The Caliber 47 LRC Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Caliber 47 LRC (Long Range Cruiser) designed by Michael McCreary and built by Caliber Yachts since 1999, is a serious centre-cockpit offshore cruiser that combines excellent performance, seaworthiness, durability and stability.

With its spacious and elegant interior, generous tankage, watertight collision bulkheads, impact-resistant zones and skeg-hung rudder, the Caliber 47 LRC is a boat that is designed to handle any challenge that the sea throws at it.

'Bakeapple', a Caliber 47 LRC (Long Range Cruiser) sailboatA Caliber 47 LRC (Long Range Cruiser)

Published Specification for the Caliber 47 LRC

Underwater Configuration: Fin keel & skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 46'10" (14.3m)

Waterline Length: 36'2" (11.0m)

Beam: 13'2" (4.0m)

Draft: 5'3" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 30,000lb (13,608kg)

Designer: Michael McCreary

Builder: Caliber Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1999

Published Design Ratios for the Caliber 47 LRC

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.8

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 39.4

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 239

4. Comfort Ratio: 39.0

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.6

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Caliber 47 LRC

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 15.8 suggests that the Caliber 47 LRC will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 39.4 means that the Caliber 47 LRC will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she'll need a reef in the main to avoid heeling excessively in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 239, tells us the Caliber 47 LRC is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 39.0 suggests that crew comfort of a Caliber 47 LRC in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.6 tells us that a Caliber 47 LRC would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Any Questions?

What sail plan and rigging options are available for the Caliber 47 LRC?

The Caliber 47 LRC has a cutter rig with a Seldén in-mast furling mainsail, a roller-furling genoa and a roller-furling staysail. The mast is deck-stepped and has two sets of spreaders. The boom has an internal preventer system. The sail area is 1,100 sq ft (102 sq m) and the sail area/displacement ratio is 16.5. The boat has six winches: two primary winches for genoa sheets, two secondary winches for staysail sheets and halyards, one mainsheet winch and one electric winch for mainsail furling. All winches are two-speed and self-tailing .

What is the history of the builders of the Caliber 47 LRC and is the company still in business?

Caliber Yachts was founded in 1980 by brothers George and Michael McCreary in Clearwater, Florida. The company started with building small trailerable sailboats, then moved on to larger cruising boats in the mid-1980s. The first model in the Long-Range Cruiser series was the Caliber 28 LRC in 1987, followed by the Caliber 33 LRC in 1989, the Caliber 35 LRC in 1991, the Caliber 40 LRC in 1995 and the Caliber 47 LRC in 1999. The company is still in business as of 2023 and continues to produce high-quality sailboats for discerning cruisers.

Is the Caliber 47 LRC still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

According to the Caliber Yachts website, the Caliber 47 LRC is still in production as of 2023. However, the company does not disclose how many units have been built or sold. 

What is the Caliber 47 LRC like to sail?

The Caliber 47 LRC is a fast, stable and comfortable sailboat that can handle a variety of wind and sea conditions. The boat has a balanced helm and a smooth motion in waves. The boat can sail close to the wind and tack easily. The boat can also sail well downwind with the genoa and staysail poled out. The boat has a good turn of speed and can reach up to 8 knots in moderate winds. The boat is easy to sail single-handed or with a small crew, thanks to the in-mast furling mainsail, the roller-furling headsails and the electric winch. The boat also has a bow thruster for manoeuvring in tight spaces.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Caliber 47 LRC?

The average cost of a secondhand Caliber 47 LRC depends on the year, condition, equipment and location of the boat. According to YachtWorld.com, as of 2023, there are six Caliber 47 LRCs for sale, ranging from $299,000 to $449,000. The average asking price is $374,833.

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the Caliber 47 LRC?

The designer of the Caliber 47 LRC is Michael McCreary, who is also the co-founder of Caliber Yachts. He has designed all the models in the Long-Range Cruiser series, as well as some smaller sailboats for Caliber Yachts.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.

Other sailboats in the Caliber range include:

The Caliber 40 sailboat 'Lost Loon' at anchorThe Caliber 40

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