The Stephens 47 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Stephens 47 was originally designed by Sparkman & Stephens in 1981 and built by Queen Long Marine in Taiwan. It was sold under the Stevens name until 1986, when Queen Long Marine rebranded it as the Hylas 47. The Hylas 47 was produced until 1991, when it was replaced by a modified 49-foot version, the Hylas 49.

The Stephens 47 has a three-stateroom layout, with a large master stateroom aft with a centerline queen berth and an ensuite head. Forward of the saloon, there is a head with shower to starboard, a stateroom with two bunk beds to port, and a forward stateroom with a large V-berth. The saloon has an L-shaped table that can seat six, and two pilot berths above the settees. The galley is located in the port walkway, and the nav station is to starboard.

Some Stephens 47s had split berths aft instead of a centerline queen. Some owners have also converted the pilot berths in the saloon into additional storage space.

The Stephens 47 has a powerful cutter rig. The main mast is 63 feet tall, which allows for bridge clearance in the Intracoastal Waterway. The sail area is 97.7 m², which gives a sail area/displacement ratio of 16.8. The boat can perform well in light and heavy winds, and has a flexible sail plan for different conditions.

The Stephens 47 is a fast, comfortable, and seaworthy cruiser that can make swift passages of 200 nautical miles per day. The boat has a sharp entry that eliminates pounding in all but the heaviest weather, and an easy motion in a seaway due to its low-deadrise hull and weight distribution. The boat can turn around in about twice its length under power in forward, but tends to back into the wind in reverse at low speed.

According to Sailboat Guide, the average asking price for a used Stephens 47 in 2020 was $199,000 USD.

Queen Long Marine, the builder of the Stephens 47, is still in business as Hylas Yachts USA. They produce high-quality cruising yachts ranging from 42 to 70 feet.

Sparkman & Stephens, the designer of the Stephens 47, is one of the most renowned naval architecture firms in the world. They have designed hundreds of sailboats, including famous racing yachts such as Dorade, Stormy Weather, Finisterre, Bolero, Columbia, Intrepid, Courageous, Freedom, and Australia II; as well as cruising yachts such as Swan, Tartan, Morris Yachts, Hinckley Yachts, and Oyster Yachts.