Baba 30
The Baba 30 was the smallest craft in the range but very popular, with some 170 having been built. They were built as sturdy vessels suitable for making long offshore and ocean passages needing only a couple of people to crew the boat. Although capable of sleeping 5 people they are generally sailed by couples. Most of these boats can be found in NW America but are also spread all around the world's ports and anchorages. History In 1977 Bob Berg, founder of Flying Dutchman International, commissioned yacht designer Robert Perry to design a new small luxury cruising yacht for him. The result was the range of Babas. Production soon started in Taiwan in the yard of Ta Shing. This yard is still producing high quality motoryachts. The yachts were transported to Seattle in the US, the home of Bob Berg. Many of the Babas produced still reside in the Puget Sound area. It is believed that the name of the boat came from the way the Taiwanese workers pronounced Bob Berg's name, Ba-Ba, which also means "father" in Chinese. Exterior The Baba 30 is made of a solid GRP (glass reinforced plastic) hull moulded with plank lines to give the effect of a timber hull. Alternating layers of 1.5oz Mat and 24 ounce woven roving were used in the hull's construction, six layers of this were used on most of the hull but 10 - 12 layers were used around the keel. It has a full keel with a cutaway forefoot. The keel contains encapsulated iron ballast. It also has a long rudder with a cutaway for the propeller. The boat has a canoe shaped stern The deck is cored fibreglass and is usually covered in extensive teak. The coachroof is treated the same. The first Babas were supplied with wooden spars but many of the boats have since been upgraded to aluminium mast and boom. Early Babas had no lower shrouds, but these were soon added after a dismasting. The rig is a traditional cutter style and a characteristic feature of many of Robert Perry's boats from this stable is a 4 ft laminated teak bowsprit which supports the forestay/headsail. A large platform sits on the bowsprit supporting two anchor rollers, a set-up typical on many long distance cruisers where two anchors are desirable in many exposed anchorages. Most Babas are fitted with Edson or similar wheel steering systems, however a few tiller steered versions exist. Interior The interior of the Baba contains a lot of custom teak work. Some versions of the boat have the entire interior staved with teak. The cabin sole is made from teak planking separated with holly strips. It has a very spacious-feeling 6'4" of headroom. Sleeping berths consist of a spacious V berth with good storage below and access to the chain locker via louvred doors, a full length berth in the main cabin on either side of the boat and on many models, a quarter berth on the aft starboard quarter,