Design and Construction
The 47 is a deliberate evolution of Wauquiez’s pilothouse thinking rather than a sharp departure. Berret/Racoupeau gave her a beam of 15 feet, two inches, carried well aft. This enhances form stability and creates ample space below without resorting to exaggerated beam elsewhere.
The aft cockpit has dual steering stations, leaving clear access to the transom for boarding and stern handling. Overhead, a composite arch carries the mainsheet clear of the cockpit, keeping the working area uncluttered as the crew moves aft.
Rig and Handling
The 9/10 fractional rig sits over a hull whose standard lead bulb draws seven feet, nine inches. A shallow-draft option saves 22 inches for cruising in softer-bottom 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. Those figures suggest a balance between payload and pace rather than out-and-out racing intent. For a 47-foot offshore cruiser, the twin helms and arch-mounted mainsheet also make for a modern, manageable deck plan.
Accommodations
Below, the beam carried aft provides plenty of volume. Three cabins and two heads easily accommodate six. In the raised saloon, windows and overhead hatches bring light to a dinette with seating on three sides.
The nav station is to port, across from the dinette. Its multipurpose seating keeps the crew involved in navigation decisions rather than isolating the skipper. The pilothouse brief—more light and comfortable living space from a raised saloon—is achieved without giving up the aft-cockpit sailing profile.
Verdict
The Pilot Saloon 47 is a considered response to the demand for a bright, social pilothouse interior on a capable aft-cockpit hull. Berret/Racoupeau’s wide, aft-carried beam provides both form stability and useful room below, while the 9/10 rig and cruiser/racer ratios define her as a voyager that can still sail. The deck arrangement—an arch-mounted mainsheet, twin helms, and clear transom access—is modern and practical.
Pros
- Raised saloon with a three-sided dinette and plenty of overhead light
- Beam carried well aft for stability and space
- Twin helms with clear transom access
- Cruiser/racer balance reflected in the SA/D and D/L ratios
- Shallow-draft option available
Cons
- Standard draft of seven feet, nine inches limits access to some anchorages
- The combination of an aft cockpit and pilothouse may not suit sailors looking for a full pilothouse arrangement
