Design and Construction
The Caliber 47 LRC has a 39-foot-6-inch waterline, a 13-foot-2-inch beam, and a displacement of 33,000 pounds. Its 5-foot-2-inch fin carries a skeg-hung rudder.
McCreary specified a solid-fiberglass hull, forgoing lightweight coring to maximize impact resistance. The deck of this flagship uses Divinycell coring rather than the marine plywood found on its smaller sisters. Caliber glassed every structural bulkhead and furniture component directly to the hull with its proprietary multi-bulkhead bonding system, avoiding molded liners.
The integral tankage also contributes to the structure. Each tank has a viewing port and is bonded to the hull below the waterline, strengthening the hull and creating a double bottom. Trademark collision bulkheads, dedicated impact-resistance zones, a watertight rudder dam, and a single sea chest drilled through the hull—instead of a scattering of through-hulls—complete a structure designed around containment and redundancy.
Rig, Performance, and Deck Handling
The cutter rig uses a Seldén in-mast furler for the mainsail. In the tested configuration, Eclipse carried full main, genoa, and staysail on a beam reach, making 7 to 8 knots over the ground in 18 to 25 knots apparent. Reefed down, the boat jogged comfortably through 2-foot beam seas at 5.8 knots.
All winches are two-speed and self-tailing. Rather than fitting expensive electric winches, the boat uses a single 18-volt Cinch Winch 1600. Wide decks with aggressive nonskid provide a practical working area. Lifelines run to a true pulpit with stainless-steel rails and twin anchor chocks, while four large deck lockers and a double anchor locker provide ample stowage.
The standard sail area is 1,014 square feet, backed by a 75-horsepower Yanmar. Together, these figures point to a boat tuned for passage-making rather than pinwheel acceleration.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is finished in varnished teak with a teak-and-holly sole. To port, the dinette table folds against the bulkhead when not in use. Opposite are twin easy chairs with either a table or cabinet between them.
A nearly straight-line galley sits just aft of the dinette. The navigation station is to starboard at the foot of the companionway, where it can be worked from the helm.
The aft stateroom contains a full queen berth, a cedar-lined hanging locker, and a bureau. It has access to the galley and, through the aft head, to the navigation station. A walk-in closet to starboard drew particular praise from the reviewing owner.
Forward, a cozy cabin has a full-double bunk to port, bookshelves above it, and a hanging locker to starboard. Numerous opening ports and hatches provide cross-ventilation throughout the interior.
Equipment and Systems
The 47 LRC SE series lists a Caliber Smart Fuel System designed for rapid filter changes underway through intelligent auto-routing. It includes:
- An electric redundant fuel feed
- An electric polishing pump
- A vacuum gauge
- Two coarse pre-strainers
- Two independent Racor 500 filters
- Dual pickups for polishing
- E-Z View inspection plates
These components serve extraordinary dual-system tank capacity.
The test boat carried a 6-kilowatt genset with 360-degree access. Optional equipment included a Northern Lights 5.5KW unit with a sound shield and slide-out mounts, a Vetus bow thruster, a Lofrans Progress 1500 windlass, a hi-output alternator, and an insulated SSB antenna with a copper grounding plane.
Factory Options, Refits, and Ownership
Buyers considering boats from the series will encounter factory options that may shape later resale. These included a Selden roller-furling mast, MDS internal main batt car, Doyle Stackpack, convertible cutter rig, Furlex headstay, and Lewmar winch upgrades to #58, #54 electric, #50 manual, and #48 electric.
Factory bottom protection could include Pettit epoxy and Trinidad paint. The builder later moved into brokerage specializing in pre-owned Caliber sailboats, so a structured aftermarket exists for the marque.
The Verdict
The Caliber 47 LRC is a thoughtfully engineered long-range cruiser. Its bonded tankage and safety bulkheads reflect a builder philosophy centered on structural honesty and flooding containment. It’s roomy without being precious, and its systems—especially the smart fuel layout—anticipate offshore independence.
Pros
- Integral, below-waterline tankage stiffens the hull and forms a double bottom
- Collision bulkheads, a rudder dam, and a single sea chest reduce flooding risk
- Practical deck plan with aggressive nonskid and ample lockers
- Versatile accommodations with a walk-in closet and multiple berths
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio suggests limited light-air pace
- The non-cored solid hull adds weight compared with cored competitors
