The Vagabond 47 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Vagabond 47, an ultra-heavy staysail ketch, was designed by William Garden and built in Taiwan by Bluewater Yacht Builders.

'Kalunamoo', a Vagabond 47 at anchorA Vagabond 47

Published Specification for the Vagabond 47

Underwater Profile: long keel

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 46'7" (14.2m)*

Waterline Length: 35'9" (10.9m)

Beam: 13'5" (4.1m)

Draft: 5'6" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Staysail ketch

Displacement: 40,000lb (18,144kg)

Designer: William Garden

Builder: Bluewater Yacht Builders (Taiwan)

Year First Built: 1972

* Plus 8'5" to include bowsprit.

Published Design Ratios for the Vagabond 47

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.5

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 27.5

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 390

4. Comfort Ratio: 49.9

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.6

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Vagabond 47

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 14.5 suggests that the Vagabond 47 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 27.5 means that a sailboat like the Vagabond 47 (which doesn't have a stiffness-enhancing bulb keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 390, tells us the Vagabond 47 is in the ultra-heavy displacement category. Load her up as much as you like and her performance will be hardly affected, not that it was ever startling. Few if any sailboats are built to this displacement category these days - but they remain popular with some long-distance sailors.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 49.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Vagabond 47 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.

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

Cruisers' Questions about this Sailboat...

What is the history of Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 was first introduced in 1971 by Bluewater Yacht Builders Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan. The boat was designed by William Garden, a famous naval architect who created many other classic yachts. The Vagabond 47 was a popular model for bluewater cruising, with a spacious and comfortable interior, a ketch rig with a staysail, and a long keel with a full displacement hull. The Vagabond 47 is also known as the Vagabond Voyager 47 or the Heritage Vagabond 47.

Who designed the Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 sailboat was designed by William Garden, a renowned naval architect who also designed many other classic yachts such as the Formosa 51, the Gulfstar 50 and the Cheoy Lee Offshore 40.

Who built the Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 sailboat was built by Blue Water Yacht Builders Ltd, a Taiwanese company that also built other models such as the Vagabond 42, the Vagabond 52 and the Heritage West Indies 36.

What is the engine power of the Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 sailboat has an auxiliary engine power of either 90 HP or 120 HP, depending on the model. The engine is usually either a Ford Lehman or a Perkins diesel engine. The fuel capacity is 908 l (240 gal).

What is the water capacity of the Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 sailboat has a water capacity of 833 l (220 gal). This gives it an excellent water supply range for long voyages.

What are some features of the interior layout of the Vagabond 47 sailboat?

The Vagabond 47 sailboat has a spacious and comfortable interior layout that can accommodate up to six people in three cabins. The interior layout may vary depending on the model, but some common features are:

  • A large aft cabin with a double berth, a settee, a vanity and an ensuite head;
  • A forward cabin with a v-berth, a hanging locker and an ensuite head;
  • A U-shaped galley with a stove, an oven, a refrigerator, a freezer and ample storage;
  • A saloon with a dinette, a settee and a navigation station;
  • A central cockpit with wheel steering, engine controls, instruments and seating.

How much does a Vagabond 47 sailboat cost?

The price of a Vagabond 47 sailboat may vary depending on the year, the condition, the equipment and the location of the boat. According to YachtWorld, the average asking price for a Vagabond 47 sailboat in 2023 is £111,008 ($147,000 USD). However, this may not reflect the actual selling price or the current market value of the boat.

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.

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