Design and Construction
The 47 reads as a deliberate evolution of Wauquiez’s pilothouse thinking rather than a break from it. Berret/Racoupeau gave her a beam of 15 feet, two inches carried well aft, a choice that enhances form stability and opens ample space below without resorting to exaggerated beam elsewhere. The aft-cockpit layout is paired with dual steering stations that provide clear access to the transom, a practical arrangement for boarding and stern handling. Overhead, a composite arch carries the mainsheet clear of the cockpit, keeping the working area uncluttered for a crew moving aft.
Rig and Handling
Her 9/10 fractional rig sits atop a hull whose standard lead bulb draws seven feet, nine inches, and a shallow draft option saves 22 inches for softer-bottom cruising grounds. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 188, the design falls into cruiser/racer territory, suggesting a balance of payload and pace rather than out-and-out racer intent. The dual helms and arch-mounted mainsheet give her a modern, manageable deck plan for a 47-foot offshore cruiser.
Accommodations
Below, the beam carried aft pays off in volume. Three cabins and two heads easily accommodate six, and the raised saloon holds a dinette with seating on three sides, well lit by windows and hatches overhead. The nav station sits to port in the saloon, across from the dinette, where its multipurpose seating keeps the whole crew involved with navigation decisions rather than isolating the skipper. The pilothouse brief — more light and comfortable living space from a raised saloon — is realized here without sacrificing the aft-cockpit sailing profile.
The Verdict
The Pilot Saloon 47 is a considered answer to the demand for a bright, social pilothouse interior on a capable aft-cockpit hull. Berret/Racoupeau’s wide, aft-carried beam gives her both form stability and real below-deck room, while the 9/10 rig and cruiser/racer ratios mark her as a voyager that can still sail. The deck architecture — arch mainsheet, twin helms, transom access — is modern and usable.
Pros
- Raised saloon with three-sided dinette and overhead light
- Beam carried well aft for stability and space
- Twin helms with clear transom access
- Cruiser/racer SA/D and D/L balance
- Shallow draft option available
Cons
- Seven-foot-nine standard draft limits some anchorages
- Aft-cockpit pilothouse mix may not suit full pilothouse seekers
