Back to Search
Helmsman 47
 ·  Builder: Helmsman Yachts (Den)  ·  First built: 1981
+ Add to Compare
About the Helmsman 47

Built by the respected Danish yard Helmsman Yachts beginning in 1981, this 47-footer represents European design philosophy at its finest, combining seaworthiness with comfortable cruising capabilities. The substantial displacement of nearly 25,000 pounds and deep 7.55-foot draft create a stable platform that inspires confidence in challenging conditions, while the generous beam of nearly 12 feet provides impressive interior volume for extended voyaging. The fractional sloop rig configuration offers excellent sail handling characteristics, particularly beneficial for short-handed sailing. With a sail area of 949 square feet driving the substantial displacement, the boat prioritizes steady progress over outright speed, making it well-suited for serious offshore cruising rather than racing applications. The fin keel design strikes an effective balance between directional stability and maneuverability in tight quarters. Danish construction standards shine through in the robust fiberglass build quality, designed to handle the demanding conditions of Northern European waters. The comfort ratio of 33.68 indicates this yacht will provide a smooth, comfortable ride in moderate seas, while the capsize screening value suggests good stability characteristics for coastal and offshore passages. Hull speed potential of 8.58 knots offers respectable performance for a cruising-oriented design of this era.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.00 ft / 14.33 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
Beam 11.78 ft / 3.59 m
Max Draft 7.55 ft / 2.30 m
Displacement 24,912.00 lb / 11,300 kg
Ballast 10,582.00 lb / 4,800 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 949.00 ft² / 88.16 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Builder Helmsman Yachts (DEN)
First Built 1981
Related Sailboats ["Valiant 47" · "Swan 46" · "Hylas 47" · "Bristol 477" · "Ct 47"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
 17.87
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
 42.48
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
 161.36
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
 33.68
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
 1.62
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. 8.58 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
 3.32
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. 1,725.74 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. 17.86
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.49 ft / 15.08 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.75 ft / 4.80 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 58.73 ft / 17.90 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 19.03 ft / 5.80 m
SA Fore 389.73 ft² / 36.21 m²
SA Main 558.82 ft² / 51.92 m²
SA Total (100%) 948.55 ft² / 88.12 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.94 ft / 15.83 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Bukh
Engine Model DV 36
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 477, Hylas 47, Swan 46

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Helmsman 47 ★
47.0 ft
Bristol 477
47.0 ft
Hylas 47
46.8 ft
Swan 46
47.1 ft
LWL
Helmsman 47 ★
41.0 ft
Bristol 477
37.3 ft
Hylas 47
37.8 ft
Swan 46
37.8 ft
Beam
Helmsman 47 ★
11.8 ft
Bristol 477
13.2 ft
Hylas 47
14.3 ft
Swan 46
14.4 ft
Displacement
Helmsman 47 ★
24 lbs
Bristol 477
34 lbs
Hylas 47
35 lbs
Swan 46
31 lbs
Ballast
Helmsman 47 ★
10 lbs
Bristol 477
15 lbs
Hylas 47
14 lbs
Swan 46
11 lbs
Sail Area
Helmsman 47 ★
949 sq ft
Bristol 477
968 sq ft
Hylas 47
1 sq ft
Swan 46
978 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Helmsman 47 ★
72 s/nm
Bristol 477
—
Hylas 47
93 s/nm
Swan 46
68 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Helmsman 47 ★
17.9
Bristol 477
14.6
Hylas 47
15.8
Swan 46
15.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Helmsman 47 ★
42.5 %
Bristol 477
43.3 %
Hylas 47
—
Swan 46
36.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Helmsman 47 ★
33.7
Bristol 477
43.0
Hylas 47
38.9
Swan 46
34.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Helmsman 47 ★
1.62
Bristol 477
1.62
Hylas 47
1.75
Swan 46
1.83
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Helmsman 47 ★
161
Bristol 477
299
Hylas 47
—
Swan 46
258
Hull Speed
Helmsman 47 ★
8.6 kts
Bristol 477
8.2 kts
Hylas 47
8.2 kts
Swan 46
8.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Helmsman 47 ★
3.3
Bristol 477
1.6
Hylas 47
1.7
Swan 46
2.0
Find a Helmsman 47 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace