Design and Construction
The 47 measures 47 feet 5 inches overall, with a 46-foot waterline and a beam of just under 26 feet. Displacement is 24,441 pounds, placing her among the lighter, beamy cruising catamarans of her era.
Multihulls World notes that the hulls come directly from the late Nautitech 475 mold, although the nacelle is radically different. The fine forward sections echo those of the smaller Nautitech 40 in the builder’s range. The boat is assembled in Lorient.
The hull geometry produces a low wetted surface, credited with reducing drag and helping the boat make progress in light winds. The same design brief is said to allow respectable upwind performance. Inside, the joiner-work is deliberately spare. Flat-panel furniture and minimal detailing reduce unnecessary weight rather than aiming to impress through elaborate cabinetry.
Rig and Handling
From the helm, the Nautitech 47 feels powerful and light. It is a fractional-sloop catamaran without daggerboards. Its mast stands about 59 feet above the waterline. According to the builder’s specifications, it carries an 893-square-foot mainsail and a 344-square-foot genoa, while the published sail area totals nearer 1,057 square feet.
Twin steering stations are positioned at the sterns, putting the helmsman out over the transoms, where testers found he could feel the wind. All sail controls are close at hand from these stations.
During a trial off Les Minimes, in the sheltered Pertuis, the catamaran was logged at just under ten knots in a 15 to 20 knot breeze. Its shallow 3-foot 11-inch draft favors island cruising rather than windward bite.
Cockpit and Accommodations
A fixed canopy continues the deck’s sweeping lines over the bridgedeck saloon and shades the cockpit. The cockpit is arranged for lounging and entertaining rather than sail handling.
The galley is “up,” positioned on the aft side of the saloon so that it opens directly onto both the cockpit seating and the broad U-shaped dining area. It’s a social arrangement that keeps the cook in the conversation.
The port hull contains two spacious cabins, each with a queen berth and private head. The starboard hull can mirror that arrangement or be opened into a single suite. Both hulls also have extra berths in their peaks for occasional guests or crew.
Engines and Systems
Two 54-horsepower Yanmar diesels occupy separate aft compartments. Each engine is reached through a deck hatch rather than an interior panel.
Fuel capacity is 116 gallons, while water capacity is 237 gallons. These capacities support extended independent cruising for a boat of this size. Cruising World’s review confirms that the twin-engine, twin-steer arrangement is central to the boat’s hands-on character.
The Verdict
The Nautitech 47 is a light, beamy performance cruiser that trades interior ostentation for weight discipline and open social spaces. Its reused 475 hull molds and reworked nacelle make it a transitional design: a familiar underbody beneath a modern deck.
The shallow draft, easy helm access, and just-under-ten-knot pace recorded in a 15 to 20 knot breeze suit passage-making more than close-winded racing and light-air pace.
Pros
- Low wetted surface and fine forward sections help performance in light air
- Twin helms put all sail controls within easy reach
- Galley-up layout connects the cockpit and saloon for entertaining
- Flexible sleeping arrangements: two port cabins, two starboard cabins or a suite, plus peak berths
Cons
- No daggerboards, limiting windward draft and bite
- Spare interior joiner-work may feel austere to some buyers
- Engines are accessible only through deck hatches, not interior panels
