Gulfstar produced roughly 79 hulls during that short run. The Sailmaster 47 was an early example of the builder’s deliberate move toward higher-quality, more luxurious yachts after spending its first years focused on affordable, spacious cruisers in the 36- to 60-foot range.
Design and Lineage
Lazzara had deep roots in fiberglass production yachts. He worked at Columbia Yachts in the 1960s, founded Irwin Yachts, and then started Gulfstar in 1970.
The Sailmaster 47 was among the first models to reflect Gulfstar’s late-1970s shift toward better materials and craftsmanship. It belonged to the same upgraded generation as the Gulfstar 50 and Gulfstar 60.
Many motorsailers of the period came across as powerboats with masts added. The Sailmaster 47 was one of the few to retain decent sailing characteristics while still presenting the profile of a cruising motorsailer.
Hull, Ballast, and Performance
The Sailmaster 47’s ratios describe a moderate design with a reassuring amount of ballast. Its displacement-to-length ratio of 255.7 places it in the moderate category. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.1 sits at the low end of the scale, reflecting the boat’s motorsailer brief rather than any racing ambition.
The ballast ratio is 27.6 percent, slightly below average, while the ballast-to-displacement figure of 2.5 is fairly high. Together, these figures give the boat a reassuringly weighted feel for offshore passage work.
When the wind fades, the auxiliary power is substantial. Writing in Cruising World, one reviewer noted that the powerful Perkins diesel pushes her at 8 knots or more.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
Buyers could order the Sailmaster 47 as either a sloop or a ketch. The sloop carried a single mast, with a mainsail and a genoa or jib on the forestay. The ketch added a mizzenmast and mizzen sail aft of the mainmast, while retaining a genoa or jib forward.
The large centre cockpit included wheel steering, engine controls, instruments, and seating for six. It supports sociable helming without feeling oversized when the boat is sailed by a couple.
Interior and Accommodation
One of the Sailmaster 47’s defining features was its raised salon, an early example of the format. It provided panoramic views from the main cabin and increased headroom through the interior.
The standard layout contained three staterooms and six berths. Forward and aft cabins each had a queen-sized bed and an ensuite head with shower. Both also included drawers and lockers beneath the berth, hanging lockers, shelves, cabinets, and vanity tables. An amidships stateroom provided upper and lower single berths with similar storage.
An alternative layout replaced the third stateroom with a larger salon. This version had a U-shaped dinette and settee and increased total capacity to eight berths.
In both arrangements, the social core included a spacious galley with ample counter and stowage space, a navigation station with a large chart table, and a wraparound settee surrounding a large table. Outside, a swim platform, ladder, and transom door made access to the water easier.
The Verdict
The Gulfstar Sailmaster 47 is a limited-production motorsailer that has aged well compared with the genre’s usual compromises. It combines genuine sailing ability, an early raised-salon interior, and a robust diesel backbone within a short, clearly defined production run.
Pros
- Early raised-salon design with panoramic cabin views and increased headroom
- Genuine sailing character rather than the feel of a powerboat with a mast
- Choice of sloop or ketch rig to suit the owner’s preference
- High ballast-to-displacement relationship for a steady motion
- Perkins diesel for reliable motorsailing
Cons
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio at the low end of the scale
- Ballast ratio slightly below average for a boat of this size
- Only about 79 built, limiting the used fleet
