The Norseman 447 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Norseman 447, a centre-cockpit cutter, was designed by Bob Perry and built in Taiwan by the Ta Shing Yacht Building Company.

A Norseman 47

Published Specification for the Norseman 447

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP

Length Overall: 44.58 ft (13.59 m)

Waterline Length: 37.50 ft (11.43 m)

Beam: 13.00 ft (3.96 m)

Draft: 6.33 ft (1.93 m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 28,000 lb (12,701 kg)

Designer: Robert Perry

Builder: Ta Shing

Year First Built: 1980

Year Last Built: 1986

Number Built: 55

Owners Association: Norseman Owner’s Facebook Group

Published Design Ratios for the Norseman 447

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.3

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 42.9

Displacement/Length Ratio: 237

Comfort Ratio: 35.9

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Norseman 447

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.3 suggests that the Norseman 447 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 42.9 means that the Norseman 447 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 237, tells us the Norseman 447 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 35.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Norseman 447 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 1.7 tells us that a Norseman 447 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

The Norseman 447 Sailboat: A Review

The Norseman 447, is a bluewater cruiser that was designed by the famous yacht designer Robert Perry and built by Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd between 1980 and 1986

The Norseman 447 is recognized as Perry's "masterpiece", and for good reasons. It combines performance, comfort and safety in a well-balanced package that has proven itself in many ocean crossings and circumnavigations. It is also a rare and sought-after boat, as only about 80 were built.

Overview
The Norseman 447 is a center cockpit sloop or cutter with a length of 13.6 m (44.6 ft), a beam of 4 m (13.1 ft), and a draft of 1.92 - 2.02 m (6.3 - 6.6 ft) depending on the load. It has a displacement of 12.7 tonnes (28,000 lbs) and a ballast of 5 tonnes (11,000 lbs). It has a water capacity of 757 liters (200 gallons) and a fuel capacity of 454 liters (120 gallons).

An aft cockpit version is also available.

The Norseman 447 was designed as an owner's version or a charter version The owner's version has three cabins:

a large aft cabin with an ensuite head and shower,
a forward cabin with a V-berth and access to the forward head and shower,
and a smaller cabin on the port side with upper and lower berths.

The charter version has four cabins:

two aft cabins with double berths and shared access to the aft head and shower,
a forward cabin with a V-berth and access to the forward head and shower,
and a smaller cabin on the starboard side with upper and lower berths.

The Norseman 447 has a deck-stepped mast with either a sloop or a cutter rig The sloop rig has a single headsail and a mainsail with in-mast or in-boom reefing.

The cutter rig has two headsails: a genoa and a staysail, and a mainsail with in-mast or in-boom reefing. The spars are made of aluminum, but some boats have carbon fiber spars. The mast height is about 18.9 m (62 ft) above the waterline.

The Norseman 447 has a fin keel with either a deep draft or a shoal draft option. The deep draft option has a keel depth of 2.02 m (6.6 ft) and the shoal draft option has a keel depth of 1.92 m (6.3 ft). The keel is made of lead and is bolted to the hull. The rudder is a skeg-hung rudder that is protected by the keel.

The Norseman 447 has a wheel steering system with either a center or an aft cockpit option. The center cockpit option has more space for the aft cabin and more protection from the weather. The aft cockpit option has more space for the cockpit and more access to the stern platform.

Accommodation
The Norseman 447 has a spacious and comfortable interior that can accommodate up to eight people in four cabins. The interior is finished in teak woodwork with white panels and cushions. The layout is symmetrical and functional, with plenty of storage and ventilation.

The main saloon is located amidships and has a U-shaped settee and a large table on the starboard side, and a straight settee and a smaller table on the port side. The tables can be lowered to create extra berths if needed. The saloon has several opening hatches and ports for light and air.

The galley is located on the port side aft of the saloon and has a double sink, a three-burner stove with oven, a refrigerator, a freezer, and ample counter space and storage. The galley is well-equipped for cooking and entertaining on board.

The navigation station is located on the starboard side aft of the saloon and has a large chart table, a swivel seat, and an array of instruments and electrical panels. The navigation station is well-organized and convenient for planning and monitoring the voyage.

The aft cabin is located under the center cockpit and has a queen-sized berth, a hanging locker, a dresser, a vanity, and an ensuite head with shower. The aft cabin is the owner's suite and offers privacy and comfort.

The forward cabin is located in the bow and has a V-berth, a hanging locker, a shelf, and access to the forward head with shower. The forward cabin is ideal for guests or crew.

The port cabin is located on the port side forward of the galley and has upper and lower berths, a hanging locker, a shelf, and a portlight. The port cabin is suitable for children or extra crew.

The starboard cabin is located on the starboard side forward of the navigation station and has upper and lower berths, a hanging locker, a shelf, and a portlight. The starboard cabin is similar to the port cabin but only available in the charter version.

Hull and Deck
The Norseman 447 has a solid fiberglass hull with a balsa core deck. The hull is hand-laid with alternating layers of mat and roving, resulting in a strong and stiff structure. The deck is bonded to the hull with an inward flange and secured with bolts and sealant, creating a watertight joint. The hull has a white gelcoat finish with blue stripes and cove lines. The deck has molded nonskid surfaces for traction and safety.

The Norseman 447 has a wide and uncluttered deck that allows easy movement around the boat. The deck has stainless steel stanchions, lifelines, pulpits, cleats, chocks, dorades, handrails, and grab rails for security and convenience. The deck also has several opening hatches, ports, lockers, vents, scuppers, winches, tracks, blocks, clutches, organizers, fairleads, padeyes, shackles, snaps, hooks, eyes, rings, pins, screws, nuts, bolts... you get the idea. The deck is well-equipped for sailing and anchoring.

The Norseman 447 has a cockpit that can seat up to six people comfortably. The cockpit has a pedestal with a wheel steering system that can be locked in position or disengaged for emergency tiller steering. The cockpit also has an engine control panel with gauges and switches, an instrument pod with compass and electronics, a folding cockpit table with drink holders, a bimini top with dodger for shade and protection, a stern platform with ladder for swimming or boarding, and cushions for comfort. The cockpit is the command center of the boat as well as the social area.

Mast and Rigging
The Norseman 447 has either a sloop or a cutter rig that can be easily handled by one or two people. The mast is deck-stepped on a compression post that transfers the load to the keel structure. The mast is made of aluminum but some boats have carbon fiber spars for lighter weight and higher performance. The mast height is about 18.9 m (62 ft) above the waterline which allows access to most bridges but limits some anchorages.

The Norseman 447 has either single or double spreaders that are swept back to eliminate the need for running backstays. The swept-back spreaders help prevent the mast from pumping and help keep the forestay tensioned. The rigging is made of stainless-steel wire or rod, but some boats have synthetic rigging for lighter weight and lower stretch.

The Norseman 447 has a mainsail with full battens that support the sail shape and reduce fluttering. The mainsail also has a lazy jack system and a sail cover for easy stowing.

The Norseman 447 has either one or two headsails that can be roller-furled or hanked-on. The headsails are usually a genoa and a staysail, but some boats have other options such as a jib, a yankee, a drifter, or a gennaker. The headsails are attached to the forestay or the inner forestay with furling drums or hanks.
The Norseman 447 has a spinnaker pole that can be used to fly a spinnaker or to pole out a headsail when running downwind. The spinnaker pole is stored on the mast and can be deployed with a topping lift and a downhaul. The spinnaker pole is made of aluminum or carbon fiber.

The Norseman 447 has a variety of sail controls that allow fine-tuning of the sail shape and performance. The sail controls include halyards, sheets, outhauls, cunninghams, vangs, travelers, cars, levers, winches, handles, cleats, cams, blocks, shackles, snaps, hooks, eyes, rings, pins, screws, nuts, bolts... you get the idea. The sail controls are well-placed and easy to operate.

Keel and Rudder
The Norseman 447 has a fin keel with either a deep draft or a shoal draft option. The fin keel is made of lead and is bolted to the hull with stainless steel bolts. The fin keel provides stability and lift to the boat and allows good upwind performance. The deep draft option has a keel depth of 2.02 m (6.6 ft) and the shoal draft option has a keel depth of 1.92 m (6.3 ft).

The Norseman 447 has a skeg-hung rudder that is protected by the keel. The rudder is made of fiberglass with a stainless-steel stock and fittings. The rudder provides steering and balance to the boat and allows good maneuverability. The rudder is connected to the wheel steering system with cables and pulleys.

Conclusion
The Norseman 447 is a great boat for recreational sailors who want to explore the world in comfort and style. It is a well-designed and well-built boat that offers performance, safety and versatility. It is also a rare and valuable boat that can hold its resale value well.

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