BoatsNorseman 447

Norseman 447

Cutter · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1980–1986

A Robert Perry-designed cutter with a skeg-mounted rudder, built for offshore stability and comfortable blue-water cruising

Designed by Robert H. Perry.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Norseman 447, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Learning By Doing

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36
CoastalBluewater

1.72 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.72
LightHeavy

237 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 237
EasygoingPowered-up

16.3 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.3
TenderStiff

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

Ballast 43%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

  • Heavier than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2384 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Norseman 447, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Norseman 447 is a Robert H. Perry-designed cutter built by Norseman Yachts Inc. and Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd. from 1980 to 1986.12:02 This 13.6-meter (44-foot) heavy-displacement bluewater cruiser features a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder and a shallow draft of 1.9 meters (5.33 feet).12:11 It was built with structural integrity and offshore performance in mind, prioritizing robust construction over the lighter builds of modern production cruisers. The Norseman 447 is considered storm-worthy and capable of ocean passages, with a displacement-to-length ratio of 200 and a comfort ratio of 35.9.12:02 An aft cockpit version was also produced.26:54

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Norseman 447 on video

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • FailedRaymarine

    The boat had 10-year-old Raymarine electronics that were never used and considered obsolete.

    aboard Sailing Learning By Doingseen February 20257:56

  • WorkingYacht World

    The speaker uses Yacht World to search for bluewater boats within a specific price range.

    aboard Be The Captainseen February 202513:26

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Norseman 447 may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
2channels weighed buying one
US$184,500Median asking
US$169,000–US$200,000Asking range

For sale

Weighed buying

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.3
Displacement / length
237.0
Comfort ratio
35.9
Capsize screening
1.72
Hull speed
8.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1742
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1980–1986
Units built
55
Designer
Robert H. Perry
Builder
Norseman Yachts Inc, Ta Shing Yacht Building Ltd

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.

Contest Yachts 44CS13.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder and a 36% ballast ratio, built for stable and capable offshore cruising
[OFF MARKET] Contest 44CS, TRUMPETER | ARC Bluewater Cockpit Conversations '21 (4/5)from Berthon International
Hallberg-Rassy 43 MKI13.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead-rigged blue water cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stable, heavy-displacement hull
Which Voltage on a Medium Size Cruising Yacht? | Ask The Expert with NIGEL CALDER0:07from BoatHowTo
Lafitte Yachts 4413.51 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Perry-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for high-quality offshore cruising
Sailing Mexico to California: Couple Disappears on Sailboat - Ep 328 - Lady K Sailing6:18from Lady K Sailing
Gulfstar Yachts 4413.62 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop designed by Richard C. Lazzara, featuring a fin keel with a skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability
Is the Gulfstar 44 a STEAL of a DEAL?from Practical Sailor
Swan 44113.52 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-lived 1979 production masthead sloop featuring a spade rudder and a balanced 1.98m draft for cruising
Yacht Delivery - A few recent deliveries, including a new Hallberg-Rassy 50 and an Oyster 4850:47from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Najad Yachts 450 CC13.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Judel-Vrolijk fractional sloop designed for comfortable offshore cruising with a modern fin-and-bulb keel configuration
Najad 450 and Najad 440 - A yacht delivery from Hamble to Henan return0:24from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Nordic Yachts 44A 1980s production cruiser with a 40% ballast ratio, designed for offshore speed and stiff handling in heavy airNordic Yachts 40A Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a skeg-mounted rudder and balanced displacementNordic Yachts 34A Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop originally built as the Islander 34-2, offering a balanced, stiff performance

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Norseman 447, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Norseman 447

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