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Islander 47 Alden
Designer: John G. Alden Inc.  ·  Builder: Wellington Boats Inc.  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Islander 47 Alden

Designed by the renowned Alden naval architecture firm, this 47-foot sailboat represents a classic approach to blue-water cruising from an era when seaworthiness and traditional lines took precedence over interior volume. The Islander 47 Alden carries the distinctive hallmarks of Alden's design philosophy, emphasizing ocean-going capability and timeless aesthetics. Built for serious offshore cruising, this vessel features the kind of substantial construction and thoughtful design details that made Alden boats legendary among long-distance sailors. The hull form balances performance with stability, creating a boat that can handle extended passages while maintaining reasonable sailing speeds in various conditions. The Alden pedigree brings with it a reputation for conservative engineering and proven seakeeping abilities. These boats were designed when crossing oceans meant relying entirely on the vessel's inherent strength and seaworthiness. The result is a cruising sailboat that inspires confidence in challenging conditions. For sailors seeking a traditional cruising yacht capable of extended offshore passages, the Islander 47 Alden offers the proven design heritage of one of America's most respected naval architecture firms combined with the robust construction standards of the Islander shipyard.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 46.92 ft / 14.30 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 38.67 ft / 11.79 m
Beam 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
Max Draft 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Min Draft 4.83 ft / 1.47 m
Displacement 45,000.00 lb / 20,412 kg
Ballast 11,000.00 lb / 4,990 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer John G. Alden Inc.
Builder Wellington Boats Inc.
First Built 1978
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Performance Ratios
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
52.8
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
1.52
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. 8.33
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. 1.0
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