BoatsBristol Yachts 47.7

Bristol Yachts 47.7

Masthead Sloop · Keel/centreboard · 1979–1994

A 14.33-metre semi-custom cruiser featuring a traditional counter stern and a deep 3.35-metre keel-centerboard draft

Designed by Ted Hood & Dieter Empacher.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

See her sail

The Bristol Yachts 47.7, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Be The Captain

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43
CoastalBluewater

At 1.62 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.62
LightHeavy

299 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 299
EasygoingPowered-up

14.6 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.6
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~75% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 211 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Bristol Yachts 47.7, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Bristol Yachts 47.7 is a Masthead Sloop designed by Ted Hood and Dieter Empacher, built by Bristol Yachts Inc. from 1979 to 1994. This 14.3-meter sailboat, with a 4.0-meter beam and 3.4-meter draft, displaces 15,721 kg. It was available in both center and aft cockpit versions, based on the Bristol 45.5 with a traditional counter. Production of Bristol yachts of this size and vintage was semi-custom, leading to variations in particulars.15:29 Kyle Jackney, with over 40 years in the marine industry, praises the Bristol 47 for its cockpit and quarter berth, identifying it as a good value for cruising among 1970s–80s U.S. production sailboats.16:25

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bristol Yachts 47.7 on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.6
Displacement / length
299.4
Comfort ratio
43.0
Capsize screening
1.62
Hull speed
8.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1753
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1979–1994
Units built
75
Designer
Ted Hood, Dieter Empacher
Builder
Bristol Yachts Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Bristol Yachts 45.513.79 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a 3.35-metre keel-centerboard draft, built for deep-water cruising performance
Our Boom BROKE and CRASHED Onto The Solar Arch!!! | (EP. 018)from Plan-Sea
Brewer 4413.41 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA stretched evolution of the 12.8 featuring a reverse transom and a versatile keel-centerboard configuration
We're FINALLY Buying Our Dream Sailboat (PART 1) | [Ep. 09]1:25from Plan-Sea
Morgan Yachts Out Island 5115.70 mSame hull family1.4 m longerA heavy-displacement staysail ketch with a keel-centerboard configuration designed for comfortable long-range cruising
Sailboat Restoration Q&A Ask Me Anything. I've done it twice 😅24:43from Reversing Entropy
Garcia Yachts Exploration 4514.88 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA rugged aluminum cutter by Berret-Racoupeau featuring a centerboard and dual rudders for high-latitude exploration
We found OUR NEXT BOAT... but there is only one PROBLEM $$$ [Ep.93] The Bohemian Journey2:32from El Viaje de Bohemia
Irwin Yachts 5416.46 mSame hull family2.1 m longerA 16.46-metre staysail ketch with a 39.9 comfort ratio, built since 1988 for stable, long-range cruising
WE WENT TO THE ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW - 2025! | EP845:20from Sailing Solé
Pearson Yachts 4012.17 mSame hull family2.2 m shorterA 12-meter masthead sloop with a deep 2.87-meter draft and high ballast ratio, built for stability and speed
OPB: Pearson 40, svMarbella, Boat Tour (Feb 2026) - For Sale!from keeldragger

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Bristol Yachts 45.5A heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a 3.35-metre keel-centerboard draft, built for deep-water cruising performanceBristol Yachts 41.1A masthead sloop with a deep 3.05-metre keel-centerboard draft, bridging the gap between the 411 and 43.3 modelsBristol Yachts 48.8A semi-custom masthead sloop with a deep 3.35-meter draft and a high comfort ratio for stable, long-distance cruisingBristol Yachts 32A Ted Hood-designed masthead sloop with a modified full keel, built for steady, comfortable cruising over two decadesBristol Yachts 31.1A 1983 masthead sloop with a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder, optimized for a stable, comfortable coastal paceBristol Yachts 35.5A long-running production cruiser with a 43% ballast ratio, designed for a stiff and stable coastal sailing experience

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