Design and Construction
Perry's hand shows in a hull laid up as solid fibreglass with vinylester resin for osmosis protection, while the deck uses a balsa-cored fibreglass layup topped with teak across most surfaces except the coachroof and cockpit seats. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with epoxy resin and through-bolted with stainless steel fasteners, a method that reads as a deliberate construction choice for a serious cruiser. Above the waterline the boat is dressed in teak: rub rails with stainless striker plates, toe rails, cap rails, a teak cockpit sole, and handrails on the coachroof, giving her the traditional warm profile buyers expect from the marque. The interior is teak throughout with a teak-and-holly cabin sole, and the cabinetry is solid teak with louvred doors — a level of woodwork that anchors the boat's period character.
Rig and Deck Layout
The cutter rig carries 995 square feet of sail area, and forward of the mast the boat wears a stainless steel bow sprit with a teak platform, a bow pulpit with dual anchor rollers, and a large foredeck with an anchor locker. Aft, a sugar scoop stern with a storage locker pairs with a stainless swim ladder, transom shower, and a stainless stern pulpit with teak seats. The centre cockpit is spacious and well protected by a high coaming and a dodger, with long comfortable seats and storage lockers underneath. Steering runs through a single pedestal wheel with a leather cover and a binnacle carrying compass, engine controls, and instrument displays. Custom stainless work abounds: dinghy davits, an outboard hoist, a radar arch with solar panels, a bimini frame, and coachroof grab rails.
Accommodations
The two-cabin, two-head arrangement gives two couples genuine privacy. Forward, guests get a large V-berth with ample storage and a port-side desk; the guest head to starboard aft of that stateroom has its own shower stall. The salon holds a curved settee with table to port and a straight settee to starboard around a round cocktail table, with the nav station aft to starboard at a large outboard-facing chart table. The master stateroom aft centers on a walk-around double berth with drawers underneath and lockers both sides, a desk and vanity forward to port, and private access to an aft head with a separate shower to starboard. Blue fabric upholstery with white piping, LED lighting throughout, and ventilation by opening ports, hatches, and cabin fans complete the interior.
The Verdict
The Tayana 47 DS is a thoughtfully laid-out Perry cruiser whose construction details — vinylester solid hull, epoxy-bonded and bolted deck joint, all-teak interior — speak to a serious offshore brief rather than a weekend coastal toy. Her accommodation plan remains practical for two couples, and the quantity of purpose-built stainless deck gear suggests owners took the cruising potential seriously.
Pros
- Solid fibreglass hull with vinylester osmosis protection and a securely bonded hull-to-deck joint
- Two-cabin, two-head layout with private shower stalls and a walk-around master berth
- Extensive custom stainless equipment including davits, radar arch, and solar panels
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck with teak overlay demands scrutiny for moisture intrusion in a used boat
- Traditional teak exterior trim carries ongoing maintenance burden
