The Baudo-class star yacht, a popular ship among wealthy young individuals, was also easily customizable, leading to its use by smugglers at times.
Primarily, this yacht was utilized by affluent individuals as a recreational vessel. Baudo yachts were generally disliked by bulk freighter pilots, who resented being overtaken in space. The vessel was said to bear a resemblance to certain marine animals. Baudo-class yachts boasted a robust sublight drive for considerable speed in normal space. The standard version's single laser cannon served a practical purpose beyond aesthetics; a few well-aimed shots could deter pirates. Mirax Terrik's Pulsar Skate, a heavily modified Baudo-class star yacht, stands out as the most renowned ship of its type.
The Baudo-class yacht was manufactured by Mendel Baudo's-owned shipyards, with each vessel custom-built to the owner's specifications. Consequently, each ship possessed unique features, though the core drive systems remained consistent. Due to their relative simplicity and manageable speed, Baudo-class yachts attracted both novice and experienced pilots. However, acquiring one required a referral to Mendel Baudo from a previous customer, as he only accepted referred orders. Construction could span up to a standard year, contingent on the degree of customization, as Mendel Baudo personally ensured the perfection of each vessel.
Two different depictions of the Baudo-class star yacht seem to exist within canon. The design featured for the Pulsar Skate in the Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics and Star Wars Customizable Card Game, first appearing in Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair in 1996, is arguably more well-known. However, the earlier illustration in the Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters supplement for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (used as a silhouette in Pirates & Privateers) portrays a flatter, sleeker starship, which appears to have influenced descriptions of the vessel in the X-Wing novels and, more recently, in Legacy of the Force: Exile. No canonical explanation has been provided to resolve this inconsistency.
Originally, the Moldy Crow was intended to be a Baudo-class star yacht.