace the heavy 300kg Thorneycroft along with the mild steel fuel tank swapped for plastic so a major shift in weight distribution. It could be better or worse I am actually excited to find out in the Spring. EDIT The angle of mast rake is a new one on me and never heard of it as a reason before so I will try that in the Spring. My mast is presently vertical with no rake so who knows, playing with the rake may improve things. Click to expand...

GrahamM376 said: The directional problem you have sounds far worse than we had which in our case can better be described as annoying. Our rig was the original and was set up correctly according to Moody yard. Will be interesting to see how your boat will trim with all that weight removed as it's already light, sailing solo in a 6 berth boat/cockpit. Click to expand...

Steve Clayton

moodyNick said: We had a 346 for 3 years, and it was a great first boat. It depends what you used do, and how you want to use the boat. Not a racer, but a great cruiser easily sailed short handed. The MOA is superb value, and the technical forum which Cantata has mentioned is excellent. Click to expand...

I know people with 346's and quite honestly I have never heard of these problems with directional stability. This generation of Dixon-designed Moodys are generally well regarded for their sailing and sea-keeping qualities. The behaviour that has been described sounds to me as though the boat is trimmed with the rig forward, to the point of acquiring lee helm. I think if a boat of mine behaved like this I'd be thinking of raking the mast back more.  

Cantata said: I know people with 346's and quite honestly I have never heard of these problems with directional stability. This generation of Dixon-designed Moodys are generally well regarded for their sailing and sea-keeping qualities. The behaviour that has been described sounds to me as though the boat is trimmed with the rig forward, to the point of acquiring lee helm. I think if a boat of mine behaved like this I'd be thinking of raking the mast back more. Click to expand...

BurnitBlue said: Well I am not going to argue further because this is not my thread albeit on topic. Recall this. The original test of the boat by JJ and AB found her directionally unstable. Graham found the same and got rid of the boat after 3 years. I found that I could not let go of the wheel for more than a few seconds before she rounded up or took off down wind and this is not gradual it is a sudden and quite violent course change and is not easy to get back on course because the sails and sheets are all over the place. I couldn't even put my sunglasses on without the boat charging off at 90 degrees swing. Everything has to be with one hand constantly on the wheel. Believe me, it also happened under genoa alone with a furled mainsail so I don't think on reflection that mast rake has any bearing on it. This is the sixth boat I have owned and I swear that there is a design fault somewhere. It is steady under engine so the problem lies with the sail balance and maybe the rudder but there is a fault somewhere. The only answer I have come up with is that here is too much area of rudder forward of the pivot point giving positive feedback to even a slight course change without a hand on the wheel to dampen the effect. I sincerely hope my Aries will give me a respite from being a prisoner at the wheel. Click to expand...

mrming said: Does she always turn to leeward, or is the direction random? Click to expand...

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The Panda 34 is a 33.92ft cutter designed by Grant/Perry and built in fiberglass by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. since 1983.

The Panda 34 is a heavy sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat. The fuel capacity is average. There is a good water supply range.

Panda 34 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Good offshore boats for a cruising couple

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My wife and I are dreaming about living the cruising lifestyle. We're currently living in Colorado where the only sailing is on mountain lakes, but we both have had some coastal cruising experience, including some bareboat chartering. We're planning to move to the East coast in a couple of years, buy a boat and do a lot of coastal sailing in preparation for our big adventure. Our ultimate goal is to take 5 years or so and do a tradewind circumnavigation. I would like some advice about what would be an appropriate monohull for this kind of trip. Our desired characteristics: 1) Length 37-43 ft 2) Solid, bluewater capability (safety first) 3) Comfortable for a liveaboard couple, with occasional visitors 4) Cost: about $150K Some of the boats I am looking at are the Caliber 38/40, Island Packet 38, Passport 40, Slocum 43. The Caliber appears to be a well built boat, although hard to find in our price range. There seems to be a lot of used Island Packet 38's for sale from 125-175K. Anybody have opinions about Caliber versus Island Packet for doing a circumnav? Are these boats up to the task? Is it even reasonable to hope to find a solid bluewater boat for $150K? If we bought a 15 or 20 year old boat, how much should we expect to spend to get it fitted out for world cruising? Any opinions would be appreciated.  

A lot depends on what you expect for your money. If your budget is 150K, then realistically, you're looking at a boat you can buy for around 120K. You will need to do upgrades/refits on pretty much anything you buy. I'll let others chime in with specific boats you could consider beyond those you list.  

Like you I live in Colorado. I've always made sacrifices so others would be happy. I decided recently, to make me and my family happy. We bought a great boat, Rawson 30, in Mexico. She's an older lady, but extremely well built, and oufitted for a circumnav. I won't tell you what I paid for her, but it was a tremendous deal. We are going to have her interior refitted/upgraded. The surveyor told me that we bought the boat for about 20% of her value. I personally like the Island Packet. When you get into their over 40's, you have the added benefit of the center cockpit and rear master. Nice if you want to have a visiting crew. Have a great evening, Kevin [email protected]  

You might consider a 1980's vintage Pacific SeaCraft Crealock 37'. Good reputation and available in your price range. An example can be seen here 1986 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 Cutter Rig Boat For Sale I have never seen this particular boat or know anything about it, or for that matter have an interest in it. I did have the opportunity to sale on a similar PSC vessel and was impressed with the overall construction and sailing characteristics. I lived in Colorado, like both of you, before moving to the VI. Good Luck  

FarCry said: You might consider a 1980's vintage Pacific SeaCraft Crealock 37'. Good reputation and available in your price range. An example can be seen here 1986 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 Cutter Rig Boat For Sale .... Click to expand...

Did you get such a great deal because you bought in Mexico? I have heard that it's possible to find a good deal in Mexico, and was wondering if there's any truth to that. Did you have any worries about buying a boat outside the U.S.? did you bring it back to the U.S., or are you going to leave it in Mexico?  

SummitSailor said: Did you get such a great deal because you bought in Mexico? I have heard that it's possible to find a good deal in Mexico, and was wondering if there's any truth to that. Did you have any worries about buying a boat outside the U.S.? did you bring it back to the U.S., or are you going to leave it in Mexico? Click to expand...

I'm completely biased, but the Passport 40 is definitely a couple's bluewater cruiser. My wife and I constantly comment on that fact on ours. It's manageable for a family of 4, it's perfect for a couple with an occasional guest. You can singlehand her when necessary (when you lead the lines aft), she drives well in a heavy sea, and she's immensely comfortable below. She has a lot of beam for her size/age which makes for a nice cockpit and a roomy interior along with slightly lower heeling angles than similar boats. They were also built fairly well and most problem areas are well documented. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  

Considering your next boat I don't feel sorry for you but your Passport certainly is a lovely boat.  

On Caliber vs. Island Packet for a circumnav...I vote Caliber. It is designed for that and sails better...though the Packets are also appealing. Other boats you should consider that are within or can be close to your budget: Tayana 37 and 42 Older Valiant 40's Brewer42 Petersen 44 Hylas 44 Pearson 424/422  

Yes, you can definately get a good bluewater capable boat for $150k (or less in many instances). Here are a few that would be on my list of bluewater boats that are 35+ feet in length and less than $150k: Pacific Seacraft 37 Ta Shing Baba 40 Panda 38 Young Sun 35/43 Valiant 40 Cabo Rico 38 Hans Christian 38/43 Shanon 38 Many of the above also have smaller, more affordable sisterships available in the 30'-35' range.  

If you are going long-term cruising, you are going to run into some bad weather - given that, you need to be sure that you select a boat that you and your spouse can handle in a blow. If you wonder what can happen out there, go to the Seamanship thread, and read the thread Storm Tactics with a Heavy Boat , starting on page 7, comment #65 - it's about the gale that we just went through with Paloma (a Bristol 29.9) on an otherwise ideallic 250 mile hop from Port Isabell to Freeport. Think about that and picture you and your wife in that situation and then think about how large a boat you should really be looking at.  

1987 Gozzard Boat For Sale Similar to the Shannon have you considered a Gozzard 36? The above 1987 Gozzard is listed on Yachtworld for $129,000. It seems low but with your expected upgrades may fit your budget.  

Sapper's point is a very good one... outfitting a "factory" boat for bluewater is usually very expensive. Getting a boat that is pre-outfitted with most of that gear will save you a lot of money, time and effort.  

Wow -how many CO people are there on this forum? I'm the 3rd in this thread! We bought a Wauquiez Pretorien 35 in the Pacific Northwest. My husband moved onto her full time last summer and I have split my time between our boat and Colorado for the last almost-a-year and I move onto the boat this summer. We have spent the last year (and will spend the next two years...and forever) working on the boat and getting ourselves ready to cruise permanently. We leave in 2010 - although leaving may very well be cruising for a year full time in the PNW prior to heading south.  

Hans Christian 40' Check out the Hans Christian 40' that was listed on ebay today. Bank repo with a 79K buy now price. Looks pretty good, survey needed though.  

My opinions: The Valiant 40 is a very well made boat with the safety first aspect, but TIGHT!! YOu need to go on board one to understand. I put the Tayana 37 in the same "boat". Well made, proven circum boat... but tight and S-L-O-W! Caliber is well made and a nice boat. The layout either appeals or does not. I am not sure it would be the best choice for the second cabin part for occasional visitors. I have no experience with Slocums and am not a fan of IP's. The Passports and great and very liveable and so are the Tayana 42's. Both will fit in your price range, though the Tayana V-42 will push it if it is in good condition. I will warn you though that the T(V)-42 is not exactly a performance boat. She seems pretty happy under motor and sail about 6kts or a bit less. I sail circleds around her. Valiants are no different. The Pandas are really nice, but probably out of your price range. Not real performance oriented either and typically only one cabin. Not much larger than a T37 down below but incredible cabinetry and VERY comfortable. The Baba's may or may not have a second cabin and seem like decent boats though I have never personally sailed one. I have experience on or with most of the others above that I have commented on. We ended up picking a Tayana Vancouver 42 for mom and pop. The only comment I will say on the "safety first" part is that the captain is primarily what determines the safety, not the boat. But I am assuming since you are planning on sailing around the world, you know that?? - CD  

SummitSailor said: My wife and I are dreaming about living the cruising lifestyle. We're currently living in Colorado where the only sailing is on mountain lakes, but we both have had some coastal cruising experience, including some bareboat chartering. We're planning to move to the East coast in a couple of years, buy a boat and do a lot of coastal sailing in preparation for our big adventure. Our ultimate goal is to take 5 years or so and do a tradewind circumnavigation. I would like some advice about what would be an appropriate monohull for this kind of trip. Our desired characteristics: 1) Length 37-43 ft 2) Solid, bluewater capability (safety first) 3) Comfortable for a liveaboard couple, with occasional visitors 4) Cost: about $150K Some of the boats I am looking at are the Caliber 38/40, Island Packet 38, Passport 40, Slocum 43. The Caliber appears to be a well built boat, although hard to find in our price range. There seems to be a lot of used Island Packet 38's for sale from 125-175K. Anybody have opinions about Caliber versus Island Packet for doing a circumnav? Are these boats up to the task? Is it even reasonable to hope to find a solid bluewater boat for $150K? If we bought a 15 or 20 year old boat, how much should we expect to spend to get it fitted out for world cruising? Any opinions would be appreciated. Click to expand...

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Review of Panda 34

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Panda 34 is 1.71, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.1 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Panda 34 is about 194 kg/cm, alternatively 1088 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 194 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1088 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio) Indicates how fast the boat is in light wind: - Cruising Boats have ratios 10-15 - Cruiser-Racers have ratios 16-20 - Racers have ratios above 20 - High-Performance Racers have ratios above 24 Sail-area/displacement ratio (SA/D ratio): 15.25

Maintenance

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Panda 34 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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• By Mary Brandon Fox
• Updated: March 4, 2010

Panda 38 368

The respected Ta Shing Yard in Taiwan built the Panda 38 in the 1980s for Bob Berg and the Quicksilver Corporation. It was designed to be a lighter, faster, and smaller sibling to the Panda 40 while retaining the solid offshore capability for which Berg’s boats were known.

Designer Gary Grant gave the Panda 38 traditional lines that are accentuated by generous applications of teak used on the wide caprail, bronze-capped rubrail, grabrails, and cockpit coaming. Most of the boats were cutter rigged as a factory option and were fitted with a generous bowsprit. A vented teak platform attached to the bowsprit accommodates dual bronze anchor rollers.

Ta Shing’s interior teak joinery and craftsmanship is legendary. Aboard our Panda 38, Restless, we feel as though we live in a fine piece of furniture. The bulkheads are vertical teak staving; the overhead, between the laminated beams, is made of removable panels of laminate or spruce staving; locker doors are louvered teak. A teak grate at the foot of the companionway drains through a pan into the bilge.

The roomy and seaworthy U-shaped galley is to port of the companionway. On the starboard side, the forward-facing navigation station has adequate room for instrumentation and ample space in which to work. In some boats, the layout of galley and nav station was reversed.

The main saloon provides a generous area for living and entertaining, with a settee/sea berth to port and, to starboard, a U-shaped dinette that seats four comfortably. The master stateroom, in the bow, has a king-size V-berth. Aft of it, on the starboard side, the head has a marble countertop and a separate shower. Aft of the navigation station is a quarter berth.

Twelve old-school bronze opening ports, four cowl vents on teak dorade boxes, a forward-opening teak hatch in the V-berth, and an elegant teak butterfly hatch over the main cabin provide excellent airflow throughout the interior.

While the standard engine was the Universal 40-hp. diesel, some boats, including ours, have a Universal 50. The V-drive transmission leaks notoriously and has been replaced on many boats. Access to the engine area under the cockpit is outstanding.

Generous tankage permits extended cruising: A black-iron tank under the saloon sole carries 75 gallons of diesel, and two stainless-steel tanks under the settees hold 140 gallons of water between them.

The Panda 38’s teak decks are laid on top of a fiberglass sandwich. When we removed hardware to recaulk the deck, we found that the deck core is made of individual 2-inch balsa squares with resin barriers between them, which limits core damage when a leak occurs.

A moderate performer under sail, the P38 goes to weather pretty well even in light air. The boat will turn in 150 miles in 24 hours with 10 knots or more forward of the beam, but if it’s aft of the beam, the Panda needs more wind to perform in any significant sea state. The more wind, the more the 38 likes it. The boat has a sea-kindly motion and modest weather helm. The bathtub cockpit is rather small. We feel tucked in and safe when passagemaking, but it seats only four to six people comfortably at anchor.

Our Panda 38 has proven to be a strong and solid sailboat and a comfortable home. Ta Shing built 29 of them during the early 1980s. They’re rare; expect asking prices between $100,000 and $125,000, depending on equipment and whether the abundant teak is in a gray “natural state” or in show condition.

For more information, visit the Baba-Panda-Tashiba owners website ( www.groups.yahoo.com/group/baba-l ).

Mary Brandon “Brandy” Fox and her husband, Mark, sailed their Panda 38, Restless, from Seattle to Patagonia via California, Mexico, Ecuador, Easter Island, and Chile.

LOA 37′ 7″ (11.45 m.) LWL 31′ 6″ (9.60 m.) Beam 12′ 0″ (3.66 m.) Draft 5′ 9″ (1.75 m.) Sail Area (100%) 704 sq. ft. (65.40 sq. m.) Ballast 6,600 lb. (2,993 kg.) Displacement 19,000 lb. (8,617 kg.) Ballast/D .35 D/L 271 SA/D 15.8 Water 140 gal. (531 l.) Fuel 75 gal. (284 l.) Engine Universal 40-hp. diesel Designer Gary Grant

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Fifteen years after the last Baba was built in Taiwan, the sailboat's traditional styling, large interior and heavy weather performance make it a favorite of cruising couples. Its principal liability is poor light air performance.

The Baba line of boats was conceived in the mid-1970’s by Bob Berg, a Seattle yacht broker who with two business associates formed Flying Dutchman International Ltd. to import traditionally styled cruising boats from Taiwan.

Bob Perry was commissioned to design the boats, which Berg envisioned as a smaller version of the Tayana 37, one of Perry’s most popular designs. Though it is a full-keeled boat, the Tayana 37 has a greater turn of speed than most traditional yachts.

“Our objective was to produce a boat that was faster and less expensive than the Westsail 32 and the Valiant 32,” Berg said. He personally designed the boat’s interior for long­distance cruising. Two versions were offered: a V-berth model, which was popular on the West Coast, and the double berth model that was popular in the East.

Berg chose a propitious time to enter the market. Production began during the heyday of the sailboat industry in 1978 and continued until 1985. More than 230 Baba 30’s were produced. During the later stages of its history, the company produced two stretch versions of the boat-theBaba 35, of which more than 50 were built, and the Baba 40, with more than 150 built. The design of the Baba 40 was reworked twice, first as the Panda 40, and later as the Tashiba 40.

The boats were built in Taiwan for three reasons, Berg said. “Ta Shing boatbuilders were among the best in the world, and the best in Taiwan. Labor was inexpensive. And we enjoyed a favorable exchange rate.”

Ta Shing also built or builds the Mason, Panda, Tashiba and Taswell yachts.

The Baba 30 was introduced with a sticker price of $38,500 in 1977. A subsequent change in the value of the dollar resulted in a price jump to $49,500. That was followed by a 40% devaluation of the Taiwanese dollar and another increase in price.

Two other factors influenced pric­ing: The builder switched from Volvo engines, installed on early models, to Yanmar, and spruce spars were replaced by aluminum. The last boats sold were priced at $78,000.

In addition to pricing issues, the demise of Flying Dutchman International was accelerated by two other factors: a general slump in the purchase of new boats, and a shift in buyer sentiment. During the mid-1980’s, purchasing patterns shifted to a preference for lighter, faster, sleek­er-looking designs.

The Baba 30 continues to have one of the highest resale values in the marketplace. Twenty-year-old boats sell for $55,000 to $60,000; newer models for $60,000 to $65,000. Because Flying Dutchman had dealers on both coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and Canada, it is possible to find used boats in most areas.

Perry’s design reflects a self-described disdain for the belief that “if it’s a traditional design it will be slow.” His objective was to take a relatively heavy, traditional double-ender and work with the hull lines to “ring every tenth of a knot in speed out of the design that I can.”

He gave the boat an easily driven hull with a prismatic coefficient of .50, “which should take care of performance in light air,” he said. The hull has considerable flair to the top­sides, which enhances stability and provides a dry ride when sailing to weather.

He also flattened the bottom more than a typical Colin Archer design in an attempt to avoid hobby horsing and enhance performance. The boat has a full keel with a cutaway forefoot, so it tracks well. One owner, however, described backing up under power as “an adventure,” a typical characteristic of full-keeled boats.

Owners give the boat high marks for its sea kindly motion in all types of sea conditions. They generally agree that it suffers in light air.

Perry was equally attentive to the needs of cruisers in the design of spaces belowdecks. That concern, coupled with a pinched stern, produces a rather smallish cockpit. Its seats are 60″ long and 20″ wide, so realistically has comfortable seating for four adults. The footwell is 44″ long and 28″ wide, but useful space is diminished by the introduction of a steering pedestal. The cockpit is not large enough for sleeping comfort­ably, but its small size is a safety feature in the event of boarding waves. Also, there are two 2″ scuppers.

The flip side of the minimalist approach to the cockpit is an increase in space belowdecks.

“Anything shorter than 30′ is too small for a long-distance cruiser, un­less you are willing to make serious compromises. At 30′, the designer still can create a workable galley, at least four full length berths, and an en­closed head,” Perry said.

The boat has 6′ 4″ headroom and a lot of stowage, even when compared to more recent 32- to 34-footers, but the price of stowage areas is a dramatic increase in displacement. The boat displaces 12,000 lb. on a 24′ 6″ water­line. Perry said that at the time he designed the Baba 30, the average 30- footer displaced about 7 ,000 lb.

“But,” he added, “you will find that the light yacht is short on stowage space, which is fine for short week­end trips and day sailing. I chose a rather beamy double-ender with a healthy displacement-to-length ratio(D/L) of 3 79, which afforded the interior volume to do a comfortable layout.”

The Baba 30 has a tall cutter rig. The sail area-to-displacement ratio (SAID) is 14.97. “While this may be viewed as a rather low figure,” he said, “it is my contention that at this size the use of a 150% genoa is not prohibitive. My aim was to design a rig compatible with the hull I had designed in terms of deriving maximum performance.”

During our test sail, we discovered that a large genoa or light air drifter contributes significantly to downwind speed in winds under 10 knots. Above 15 knots, the boat can be sailed at hull speed with a jib and staysail.

One owner told us that the boat is easily driven to weather, and will point to within 35 of apparent wind when sails are properly trimmed.

“The result of my design is not a cute cartoon,” Perry concluded, “but a really capable offshore cruising yacht.

Construction

Berg, two professional surveyors, and owners who responded to the PS Boatowner’ s Questionnaire agree that the Baba 30 is a well-constructed, blue-water vessel.

The hulls were constructed of uncored, hand-laid fiberglass using alternating layers of 1. 5-ounce mat and 24-ounce woven roving.

There are six layers in most places, and 10-12 layers in the keel area,” Berg recalled.

The interiors of early boats were smoothed and sprayed with gelcoat, and covered with a quilted vinyl material. Later models were sprayed with a foam that provided insulation and sound deadening.

Newer boats we inspected also have hulls lined with teak battens in the saloon and forepeak, which improve noise insulation and add to the boat’s traditional feel. The cabin sole is teak and holly. Cabinetry and joinery are of a quality typically associated with high-end custom yachts.

Berg disclosed that some of the hulls experienced minor blistering problems, “usually within 12″ of the waterline,” he said.

Ron Reisner, a Seattle-based surveyor and construction consultant with Reisner and McEwen, Inc., oversaw construction of Baba yachts during the 1970’s on two trips to Taiwan. He has since surveyed several used Baba 30’s, including two in 1998.

“The boats were substantially built, and have held up well,” he told us. “The only problem we have discovered is that some chainplate bolts have corroded.” Because the bolts are visible from below, their condition is easy to monitor.

Jerry Edwards, a surveyor with the same firm, concurred. Edwards sold, commissioned and performed sea trials on several boats during three years as a yacht broker, and has surveyed seven since becoming a surveyor.

“The construction is on a par with almost any quality production boat,” he said. “The electrical systems are excellent; the company used high quality wire, which was tagged and bundled. The plumbing system is also good. The blisters we saw were usually 1/8″ inch in size, and usually in small clusters near the waterline. They probably were a function of the company using isophthalic resins, rather than orthophthalic. But my main criticism of the boat is the use of a steel fuel tank.”

We inspected boats constructed in 1979 and 1983, both of which had completed trans-Pacific passages, and found no evidence of cracking or crazing on gelcoat surfaces, or of water leaks around the mast or ports. One still has a good non-skid surface on deck. On the other, its teak decks showed little wear.

The first boats produced were equipped with only one set of shrouds, Berg told us. However, after one owner’s boat was dismasted, fore and aft lower shrouds were add­ed to the single spreader rig.

Later models in­corporated a boom gallows.

Deck Layout

One of the Baba 30’s most prominent features is the 4′ bowsprit. It is surrounded by a stainless steel pulpit, and also houses two bow rollers and a large bronze winch.

Most boats were equipped with self-tending staysails, but two we inspected had been retrofitted with furlers on the jib and staysail stays, which simplified sail handling during double-handed passages across the Pacific Ocean.

The rest of the boat’s on-deck systems are rather ordinary; halyards are led to Lewmar 30 two­speed winches mounted on the cabin top, and jib sheets through blocks to Lewmar 40 two-speed winches in the cockpit. Sail tracks, port and star­board, on the coachroof, are for the stay sail sheets. The side decks are 18″ wide. The toerail is 3″ high.

Though tiny, the cockpit is functionally organized. Stowage space includes a port lazarette, two elevated, oval­shaped compartments aft that also provide a backrest for the helmsman and crew, and another vented compartment for a propane tank. Two 14″-wide cubbies with teak covers are good for stowing winch handles and other small items.

Two hatches and four bronze opening ports on each side of the cabin were standard. Two opening skylights over the saloon are 34″ long and 18″ wide; a second 24″ square hatch is located over the forepeak. Additional ventilation is through two 6″ Dorades installed in fiberglass boxes forward of the mast.

One owner mounted a spinnaker pole on a sail track on the front of the mast, which takes no otherwise usable space and eliminates the need to drill holes in the deck.

Accommodations

A number of Baba 30’s have made trans-oceanic passages, carrying adequate provisions for a crew of two. One couple spent 27 days sailing from Hawaii to Seattle.

The layout is fairly straightforward with the galley to port below the companionway, the nav station opposite, and a quarterberth to starboard. An almost triangular-shaped head is to starboard, forward of the saloon, and the V-berth fills the bow. With the exception of countertops in the galley, all of the surfaces are teak, which has aged well on the boats we saw.

The nav table is 28″ wide, and 17″ deep. A cabinet 26″ wide, 14″ high and 12″ deep is on the forward edge of the nav station and provides adequate room for VHS, GPS, ham radio or single-sideband and weatherfax. An additional 50″ x 9″ shelf provides room for books and other instruments.

The quarterberth aft of the nav station is 68″ long (plus 12″ of the nav seat) and 30″ wide and has stowage below it.

We found two interesting stowage areas under the companionway-a hanging locker immediately to starboard of the engine compartment that is large enough for two sets of foul weather gear, and another 18″ wide and 12″ high into which one owner had mounted a small microwave oven.

The engine is accessible by removing the companionway steps and cover, though some owners complain that changing oil filters is an acrobatic challenge.

The galley is a typical U-shaped affair with the ice box aft, a gimbaled two-burner stove and a dry locker and sink forward. Countertops are as large as those found on bigger boats.

Living spaces are equally spacious, partially attributable to the boat’s 10′ 6″ beam and 6′ 4″ headroom. The port settee is 6′ long and the starboard settee is 50″. Three storage compartments measuring 20″ wide, 21″ tall and 16″ deep are located on both sides of the boat, above which are enclosed cabinets more than 24″ long.

Water and fuel tanks are located below the settees.

The head is large enough to be functional but has little elbow room. It measures 31″ deep and 42″ wide, and is equipped with a circular stainless sink. The medicine cabinet is large enough for some toiletries, but too small for a cruising medical kit.

The hanging locker to port is 43″ high and 18″ wide-adequate for a small amount of clothing. We think most clothes will be stored in cabinets below the 77″ x 60″ V-berth. The chain locker/forepeak is accessed through louvered teak doors. A drawback is the water that can come aboard with the ground tackle, not to mention the smell of mud.

In our opinion, the spaces below­decks on this boat are well-organized and adequate for couples planning extended passages, especially com­pared to newer production boats.

Some owners, however, report that tankage numbers are inaccurate. One told us that the fuel tank holds just 2 7 gallons, not 40 as advertised. Another said the two 40-gallon water tanks hold only 50 gallons combined.

Performance

Our experience aboard the Baba 30, corroborated by PS readers, found that in very light winds she’s an under-performer; above that, she performs on all points of sail, is sea kindly and has an easy helm.

The most cogent comments came from a couple in their mid-50’s who sailed a 1976 model from Hawaii to Seattle. After cruising Hawaiian waters for 18 months, they began the upwind route to the mainland, which took 27 days. The boat was not equipped with a spinnaker, so they used a 150% genoa in light air.

In less than 10 knots of wind the boat made 1-2 knots, steered to within 5 of its intended course for three days by an Auto-helm wind vane. When winds picked up to more than 10 knots, boat speed increased to 5 knots while sailing under the vane on a close reach. Three days from port the boat was struck by a 30-hour storm, during which winds built from 20 to 50 knots.

“The wind vane wasn’t operating properly, so we disconnected it, and steered by hand,” the skipper said. “Aside from general fatigue, we had no problems because the boat was easy to sail and the helm well-bal­anced; we just tied off the helm and hid behind the dodger, sailing under a double-reefed main and staysail. The ride was very comfortable. It seems as though the more the wind blew, the stouter the boat became.”

Conclusions

We think the Baba 30 will be pleasing to the eye of any sailor with an appreciation for traditional yachts. The construction methods are among the best used during its era, and have aged well; recent surveys of aging boats show them to be structurally sound. Accommodations are spacious and the joiner work is of very good quality. Performance is about what we’d ex­pect for a boat with her displacement, so it’s no surprise that she’s sluggish in 5-10 knots of wind.

The Baba 30 has held its value well; used boats are still commanding prices nearly as high as they were 10 years ago.

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I’ve never seen a 30 – or any baba – with a self tending staysail, nor have i ever heard of it anywhere else. I don’t know where the number of hatches came from either : companionway, forward hatch, and 10 opening windows (all of them). Most 30s have one inline and one aft lower (though a few moved the inline lower shroud forward). Otherwise, this seems mostly accurate. Oh, several dozen hull numbers were skipped so there’s about 150 30s produced i believe.

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• June 26, 2013

Yachting Monthly reviews the Rival 34

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

What’s she like to sail? Her high bow is designed to give good protection in the cockpit and a secure feeling on deck. She’s best to windward, when her fine entry, modest beam and attractive sheer combine to provide an easy motion and a dry ride. But she’ll struggle to match the performance of a modern yacht for sailing downwind. A Rival 34 is superb for long-distance passage-making and very steady in heavy seas and strong winds, but in light conditions her performance and manoeuvrability will feel staid compared to modern fin keel yachts. With perfectly set sails, a Rival 34 should feel beautifully balanced. She’s quite a big boat to helm with a tiller, which sweeps across a cramped but reassuringly deep and well protected cockpit complete with a special liferaft locker – a wheel would take more space. A mainsheet traveller in front of the companionway and a fairly low boom put the onus for ‘health and safety’ on the crew! Top speed of this heavy-displacement yacht is likely to range between 6-8 knots under sail, with faster bursts downwind, or 5-7 knots under power. The deep keel version should be stiffer and point higher than the shoal draught version, but is less versatile for tidal cruising. Either one would do for drying out against a wall. Old sloops require extra physical effort. Winding in the 130% masthead genoa discourages short tacking, while Wild Rival’s piston hanks are more fiddly than a modern luff groove. Changing headsails is much more effort than shortening sail with a furling line and requires one or two crew to work on a pitching foredeck, but you get a far more efficient sail shape. Reefing requires one or two crew to work at the mast, but everything comes to hand without the increased complexity and friction of reefing lines led aft. Lazyjacks could be useful to catch the mainsail as it drops, but the relatively small area makes it fairly easy to flake along the boom. What’s she like in port and at anchor? When it’s time to berth in a marina, plenty of practice will be required for failsafe reversing with the Rival’s skeg and long fin keel and the turning circle will be wide compared to modern yachts. Unlike modern yachts, you also don’t get the luxury of spacious stern cabins with en suite heads and showers, and the main cabin feels narrow, but that means hand-holds are easy to grab. Wild Rival has neither a fridge nor pressurised water, so you don’t need to worry about drained batteries or constant refills for the water tank. With a solidly built teak interior and up to seven berths in a traditional ‘open plan’ layout, only the forecabin provides a degree of privacy. With four dedicated sea berths, she is clearly designed for sailing, rather than marina life – a good choice for a crew of hearties or a couple who really enjoy passage-making. Reflecting their traditional approach to cruising, Steve and Cathy drop and weigh anchor by hand without need for a windlass, a technique requiring complementary muscle and boat-handling skills. Would she suit you and your crew? If you really want a ‘sailing and motoring caravan’, or an exhilarating daysailer, the Rival 34 is not your kind of yacht. But if you’re after a boat that can sail around the world, she could provide a reasonably inexpensive solution to your dreams. A second-hand Rival 34 will be at least 30 years old. These yachts were extremely well built (to Lloyd’s Register 100A1), but a thorough survey is recommended, covering engine, rigging, sails, winches, electronics and all other bits that are expensive to replace.

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‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Review: Trouble in Juniper City

Jack Black’s Po faces a new adversary, a chameleon voiced by Viola Davis, in the latest installment of this popular animated franchise.

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By Claire Shaffer

“Kung Fu Panda 4,” like previous installments of this DreamWorks franchise, punches above its weight.

Once again starring Jack Black as the gullible martial arts master Po, the animated film melds together wisecracking comedy and sprightly action sequences with a message of kindness, inner peace and self-discovery.

In this movie, directed by Mike Mitchell, Po grapples with his new responsibility as the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, taking the place of his mentor Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Shifu urges Po to name a successor, but Po is reluctant to give up a life of butt-kicking in exchange for doling out wisdom.

The halfhearted search for Po’s replacement is cut short with the arrival of a thieving fox, Zhen (Awkwafina). Threatened with jail time, she offers information on a mysterious new villain, the Chameleon (Viola Davis), who threatens to take over the Valley with the power of Po’s previous adversaries combined.

As Po and Zhen set out for the Chameleon’s palace in faraway Juniper City, Po’s two guardians — his biological father, Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) and adopted father, Mr. Ping (James Hong) — follow him in comical pursuit.

Witty gags abound (there’s a standout “bull in the china shop” sequence), and Black and Awkwafina make a charming lead duo, particularly when Po encounters the sights, sounds and bountiful food of Juniper City. The art direction is also a step above the typical animated blockbuster. But what’s missing are the antics of Po’s “Furious Five” compatriots from the earlier films, like Angelina Jolie’s Tigress and Jackie Chan’s Monkey, who are written off in this installment.

Still, don’t expect a total downgrade: This is an enjoyable “Kung Fu Panda” movie, even if it’s missing some of the pizazz of the earlier ones.

Kung Fu Panda 4 Rated PG. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. In theaters.

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The movies that have made more than $1 billion at the box office: photo gallery, ‘kung fu panda 4’ review: jack black is back as lovable dragon warrior on a new mission in this winning dreamworks sequel.

By Pete Hammond

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Awards Columnist/Chief Film Critic

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Plotwise, Po (again voiced by the inimitable Jack Black ) has been content to be a successful Dragon Warrior vanquishing villains and seemingly with no further ambition. However, when Kung Fu Master Shifa ( Dustin Hoffman slyly returning to the role) commands him to become Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace succeeding Oogway, he also instructs Po to name his own replacement, something that fills him with angst. So too does the emergence of a new villain, perhaps the most imposing he has ever faced even if it is a tiny lizard known as The Chameleon ( Viola Davis ), who can shape-shift into some pretty frightening forms making this maniacal creature a real threat to deal with. Her goal is to secure Po’s Staff of Wisdom and return all the dead bad guys Po has put away in past films.

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For Po this is all too much, especially since it takes this country bumpkin to the big city for the first time in his life, a raging metropolis called Juniper City that is a sort of Chinese NYC. This is where he teams with the slippery Corsac Fox, Zhen ( Awkwafina ), who though a thief by trade turns out to be the rock Po needs in his quixotic quest to foil The Chameleon. Zhen leads our would-be hero into a series of adventures in and eventually to a confrontation once again with the first villain he defeated in the initial movie, Tai Lung (Ian Mc Shane). After losing that battle to Po, this proud leopard has lived quietly and on his own spiritual journey until The Chameleon decides she has some use for him.

Rather unbelievably Davis as The Chameleon is also just getting her first gig in an animated feature as the deliciously ambitious and plotting lizard for all seasons. McShane is once again effective as the complicated Tai Lung, as is another returnee, the wonderful 95-year-old James Hong as Mr. Ping, Po’s adoptive father. Po’s birth father Li, who he reunited with in KFP 3 , is back again voiced by Bryan Cranston in fine form with limited screen time.

The production value here is superb with a great score from Hans ZImmer and Steve Mazzaro adding to the effectiveness of this ace family entertainment, still vibrant and fresh on its fourth time around. Co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine. Producer is Rebecca Huntley.

Title: Kung Fu Panda 4 Distributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: March 8, 2024 Director: Mike Mitchell Screenwriters: Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger and Darren Lemke Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ke Huy Quan, Dustin Hoffman, Viola Davis, Ronny Chieng, Lori Tan Chinn Rating: PG Running time: 1 hr 34 min

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• Sailboat Guide

Panda 38 is a 40 ′ 7 ″ / 12.4 m monohull sailboat designed by Gary Grant and built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. starting in 1982.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

From BlueWaterBoats.org :

The Panda 38, introduced in 1982, comes from a whole family of Scandinavian styled cruisers developed by Bob Berg in the mid-1970s through to the mid-1980s which included the popular Baba 30 , 35 and 40 designs from Bob Perry . The boat was originally conceived as a smaller and lighter alternative to the Panda 40 (aka Baba 40). Like other boats from Berg, the Panda 38 was built by Ta Shing which has been generally considered the best boatyard in Taiwan, and the stunning interiors reflect this.

The Panda 38 has a reputation for sea-kindly motion, easy handling, and brisk performance. Since its introduction, only 29 have been built so they are quite rare to find on the market, and like all boats from the Bob Berg / Ta Shing duo, they have enjoyed an avid fan base.

Delving into the history of the Panda 38 we need to step back to 1976, the year that brought the world the Baba 30. The little boat was the brainchild of Berg who knitted together the design talents of Bob Perry with his new discovery, a small boatyard called Shing Sheng. The Baba 30 reinforced to the American public the kind of boat that could be built in Taiwan. It was a salty full keeled cruiser that packed an incredibly livable interior into 30 feet. Brimming with quality, the boat helped the yard (now operating out of purpose-built facilities under the name Ta Shing) in the direction of becoming Taiwan’s premier boatyard.

The Baba 30 led to the 35, and culminated in the fast and luxurious full-keeled Baba 40, a boat that had its lines derived from the now legendary Valiant 40. After a naming rights kerfuffle the Baba 40 became the Panda 40. Roughly the same time, in 1981, Bob Berg was looking for a smaller and lighter alternative. As Berg puts it:

“…the market demanded a smaller and lighter weight boat with a different stern than the Baba 40. I envisioned a stern similar to the   James W. Hart , a catboat that Bill Garden designed with an old-time extended counter stern. This type of stern allowed for a larger cockpit.”

For the design he commissioned Gary Grant who had prior experience with this style of boat having worked in the Perry design office. It was to be his first commission as an independent designer. He set about tweaking the design formula to maximize waterline length, reducing wetted surface area and reducing displacement.

The boat was of course built by Ta Shing and was introduced in the latter part of 1982. Though most of the records were shredded in 1992, Berg says the records indicate at least 29 boats were built. Most were sold into the Pacific North West. Interestingly, the first Panda 38 off the production line was White Bear , Berg’s own boat, the name being the literal Chinese translation of Panda Bear.

Configuration & Layout

The Panda 38 is a Scandinavian style cruiser like Berg’s previous boats, there’s a cutter rig (though many owners like to sail their boat as sloops with a removable inner stay), a three foot bowsprit, and a flat bottomed full keel. And like the prior boats that were designed by Perry (Baba 30, 35, 40) , Grant follows the same formula by cutting away the keel’s forefoot and firming up the turn of the bilge to reduce drag. The hull’s canoe underbody remains flat well aft to improve downwind performance. To make the boat easy to short hand, Grant reduced the sail area which led to a significant reduction in displacement. The Panda 38 weighs in at a full 10,000 lbs less than the Panda 40.

Visually, perhaps the most striking difference from prior boats has been the departure from the canoe stern in favor of a transom. Berg says “ I decided to come out with a boat with a different stern design because I felt that not every sailor wanted a double-ender “. Regardless, the transom usefully increases the usable deck space and aids the waterline length slightly.

The bathtub-like cockpit is suitably small for bluewater passage-making, but seats only four to six people comfortably at anchor.

Below deck, some of the true quality of the boat comes to light. The sheer quantity and quality of the teak joinery work is striking and utilization of space is impeccable. Berg was well known to work over every fine detail at the Ta Shing factory, looking for clever ways to use every nook and cranny.

There’s a huge well designed galley with generous dry storage areas. The boats came with the option of the galley port or starboard. With the port located galley, to starboard was placed the navigation station with the navigator’s seat formed by part of the seagoing quarter berth which runs further aft. In the starboard located galley, to port was placed a generous wet-locker space with a reverse facing navigation station further forward utilizing the port settee as a seat.

The sole below the companionway is sensibly made from teak grating to allow drainage while changing out of wet weather gear. Access to the engine behind the companionway stairs is excellent.

In the main salon are settee berths port and starboard, there’s plenty of space for living and entertaining around a U-shaped dinette seating four in comfort. Above is an elegant teak butterfly hatch offering good ventilation. Further forward to starboard is the head with separate shower. At the very front, most boats have a stateroom consisting of a queen sized berth though a few boats were optionally fitted with V-berths.

Construction

The Panda 38’s hull is constructed in hand laid fiberglass, while the decks share similar treatment with a coring of end grain balsa broken into two inch squares with resin barriers to limit potential for rot damage from leaks. Ballast consists of 6,600 pounds of iron cast in a single piece and sealed and glassed over.

The bulkheads consist of vertical teak staving, while overhead, between the laminated beams are removable sheet laminate or spruce staving. In efforts to reduce condensation, the hull’s interior is lined with polyurethane foam in the living areas.

The Panda 38 is a good performer under sail, she is sea-kindly and is known to excel to weather regardless of light air. In fact owners report 150 mile days with only ten knots of wind in a close reach, more wind is required when downwind in any significant sea state. We hear the overall boat speed of the Panda 38 is close to that of the impressive Baba 40.

In terms of balance, the boat exhibits a slight weather helm with a particularly good rudder response (aiding close quarter manoeuvring).

Buyers Notes

Overall the Panda 38 has proven to be strong and solid. Other than the original v-drive transmission leaking often, few weaknesses have been identified through the years.

It’s recommended prospective buyers contact the active community of owners on the Baba/Panda/Tashiba Yahoo Group for further research. They’re rare to find on the market and as of 2010 given the few boats that have been listed, it is estimated the asking price for Panda 38s is in the range of $100k – $160k USD.

Links, References and Further Reading

» Baba, Panda, Tashiba sailboat Yahoo Group , information and owner discussions. » Sea Magazine, Mar 1984 (p52-p55), Panda 38 Sea Trial by Bob Vollmer » Cruising World Magazine, Mar 2004, Panda 38: Passagemaking Princess by Mary Brandon Fox

For their assistance in the research of this article, thanks goes out to Bob Berg, Tim Ellis (who managed boat production at Ta Shing) as well as owners from the Baba, Panda, Tashiba group, particularly Michael McConnell, Bruce Pappas, and Hal & Patsy Cook.

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