BoatsDolphin 47 (Alden)

Dolphin 47 (Alden)

Staysail Ketch · Long Keel · 1973–1978

A heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising

Designed by John G. Alden Assoc, built by Hodgsdon Bros.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Dolphin 47 (Alden), on the water

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

Footage from Lucky Pete Sailing AQUALIBRA

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 42 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 42
CoastalBluewater

At 1.66 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.66
LightHeavy

356 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 356
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 13.9
TenderStiff

37% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 37%

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

  • Heavier than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 241 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
36.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Staysail Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
13.9
Displacement / length
355.5
Comfort ratio
42.3
Capsize screening
1.66
Hull speed
7.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1633
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1973–1978
Units built
13
Designer
John G. Alden Assoc
Builder
Hodgsdon Bros, Hodgdon Bros

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.

Westsail 4213.08 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stability
Explorer 45 (Huntingford)13.79 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA long-keeled staysail ketch designed by Stan Huntingford for stable, comfortable blue-water passage making
Cape George 3811.58 mSame hull family2.7 m shorterA 1985 cutter with a 1.58-meter draft and high comfort ratio, designed by Atkin and Lange for steady offshore work
Baba 4012.14 mSame hull family2.2 m shorterA 13-ton cutter with a 41.5 comfort ratio, built between 1980 and 1982 for steady, long-distance passage making
Hans Christian 4312.99 mSame hull family1.3 m shorterA 12.99-meter staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built from 1974 to 1992 for steady offshore work
Morgan Yachts 4513.92 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA long-keeled masthead sloop with a high comfort ratio, built by Charles Morgan Jr. between 1966 and 1970

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.

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The fleet has more to say

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