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Centurion 47
Designer: Edward Dubois  ·  Builder: Henri Wauquiez (Fra)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Centurion 47

Built between 1984 and 1990 by the renowned French yard Henri Wauquiez, this Edward Dubois-designed 47-footer represents a sophisticated blend of performance and cruising capability. The Centurion 47's sleek lines and well-balanced proportions reflect Dubois's talent for creating elegant yet purposeful sailing yachts that perform admirably in both coastal and offshore conditions. With a displacement of 30,000 pounds and moderate ballast ratio, the boat strikes an appealing balance between stability and sailing performance. The fin keel with rudder-on-skeg configuration provides good directional control while maintaining reasonable draft for accessing shallow harbors. Her masthead sloop rig carries 1,122 square feet of sail area, delivering respectable performance in varied wind conditions. The Centurion 47's comfort ratio of 31.73 suggests she'll provide a reasonably comfortable motion at sea, while her capsize screening value of 1.89 indicates good offshore capability for serious cruising sailors. Wauquiez's reputation for solid fiberglass construction and attention to detail means these boats have generally aged well, making them attractive options for discerning cruisers seeking a proven design with European build quality and timeless Dubois styling.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.58 ft / 14.50 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
Beam 14.67 ft / 4.47 m
Max Draft 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Displacement 30,000.00 lb / 13,608 kg
Ballast 12,800.00 lb / 5,806 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,122.00 ft² / 104.24 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Edward Dubois
Builder Henri Wauquiez (FRA)
First Built 1984
Last Built 1990
Related Sailboats ["J/145" · "Swan 47 Ss" · "Alden 46" · "Baltic 47" · "Cr 470"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 72
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 18.67
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 42.67
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 244.07
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 31.73
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.89
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.26 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.39
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,991.87 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 18.68
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 63.00 ft / 19.20 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.80 ft / 6.04 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 57.00 ft / 17.37 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.50 ft / 5.33 m
SA Fore 623.70 ft² / 57.94 m²
SA Main 498.75 ft² / 46.34 m²
SA Total (100%) 1,122.45 ft² / 104.28 m²
Est. Forestay Length 66.04 ft / 20.13 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4154
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 62
How It Compares

vs. Alden 46, Baltic 47, Swan 47 Ss

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Centurion 47 ★
47.6 ft
Alden 46
47.7 ft
Baltic 47
47.8 ft
Swan 47 Ss
47.8 ft
LWL
Centurion 47 ★
38.0 ft
Alden 46
37.1 ft
Baltic 47
39.5 ft
Swan 47 Ss
36.2 ft
Beam
Centurion 47 ★
14.7 ft
Alden 46
13.5 ft
Baltic 47
14.4 ft
Swan 47 Ss
13.8 ft
Displacement
Centurion 47 ★
30 lbs
Alden 46
32 lbs
Baltic 47
24 lbs
Swan 47 Ss
32 lbs
Ballast
Centurion 47 ★
12 lbs
Alden 46
13 lbs
Baltic 47
10 lbs
Swan 47 Ss
15 lbs
Sail Area
Centurion 47 ★
1 sq ft
Alden 46
1 sq ft
Baltic 47
1 sq ft
Swan 47 Ss
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Centurion 47 ★
72 s/nm
Alden 46
84 s/nm
Baltic 47
24 s/nm
Swan 47 Ss
75 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Centurion 47 ★
18.7
Alden 46
17.2
Baltic 47
22.2
Swan 47 Ss
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Centurion 47 ★
42.7 %
Alden 46
—
Baltic 47
41.1 %
Swan 47 Ss
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Centurion 47 ★
31.7
Alden 46
38.4
Baltic 47
26.0
Swan 47 Ss
38.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Centurion 47 ★
1.89
Alden 46
1.70
Baltic 47
1.98
Swan 47 Ss
1.73
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Centurion 47 ★
244
Alden 46
—
Baltic 47
178
Swan 47 Ss
—
Hull Speed
Centurion 47 ★
8.3 kts
Alden 46
8.2 kts
Baltic 47
8.4 kts
Swan 47 Ss
8.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Centurion 47 ★
2.4
Alden 46
1.9
Baltic 47
3.6
Swan 47 Ss
1.7
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