The Vagabond 47 is a ultra-heavy staysail ketch known for its robust build and bluewater capabilities. Designed by American naval architect William Garden, the boat combines substantial seafaring attributes with comfort and aesthetic appeal.
These sailboats were primarily built by Blue Water Yacht Builders in Taipei, Taiwan, during the late 1970s and 1980s, and was aimed at cruisers seeking a dependable and spacious vessel for long voyages.
Published Specifications for the Vagabond 47
Underwater Configuration: Full keel with rudder on keel
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Length Overall: 46.58 feet / 14.2 meters*
Waterline Length: 40.50 feet / 12.34 meters
Beam: 13.50 feet / 4.11 meters
Draft: 5.50 feet / 1.68 meters
Rig Type: Ketch
Displacement: 40,000 lbs / 18,144 kg
Designer: William Garden**
Builder: Blue Water Yacht Builders, Taiwan
Year First Built: 1971
Year Last Built: 1988
Number Built: Approximately 200 units
* 55.00 feet to include bowsprit.
** William Garden, the designer of the Vagabond 47, also designed other models including the Vagabond 42, the Vagabond 52 and the Heritage West Indies 36.
The Vagabond 47 sailboat was also known as the Vagabond Voyager 47 and the Heritage Vagabond 47.
Published Design Ratios for the Vagabond 47
While these ratios provide useful insights, they have limitations. Notably, the Ballast/Displacement Ratio does not account for the distribution of the ballast along the boat's keel. A deep, well-designed keel might provide better righting moment and stiffness than a similarly ballasted boat with a shallower keel, affecting performance and safety.
The Comfort Ratio too has its constraints. Designed by Ted Brewer, it naturally favours traditional heavy displacement designs with narrow beams and long overhangs typical of earlier yacht designs. Modern beamy, light-displacement vessels with plumb bows might not score as favourably on this scale, despite possibly having good bluewater capabilities and comfortable motion at sea due to different hull designs and modern technology.
Read more about Design Ratios...
Overall, the Vagabond 47 appears to be designed for safe, comfortable long-distance cruising rather than speed, making it ideal for cruisers who prioritize safety and comfort over performance.
This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.
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