[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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.[/font]
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[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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. [/font]
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Click here for the original PDF Brochure. [/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif] The interior layout is slightly different.[/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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 [/font][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]on long passages, sleeping in either the forward berth downwind or in the aft cabin on the wind[/font]
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[tr][td]On the hardstand at Tiger Point Fernandina Beach 2015[/table]
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For the adventures of John Kretschmer aboard Quetzal, a Kaufman 47, and his wondeerful sailing books click this link to open a new window. [/font]
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[tr][td]Big MPS up.[/table]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Taipan was purchased by us in 2001 in Sydney and sailed back to Fremantle for the first of several refits.[/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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. [/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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 non skid. The desired effect, which was to stop the leaks, was achieved! [/font]
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[tr][td]Fiberglass binnacle and table. Extra tops seat up to 8 people.[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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 which 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 [/font][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]NO Leaks for the past 14 years.[/font]
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[tr][td]Foam core dodger and bimini tops with solar panels.[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Over the years we have made many changes to Taipan both interior and exterior. Now fitted with hard dodger and Bimini, new motor, an interior layout which does away with the port side aft cabin in favour of laundry and workshop inside and very large lazarette accessed from the cockpit.[/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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! [/font]
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[tr][td]New companionway[/table][table][tr][td]
[tr][td]Engine access.[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/font]
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[/font][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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 lazerete also provide access. The engine can be approached with ease from all sides.[/font]
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[tr][td]Queen size forward berth with big overhead hatch.[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The forward cabin has a queen size bed and en-suite and the aft starboard cabin has a generous double bed with large en-suite.[/font]
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[tr][td]Aft Cabin[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]
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[tr][td]Galley.[/table]
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[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The Galley has a nice 4 burner gas stove with oven and grill, a huge 600litre refrigerator with top and front opening. The laundry has a full size front load washer and small freezer.[/font]
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[tr][td]Fwd Head / Shower[/table]
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[tr][td]Chart Table with Corian top[/table]
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[tr][td]Aft Head / Shower[/table]
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[tr][td]Laundry and Workshop.[/table]
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[tr][td]Great Engine access from all sides and top.[/table]
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[tr][td]Deck Ventilation[/table]
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[tr][td]Deck Cover Stores in log pockets in Stack Pack[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]
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[tr][td]Companionway and instrumentation[/table][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]
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