Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
8.5 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 40.0′, the Macintosh 47 tops out around 8.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √40.0′ LWL = 8.5 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Ballast / Displacement
42.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
213
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
8.5kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
12lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Macintosh 47 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Valiant 47
Hylas 47
Catalina 470
Ct 47
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Macintosh 47.
| Macintosh 47 | Catalina 470 | Ct 47 | Hylas 47 | Sun Odyssey 47 Jeanneau | Valiant 47 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 47.2 | 47.0 | 46.9 | 46.8 | 47.0 | 47.0 |
| LWL | 40.0 | 41.0 | 37.5 | 37.8 | 40.7 | 40.0 |
| Beam | 14.3 | 14.2 | 13.2 | 14.3 | 14.4 | 13.8 |
| Displacement | 30 | 27 | 29 | 35 | 28 | 30 |
| Ballast | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 11 |
| Sail Area | — | 1,010 | 908 | 1 | 1,152 | — |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | 102 | 111 | 93 | — | 92 |
| SA/Disp | — | 17.9 | 15.3 | 15.8 | 19.6 | — |
| Bal/Disp | 42.0 | 40.0 | 40.8 | — | 35.4 | 36.7 |
| Comfort | — | 28.7 | 36.4 | 38.9 | — | — |
| Capsize | — | 1.86 | 1.71 | 1.75 | — | — |
| Hull Speed | — | 8.7 | 8.2 | 8.2 | — | — |