Taswell 56' 56
"Faith"
Freshwater-Kept Since 2019, Extensively Refit, Two-Owner Bluewater Center-Cockpit Cruiser FAITH is an exceptional example of the Taswell 56, a proven Bill Dixon-designed bluewater cruiser built by the highly regarded Ta Shing Yacht Building Company of Taiwan.
Overview
Specifications
Dimensions
Details
Accommodation
Performance
Weight
Tank Capacities
Registration
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Engines
Generators
Full Details
Interior Accommodations and Layout
Descending from the center cockpit, FAITH opens into a spacious and beautifully crafted Ta Shing interior with rich teak joinery, abundant storage, excellent ventilation, and a warm offshore-cruising feel. The layout is practical rather than decorative, with well-secured handholds, proper sea berths, a large saloon, dedicated navigation area, functional galley, and private aft owner’s suite.
The main saloon is arranged around a large dining table with seating for up to eight. The table converts to an additional double berth when needed, while the opposing settee provides comfortable seating and useful sea-berth potential. Opening ports, hatches, updated LED lighting, bookshelves, lockers, and the generous 16 ft 6 in beam create a bright, livable space for extended time aboard.
Forward of the saloon, the accommodation plan includes a port guest cabin with a queen berth, a starboard over-under bunk cabin, a converted workshop/storage space, and a forepeak cabin with a single berth. This gives FAITH excellent flexibility for owner cruising, guests, crew, tools, spares, and long-range passagemaking gear.
Aft of the saloon, the port-side navigation station is a true offshore command center with a swivel chair, lift-top chart table, electronics, storage, DC outlet, and an adjacent navigator berth. The galley is positioned aft and to port, offering secure working areas, refrigeration, freezer, Force 10 stove, double stainless-steel sink, storage, and engine-room access.
The aft owner’s suite is one of the defining features of the Taswell 56. It includes a queen berth with lee cloth, seating, cedar-lined storage, reading lights, ventilation, and ensuite head access with a separate shower. The result is a yacht that can function equally well as a comfortable liveaboard or a capable passagemaking platform.
Interior Styling and Additional Features:
- Classic Ta Shing teak interior joinery
- Newer upholstery
- Newer headliner
- All new LED interior lighting
- Excellent ventilation from ports, hatches, and dorades
- Generous saloon table with seating for up to eight
- Dedicated offshore navigation station with adjacent navigator berth
- Converted workshop/storage space for tools, spares, and cruising gear
- Large engine room with excellent service access
- Approximately 6 ft 8 in headroom reported
MAIN SALOON
The main saloon is bright, warm, and practical, with a large dining area, comfortable settee, storage, entertainment equipment, and convenient access to the navigation station and galley.
- Large saloon with strong natural light and ventilation
- Seating for up to eight around the saloon table
- Convertible queen berth arrangement at saloon table
- Settee couch opposite dining area
- Storage, cabinetry, and bookshelves throughout
- Ship’s clock and barometer
- 32 in TV, stereo, and CD player
- Convenient handholds for offshore movement
- New LED lighting
- Easy access to galley and navigation station
MASTER STATEROOM
The aft owner’s stateroom is private, spacious, and well suited to extended living aboard, with a queen berth, seating, cedar-lined storage, ventilation, and ensuite head access.
- Aft owner’s stateroom with queen berth
- Lee cloth fitted to berth
- Approximately 6 ft 5 in headroom reported
- Hanging lockers and cedar-lined closets
- Safe for valuables
- Two separate seating areas
- Vanity
- New LED lighting
- Reading lights and 12 V fan
- Large hatches and ports for natural light and ventilation
- Ensuite head with separate shower
Master Head
The owner’s head is ensuite to the aft stateroom and includes a separate stand-up shower, sink, storage, and ventilation.
- Separate stand-up shower
- Newer manual head (direct overboard)
- Stainless-steel sink
- Mirror with storage
- Opening port for ventilation
- Private access from owner’s stateroom
VIP STATEROOM
The forward port VIP cabin provides a private guest stateroom with a queen berth, storage, and good ventilation.
- Queen-size berth
- Opening ports and hatches for ventilation
- 12 V fan
- Reading light
- Hanging locker
- Mirror
- Comfortable guest cabin or crew cabin for offshore passages
VIP Head
The forward head serves the guest accommodations and day-use needs aboard.
- New Jabsco head
- Stainless-steel sink
- Good storage
- Towel bar
- 110 V outlet
- 30 gal holding tank with Y-valve for discharge
GUEST CABIN (STARBOARD)
The starboard guest cabin is arranged with over-under bunks and is well suited for offshore crew, children, or additional guests.
- Starboard over-under bunk cabin
- Lee cloths for offshore sleeping
- 12 V fan
- Drawers and cabinet storage
- New LED lighting
- Hatch and port for ventilation
- Reading lights
- Newer upholstery
- Stereo speaker
GUEST CABIN (FOREPEAK)
The forepeak cabin adds another useful sleeping or storage space for extended cruising.
- Forepeak guest cabin with single bunk
- Lee cloth
- Large overhead hatch
- Hanging locker
- Shelf storage
- Two portlights
WORKSHOP
The additional forward port head has been converted into a practical workshop and storage area, adding valuable utility for extended cruising and self-sufficient maintenance.
- Former head converted to workshop / garage space
- Hatch for ventilation
- Two mirrors
- Fire extinguisher
- New LED lighting
- Stainless-steel sink retained
- Tool, spares, and cruising gear storage
Galley
The galley is arranged for offshore use, with secure working surfaces, refrigeration, freezer capacity, propane cooking, double sinks, and engine-room access nearby.
- Double stainless-steel sink
- New Sea Frost refrigeration and freezer components - 2025
- Front- and top-loading refrigerator
- Top-loading freezer arrangement
- New countertops
- Four-burner Force 10 propane stove and oven
- Trident gas control panel
- Oster microwave
- Two sink foot pumps
- 12 V fan and deck prism
- New LED lighting
- Engine-room access from galley area
Navigation and Electronics
NAVIGATION STATION
The navigation station is a proper offshore workspace located near the companionway, with a swivel chair, chart storage, electronics, electrical panel, and adjacent navigator berth.
- Navigator swivel chair
- Lift-top navigation table
- Chart storage
- Navigator berth adjacent to nav station
- New electrical panel - 2015/2016 source references to be verified
- Deck prism and new LED lighting
- Fire extinguisher
- DC outlet
- Hanging locker nearby
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
FAITH is equipped with a B&G-focused navigation and communications package, Simrad autopilot, AIS, VHF, SSB, battery monitoring, and charging/inverter controls.
- B&G 16 in Zeus chartplotter / GPS display
- B&G multifunction display at navigation station
- B&G AIS transponder and receiver
- ICOM IC-M424G GPS VHF
- ICOM M710 SSB radio
- Standard Horizon HX890 handheld VHF
- Simrad autopilot with remote - 2016
- Xantrex Freedom SW 3000 W inverter / charger
- Victron battery display
HELM STATION
- Center-cockpit helm station
- B&G 16 in Zeus chartplotter
- Simrad autopilot display with remote
- White Star Italian pedestal compass
- Yanmar engine instrument panel
- Separate throttle and shift controls
- Teak destroyer-style wheel
- Edson pedestal
- Manual bilge pump in cockpit
- Protected by bimini and dodger
Construction and Key Features of the Hull and Deck
HULL
FAITH is a Ta Shing-built Taswell 56 with offshore-grade fiberglass construction, encapsulated fin keel, skeg-hung rudder, substantial structural grid, and a reputation for serious bluewater capability.
- Offshore-grade fiberglass construction by Ta Shing Yacht Building
- Hand-laid fiberglass hull
- Heavier laminate schedule below the waterline
- Substantial stringer grid system bonded to hull
- Reinforced structural bulkheads
- Encapsulated fin keel
- Skeg-hung rudder
- Through-hulls replaced - 2016
- Fresh bottom paint - spring 2026
- Hull buffed and waxed - spring 2026
DECK
The deck layout reflects FAITH’s bluewater purpose, with teak decks, substantial stainless deck hardware, dorade ventilation, strong ground tackle, dinghy davits, and offshore-oriented rig support.
- Premium Burmese vertical-grain teak deck material
- Teak decks re-caulked and refinished - 2010
- Molded fiberglass deck with end-grain balsa core
- Deck bonded to hull with 3M 5200
- Cleats and through-deck mounts fitted with backing plates
- Maxwell 3500 windlass
- Dual stainless-steel anchor rollers
- 75 lb CQR anchor with 300 ft chain
- Six stainless-steel dorades for ventilation
- 316 stainless crew mast braces
- Adjustable and inboard genoa tracks
- Stainless-steel dinghy davits
- Nine hatches replaced - 2015
- Portlight windows replaced
- Eight stainless-steel mooring cleats
- Six fenders and twelve docklines
COCKPIT
The center cockpit is secure, protected, and set up for offshore sailing, with strong winches, updated canvas, a teak wheel, cockpit cushions, traveler controls, autopilot display, and safety hardware.
- Four stainless-steel harness padeyes
- New bimini and dodger - 2026
- Mainsail viewing windows
- Harken traveler
- Andersen traveler winch system
- Lewmar 65 primary winches
- Harken 40 secondary winches
- Lewmar 48 cabin-top winches
- Two sets of Spinlock clutches
- Teak cockpit floor grate
- Newer cockpit cushions
- Teak destroyer-style wheel
- Edson pedestal
- 316 stainless bimini framework
- Navtec boom vang / backstay adjuster
- Manual bilge pump
MAST AND RIGGING
- Standing rigging & chainplates replaced - 2019
- Running rigging replaced / continuously updated
- Double-spreader mast
- Adjustable backstay
- Mast-mounted spinnaker pole
- Reaching strut mounts
- 316 stainless-steel mast braces
- Two Lewmar 48 self-tailing mast winches
- Doyle StackPack / lazy jacks for mainsail
- C480 Profurl furler
SAILS AND WINCHES
- Doyle mainsail - 2016
- Doyle Yankee - 2016
- Doyle genoa
- Doyle staysail
- Storm sail
- Asymmetrical spinnaker with snuffer
- Symmetrical spinnaker with snuffer
- Lewmar 65 primary winches
- Harken 40 secondary winches
- Lewmar 48 cabin-top winches
Ship Systems
ENGINE AND MECHANICAL
Mechanical access is a major strength of the Taswell 56, and FAITH benefits from a newer main engine, newer generator, re-insulated engine room, updated hoses and exhaust, and easy maintenance access.
- Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110 HP diesel engine - replaced 2016
- Northern Lights 8 kW generator - 69 hours - replaced 2016
- Generator model M673L3.3
- Folding Max-Prop bronze propeller
- Newly insulated engine room
- Racor fuel filter
- New LED engine-room lighting
- All new hoses and exhaust system reported
- Excellent access to engine and generator
PLUMBING AND TANKAGE
FAITH’s tankage and plumbing systems support extended cruising, with aluminum fuel and water tanks, updated through-hulls, hot water, propane storage, macerator, and freshwater pressure pump updates.
- 150 gal fuel capacity in two aluminum tanks
- 245 gal water capacity in aluminum tanks
- 30 gal polyethylene holding tank
- Through-hulls replaced - 2016
- New macerator - 2026
- New freshwater pressure pump - 2026
- Two 20 lb propane tanks
- New Seaward 11 gal hot water tank - 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- New electrical panel - 2016
- New boat wiring - 2016
- 30 amp shore-power cord
- Lithium house battery upgrade - 600 amp-hours
- AGM engine start battery
- New LED interior lighting
- New LED mast and running lights
- Xantrex Freedom SW 3000 W inverter / charger
- Victron battery monitor
- Trident gas control panel
AUDIO/VISUAL AND ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT
- Salon 32 in Roku TV with remote
- Sony stereo
- Cockpit speakers
- Cabin speakers
- Pioneer CD player
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- EPIRB
- Jacklines
- Stainless-steel life raft rack (no life raft included)
- 32 in stainless-steel lifelines
- Lifesling 2
- Flares
- Four fire extinguishers
- Medical kit
- Radar reflector
- Two buckets
- Vessel safety diagram
- Cockpit knife
- Emergency tiller
Additional Information
BROKER’S COMMENTS
FAITH is an exceptional example of the highly regarded Taswell 56, combining proven offshore capability with decades of conscientious ownership and maintenance. A rare two-owner yacht, she is reported to have been owned first by an Australian yachtsman who campaigned her in the 1998 Sydney Hobart Race and later by an owner who sailed her from Australia across the Pacific and back toward Annapolis before relocating her to the Great Lakes.
Her major refit history is central to the value proposition. FAITH has benefited from substantial work including engine replacement, generator replacement, standing rigging, running rigging, electronics, autopilot, electrical system work, hatches and ports, refrigeration/freezer updates, teak deck refurbishment, and recent bottom and cosmetic care.
Since 2019, FAITH has been kept in freshwater on the Great Lakes and used lightly during the Michigan summer season. For a 1991-built yacht, that freshwater history, combined with her refit record and Ta Shing construction, makes her a compelling offering for a buyer seeking substantial bluewater capability at a very attractive value.
FAITH is best suited to a buyer who understands the value of a true offshore center-cockpit cruiser: excellent storage, a real engine room, private owner’s accommodations, strong deck hardware, proper navigation space, and the seakindly confidence of a well-built Bill Dixon design.
- Two-owner Taswell 56 with serious offshore pedigree
- Freshwater-kept since 2019
- Major recent refit history
- Excellent value in the 55-60 ft bluewater cruising category
- Ideal for experienced cruising couple, liveaboard use, or offshore passagemaking
REVIEWS
- Bob Perry’s Boats.com review describes the Taswell 56 as a serious bluewater cruiser with unusually spacious accommodations and praises Ta Shing’s reputation for quality craftsmanship and joinery.
- SailboatData / technical references classify the Taswell 56 as a cutter-rigged bluewater cruising yacht with fin keel, skeg-hung rudder, heavy-displacement offshore construction, and a ballast ratio suited to serious cruising.
- Industry reputation places the Taswell line among the premium Taiwanese-built offshore cruising yachts of its era, often compared by brokers and owners with contemporary Oyster-style center-cockpit cruisers.
Disclaimer
The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.
Listing MLS by Yachtr.com
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