Vagabond 47 Buyer's Guide
Shopping a Vagabond 47 on today’s brokerage market means looking at a William Garden staysail ketch that Bluewater Yacht Builders Ltd. built in Taiwan, with most examples dating from the 1978–1985 peak and later boats offered through Contemporary Yachts LTD of Annapolis since 1985. She is a 46.58-foot, 40,000-pound full-keel cruiser whose appeal lies in volume and offshore substance, but whose original construction details demand a buyer’s attention before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common on the used market, though both three-cabin and other layouts appear, and ex-charter examples are common. The typical interior runs a forward stateroom with double or bunk berths, a head, and the main salon, then a port-side galley and starboard passage to an aft master stateroom below the raised quarter deck, where a large double berth and separate head and shower sit. On deck the small center cockpit, wide side decks, and deep bulwarks are consistent features, with quarter-deck seats that double as lockers and further lockers at the main mast.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power and energy systems are where the used fleet has moved furthest from original spec. Solar, inverters, autopilots, chartplotters, dinghy davits, and lithium batteries are commonly fitted, which matters because they let a buyer live aboard and navigate without immediate rewiring. Often-seen additions include radar, watermakers, air conditioning, and freezers, along with teak decks and AIS—the teak overlay itself being original on nearly all boats and a watch item rather than a bonus. Less commonly seen are electric winches, washing machines, life rafts, heating, bow thrusters, hot water, biminis, and spinnakers, which tend to mark a specific owner’s upgrade path rather than fleet norm.
What to Inspect
A primary worry on aging boats is how deck seams, windows, and deck hardware were fitted so carelessly at construction that they leak steadily anchor. Another is the quality of original stainless steel hardware, tanks, and rigging chain plates, whose poor materials and welding have led to premature failures. Wood masts, offered originally as an alternative to aluminum, can hide problems that even very experienced surveyors and riggers find difficult to spot, so any wood-rigged example needs specialist scrutiny.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical markets for these yachts are the United States, Montenegro, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, and Indonesia. A practical buyer’s checklist:
- Inspect decks, superstructure, and all deck penetrations for leak paths and soft core
- Check original stainless hardware, tanks, and chain plates for corrosion or weld failure
- Have wood masts professionally assessed if fitted
- Confirm lithium, solar, and autopilot systems are installed and serviceable
- Verify aft cabin, galley, and tank below-decks layout matches intended liveaboard use
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Vagabond 47. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 14 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 3 | $165,000 | — |
| Feb 25 | 1 | $75,000 | -54.5% |
| Mar 25 | 1 | $95,050 | +26.7% |
| May 25 | 3 | $39,000 | -59.0% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $109,000 | +179.5% |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $122,656 | +12.5% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $70,000 | -42.9% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $94,983 | +35.7% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $85,000 | -10.5% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $25,000 | -70.6% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $92,500 | +270.0% |
| Apr 26 | 11 | $90,000 | -2.7% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $90,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $84,024 | -6.6% |
Where they're listed
Vagabond 47 listings appear across 10 countries. United States has the most listings with 10 (33.3%), followed by Thailand and Indonesia.
Country view
30 listings · 10 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $104,250 | 10 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Thailand | $70,000 | 4 | 1 | 13.3% |
| Indonesia | $90,000 | 3 | 2 | 10.0% |
| Grenada | $96,000 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Guatemala | $63,000 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Italy | $126,966 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Montenegro | $150,263 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Mexico | $25,000 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| Malaysia | $95,050 | 2 | 0 | 6.7% |
| New Zealand | $98,048 | 1 | 1 | 3.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velmare 47You are here | — | $ 90,000 | 30 | 5 |
| North Wind 47 | 46.75' | $ 203,786 | 23 | 9 |
| Formosa 47 | 46.42' | $ 110,802 | 14 | 7 |
| Vagabond 42 | 42' | $ 42,500 | 10 | 3 |
| Swan 47 S&S | 47.83' | $ 135,000 | 7 | 3 |
| Cheoy Lee Offshore 47 | 46.75' | $ 136,975 | 6 | 1 |