1996 Taswell 56'

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Beam: 16’ 5” 
• Draft : 6'3" 
• Displacement: Gross tonnage 34 GRT, Net Tonnage 31 NRT 
• Boat weighed in CA 60,000 lbs (30 tons) 
• Hull Material: fiberglass 
• Keel: encapsulated lead 
• Designer: Bill Dixon 
• Builder: Ta Shing Boatyard Taiwan 
• Year Built: 1996 
• Year Launched: 1996 

Smooth is hull #12 of the popular Bill Dixon-designed Taswell 56. She has only had two owners and has never been “south”. She has been in Texas all her life and was regarded to be the best factory equipped Taswell 56 to leave the factory with every option. A Texas boat her whole life, she consequently has low hours on her optional Yanmar 140 hp (510 hours) and her Northern Lights Gen (200 hours). She also had 2’ taken out of her rig in the middle to lower the draft to fit under our 73’ Kemah/Seabrook, TX bridge.  She also has a more custom layout featuring three cabins and two heads with separate shower layout and a full size, walk-in engine room. Read more details below and see the layout in pictures. 

Her rig includes an hydraulic furling head sail and in-mast furled main as well as electric two-speed #66 primary winches and an electric mainsheet winch.  Her set-up is as easy as you can get for this size boat, making her easier to sail than most much smaller boats. All the control buttons for furling sails are at the helm.  

In addition, she has the oversized 140hp Yanmar diesel and bow thruster that makes docking a breeze, even if you are sailing short-handed. 

In 2022 (see list below of full items done) her teak side decks were removed and awlgrip with non- skid was added. The only teak left on Smooth’s deck is the inlaid teak section in front of the mast. Her cockpit and swim transom still sport the original teak features.  

LIST OF REPAIRS AND UPGRADES COMPLETED SINCE 2021

• Re-painted and re-wired mast
• 3 COAT PETTIT ODYSSEY HD BOTTOM JOB (9/22/2022):

1. Bottom of vessel was tented and sanded with #60 grit
2. Vacuumed up dust and removed/disposed of tent
3. Washed bottom and rolled 3 coats of Pettit Odyssey HD Black antifoulant on bottom

• Removed thruster zincs & blades and painted inside tube, drive and props with 3 coats, replaced props and zincs  
• New side deck:

1. Gelcoat refininishing of side decks with gelcoat containing griptex
2. Recored 1 square foot around each chainplate and re-cored/re-glaseds with penske board 

• Resealed all ports 
• Polished and waxed hull 
• Replaced thru-hulls starboard aft (two) 
• New Automatic fire suppression system in engine room
• Prop speed added to prop, shaft, strut 
• Full generator service: Northern Lights 12KW with 198 hours 
• New generator exhaust elbow
• New Sleipner bow thruster controller
• New master stateroom HVAC unit DTG12 (Dometic 12K BTU) 
• New house, engine and bow thruster batteries by Rocket ESH-20D (2022):

1. AGM for house and engine start batteries
2. Cummins AGM for bow thruster

• New mast light
• New Victron multiplus II inverter/charger 
• New Victron cerbo GX systems monitor  
• New Victron touch 50 display
• Raymarine axiom 16g Chartplotter at nav station 
• Raymarine axiom pro 12 Chartplotter at helm station. Radar hooked only to helm. 
• New Raymarine i50 speed display 
• New Raymarine i50 depth instrument
• New Raymarine ACU-400 auto-pilot 
• Raymarine wind instruments
• Raymarine Quantum 2 Q24D doppler RADAR with new cables for helm plotter 
• Icom m605 VHF transceiver with AIS 
• Garmin fusion stereo with interior and exterior eyebrow speakers 
• New Quantum, tri-radial mainsail (July 2023) 
• New Quantum A2 spinnaker with dousing sock (Fall of 2023) 

INTERIOR LAYOUT (See pictures for the exact layout)

Smooth has a large bow guest cabin with two hanging lockers and a port side cabin sporting upper/ lower bunks and a hanging locker. Both guest cabins share a head with a separate shower.   

Aft to starboard, the galley runs the length of the starboard side (see details below). Aft of the galley, the very large nav station is located within the walkway to the aft cabin.  

The salon is to port and features a J-shaped settee with a large table. There is enough space across from the settee to add extra chairs to seat additional guests comfortably. Aft of the dinette, there is a full-size door to the walk-in engine room. The engine room also has full access from the walk-through to the owners' stateroom, offering easy access to both sides of the engine.  

Aft of the nav station is the owners' stateroom which features a centerline queen berth and an ensuite head with a separate shower. There is ample storage with two large hanging lockers. The boat has numerous overhead hatches with teak screens and opening portlights and a bazillion cabinets and cubbies for storage.

This boat is not set up for sleeping ten nor was she designed to need ten to sail her. Smooth is set up for six people to cruise in comfort. Additionally, with all her furling and push button powered rig, she only requires one to two persons to sail her safely and efficiently. 

GALLEY 

The long galley stretches along the starboard side, from the main bulkhead to the companionway. Most everything from the dishwasher area and stove/oven has teak covers so that the galley blends in so well that it looks hidden. The amount of counter space is exceptional and there are numerous storage lockers, along with large refrigerator and freezer compartments; all of which are ideal for long-range, self-sufficient cruising. Additional features include: 

• Twin stainless steel sinks and faucets  
• Corinite countertops 
• Alpes Inox 4-burner stainless stove and oven covered with teak top and front. 
• Holding plate refrigerator/freezer system with front opening easy access doors 
• Dishwasher (never used, removed for extra storage, but available) 
• Fresh and saltwater pressure systems for galley sink 
• Full galleyware 

NAV STATION 

Just aft of the galley, along the starboard walkway, is a large, C-shaped nav station desk with an upholstered swivel/sliding chair. The design offers abundant countertop space for working and numerous storage lockers. The main switch panels are located here with the nav instruments at eye level. This position is ideally close to the helm. Also, conveniently, there is also engine access in the starboard walkway.  

MASTER STATEROOM

The spacious owners’ stateroom is located aft of the nav station. This private space features a centerline, queen-sized berth, and an ensuite head with a separate shower stall. Two large hanging lockers act as “his” and “hers” closets.

GUEST STATEROOMS 

• Forward Stateroom 

Lovely guest quarters with centerline berth. Double hanging closet; large under berth storage. Two cabinets each with two shelves. Shelving that runs the full length along the berth. Ensuite forward head entry. Hanging mirror attached to the wall. Large overhead hatch with built-in teak screens. Reading lights. Two opening ports with screens. 

• Mid-ship Port Stateroom 

A bunk room with a single bunk on top and a single bunk on bottom. Both bunks have built-in lee clothes. Overhead hatch with a built-in screen and blackout slider. One opening port. Cabinets at each end of the upper bunk. Storage under the lower bunk and a large hanging closet. Reading lights are available for both bunks. 

HEADS 

Smooth has two heads, both with separate shower stalls and a bench. Both heads offer an abundance of storage space.

• Aft Head 

Entry is through the aft stateroom on port side. Separate shower stall with bench. Jabsco electric 12V fresh or saltwater flush. Storage cabinets above and below the sink. Opening side port with screen. 

• Forward Head 

Two entries – one door from hallway and second door from V-berth. Separate shower stall with bench. Jabsco electric 12v fresh or saltwater flush. Storage cabinets above and below the sink. Opening side port with a screen. Overhead hatch with screen. Large enclosed, three-shelf cabinet in shower. 

ELECTRICAL 

• Batteries: Rocket 8D for house and starting batteries 
• Battery Charger/invertor: Victron 12V/3000watt/120amp 
• Generator: Northern Lights 12kw 110v; 198 engine hours; Fully Serviced May 2024 
• Shore power: 110/220 and 50/60 hertz capable 

WALK DOWN TRANSOM 

• No dingy or outboard and davits removed in storage 

SAFETY EQUIPMENT 

• Bilge Pumps: Two 2000 GPH 12v with float switches electric; One Whale Gusher manual pump with handle in cockpit 
• Life Jackets: Eight Type 2 (orange) life jackets 
• Flares, fire extinguishers. 
• Fire protection: Engine room auto system plus large manual extinguishers 

COVERS / ENCLOSURES  

• Dodger and Bimini (Clear windows in Dodger are Makrolon Polycarbonate)  
• Canvas pieces for the forward and aft overhead hatches 
• Canvas covers for overhead hatches and winches 

MAST

• Forespar made; aluminum; keel step 
• Clearance above water 72’ (air draft) 
• Two inline spreaders with deck lights 
• LED Up lights 
• In-Mast electro-hydraulic Mainsail furling 
• Pulled and inspected in late December 2021 
• New chainplates and running rigging replaced in late 2021; receipt available that indicates specs, Rebuilt hydraulic backstay. 

DECK HARDWARE / FITTINGS 

• Ground Tackle: 12mm chain 50ft with 300 feet of rode 
• Windlass: Maxwell 3500 Vertical Electric  
• Chain stopper between windlass and bow roller installed 2022 
• Foot controls at bow; secondary control at helm 
• Winches in Cockpit: (2) Lewmar #66st electric, (1) Lewmar #44st electric; (2) Lewmar #44st; All self-tailing 

ENGINE / MACHINERY 

• Engine details: Yanmar 4LH-HTE diesel inboard w/ Kanzaki transmission 2.5:1 reduction.  
• Fuel Capacity/Consumption: 2.5 GPH cruise 5 kts … 5+ GPH at 7+kts 
• Max Speed: 8+ kts 
• Cruise Speed: 5.5 kts 
• Genset: Northern Lights 12 kw, diesel. 240 volt output model M843N-12N 

TANKAGE 

• Water: 3 tanks; total capacity 230 gals (1090 l); stainless steel 
• Fuel: 3 tanks; total capacity 190 gals (719 l); mild steel 
• Grey: 2 sump-pumps 
• Black: 2 x 20 gal (2 X 94 l) fiberglass tanks, each w deck and through hull discharge 

SAILS 

• Staysail like new, 
• 139 Genoa, “like-new” condition 
• Quantum, tri-radial main (New July 2023) 
• Quantum, A2 spinnaker with dousing sock (New fall of 2023)
• Delivery main
• (2) Delivery headsails
• Mainsail: Cruising Furling Mainsail Construction: Newport Pro Radial 10.1
• Genoa: Newport Pro Radial 6.1 [20%]; Newport Pro Radial 7.1 [80%]
• Cruising Asymmetrical Spinnaker: Nylite 150 [30%]; Nylite 90 [70%]

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com