Design and Construction
Penna's hull measures 37.34 feet on the waterline inside a 13.88-foot beam, giving the volume a bluewater hull needs without sacrificing the maneuverability a skeg-supported rudder protects. The fin keel with partial skeg-hung rudder is the defining underwater shape, and the 1,851.87 pounds-per-inch immersion figure tells you how reluctantly she sits deeper as load comes aboard—useful for provisioning a boat built to cross oceans. Her capsize screening formula of 1.82 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.86 confirm a conservative, self-righting profile with enough canvas (1,216.32 square feet reported) to make her 8.19-knot hull speed attainable in a breeze. Construction is straightforward GRP; the builder built her as a serious cruiser from the first unit in 1988.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries a 55.81-foot foretriangle and a 49.25-foot main luff, with a 150-percent genoa stretching 739 square feet and a working jib at 115 percent. A spinnaker of roughly 1,508 square feet was part of the sail plan, so downwind passages were clearly in the designer's mind. The standard Volvo Penta diesel of 100 horsepower gives a heavy 28,660-pound hull ample push against a marina berth or a calm. Twin helms—one inside with a seat, one in the cockpit—let the crew steer from shelter or from the stern as conditions dictate, and the center-cockpit layout keeps the primary steering clear of the working foredeck.
Accommodations
Below, the boat sleeps six to eight across three cabins: a master aft with en-suite, a V-berth forward, and a guest double amidships. The U-shaped galley, a saloon with dinette and settees, two heads (one with shower), and a proper nav station are all finished in high-quality teak. That interior wood is not cosmetic alone—it marks a build standard aimed at owners who live aboard for months, not days. The 238-gallon water tank and twin 450-liter fuel tanks (900 liters total) underpin the same long-haul logic, and the 13,000-kilogram displacement absorbs the motion that lighter boats transmit below.
Refits and Ownership
One documented example shows the kind of renewal a serious owner undertakes: all paint stripped to gelcoat, the flying buttress reinforced, rudder stuffing box replaced, and mast partners renovated. The teak deck was fully replaced in 2013 with 25 mm stock glued without screws, and every Vetus window and Lewmar hatch was renewed. Rigging was changed, a Bamar electric genoa furler with remote control added, and Harken electric winches (two 60 ST and assorted 40 ST and 20 ST) distributed between cockpit and mast. A 1600 W windlass with remote, stainless davits, and a complete Raymarine and Garmin electronics suite round out a refit aimed at short-handed, self-sufficient cruising. The main engine turbo and heaters were replaced, the generator valves and gaskets renewed, and new service batteries fitted—evidence that the platform rewards deep investment.
The Verdict
The North Wind 47 is a thoughtfully proportioned bluewater cruiser from the late-1980s North Wind Yachts, with a Penna hull that balances load-carrying stability against manageable draft and a three-cabin interior finished for liveaboard use. She is no lightweight, and her systems reflect an owner base that expects to cross oceans rather than bay-hop.
Pros
- Conservative capsize and comfort ratios suit extended offshore passage-making
- Three-cabin teak interior with en-suite master supports long-term liveaboard cruising
- Skeg-protected rudder and 100 hp Volvo give confidence in close quarters and calm
Cons
- 245.76 displacement-length ratio means she will not be quick to accelerate in light air
- Original 1988 build predates modern vacuum-infusion construction methods
- Deep refit dependency: many comforts depend on owner-added electronics and deck work
