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.

A 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

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Vagabond 47

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The Vagabond 47 sailboat, based on the provided design ratios, would have the following theoretical sailing characteristics:

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (14.5): This ratio is below 16, indicating that the Vagabond 47 might be considered underpowered. This suggests that it may not reach its maximum potential speed in light wind conditions.

Ballast/Displacement Ratio (27.5): This ratio is less than 40, suggesting that the Vagabond 47 may not be as stiff or able to stand up to the wind as well as boats with a higher ratio. However, as previously noted, this ratio doesn't account for the location of the ballast. A boat with its ballast in a bulb at the foot of its keel would be stiffer than the same boat with its ballast in a shallow draft keel.

Displacement/Length Ratio (390): This ratio falls into the category of Ultraheavy Displacement. This suggests that the Vagabond 47 is a very heavy boat, which typically means it would be more stable but slower and would require more sail area to reach its hull speed.

Comfort Ratio (49.9): This ratio falls into the category associated with a heavy bluewater boat. This suggests that the Vagabond 47 would provide a relatively comfortable ride in rough seas, with a relatively slow pitch and roll motion.

Capsize Screening Formula (1.6): This value is less than 2.0, indicating that the Vagabond 47 has a lower likelihood of capsizing and is from this aspect, well suited for ocean passages.

It's important to note that these ratios are theoretical and based on certain assumptions.

For instance, the Ballast/Displacement Ratio doesn't account for the distribution of ballast, which can significantly impact a boat's performance and stability.

Similarly, Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio favors heavy displacement, narrow-beamed vessels with long overhangs. Therefore, modern light-displacement, beamy cruisers with plumb bows may not score well on this ratio, even though they may have bluewater capability.

These ratios should be used as guides and not definitive measures of a boat's performance or seaworthiness. Actual performance can vary based on a multitude of factors including hull shape, rigging design, and the skill of the crew.

Your questions answered...

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 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.

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.