Back to Search
Holiday 47
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Holiday Boat (Phi)  ·  First built: 1988
+ Add to Compare
About the Holiday 47

Designed by the legendary Sparkman & Stephens naval architecture firm, this substantial cruising sailboat represents classic American yacht design from the late 1980s. Built by Holiday Boat in the Philippines starting in 1988, only six examples of this distinctive vessel were ever constructed, making it a rare find in today's market. The boat's proportions reveal a serious offshore cruiser, with nearly 47 feet of overall length riding on a moderate displacement hull. Her fin keel with rudder mounted on a skeg provides excellent directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. The masthead sloop rig carries a generous sail plan that should provide good performance in light to moderate conditions. With a comfort ratio of 36.69, this yacht falls squarely into the comfortable cruising category, offering the motion characteristics that make extended offshore passages more pleasant. The capsize screening formula of 1.76 indicates reasonable stability for coastal and offshore work, though not in the most conservative range for extreme conditions. Sparkman & Stephens' reputation for creating seaworthy, well-balanced designs suggests this boat would appeal to serious cruisers seeking a capable platform for extended voyaging. The limited production run adds exclusivity while the proven pedigree of the design office provides confidence in the yacht's fundamental characteristics.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 46.92 ft / 14.30 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.75 ft / 11.51 m
Beam 13.92 ft / 4.24 m
Max Draft 7.58 ft / 2.31 m
Displacement 32,062.00 lb / 14,543 kg
Ballast 11,500.00 lb / 5,216 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,126.00 ft² / 104.61 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Holiday Boat (PHI)
First Built 1988
Number Built 6
Owner Reviews

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

Performance Ratios
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
 17.93
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
 35.87
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
 266.07
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
 36.69
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
 1.76
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. 8.23 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
 2.11
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. 1,877.60 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. 17.92
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 63.52 ft / 19.36 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.40 ft / 5.61 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 57.00 ft / 17.37 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
SA Fore 584.38 ft² / 54.29 m²
SA Main 541.50 ft² / 50.31 m²
SA Total (100%) 1,125.88 ft² / 104.60 m²
Est. Forestay Length 66.13 ft / 20.16 m
Find a Holiday 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