formula 47 yacht

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Formula 47 Yacht: Modern Diplomacy

• By Eric Colby
• Updated: July 1, 2003

I was standing on the swim platform of the Formula 47 Yacht with the engines idling and chatting with the crew. What was remarkable was that we were speaking at normal levels. My decibel meter read a serene 66 dB-A. When we moved to the helm, the number dropped to 62 dB-A.

Formula made the boat so quiet by improving EcoSound, an underwater exhaust system designed to be installed on the transom. It routes exhaust fumes into the propwash to release them well abaft the boat, eliminating the station wagon effect (in which carbon monoxide gets sucked back into the boat). Formula licensed the EcoSound technology and integrated it into the 47 Yacht, molding inserts for the exhaust expansion chamber into the hull.

When the engines run at idle, the EcoSound system routes exhaust through bypasses that exit out the hullsides. Formula developed exhaust gas accelerators that are plumbed into the bypasses. The accelerators send the exhaust through a Venturi that has screens at each end and water injectors at eight angular ports. This helps to saturate the exhaust, which reportedly reduces decibel output.

Both the Sunseeker Portofino 46 ($650,000 with twin 430-bhp TAMD 74s) and the Sealine S48 ($692,225 powered as our test boat) use through-hull exhaust; the fumes exit the hullsides on the Sunseeker and go through the transom on the Sealine. This produces more exhaust noise at idle.

QUIET POWER. There are also performance benefits resulting from tweaking EcoSound. Because fumes are released abaft the propellers, the wheels don’t ventilate under hard acceleration or in tight turns. When I hit the gas, the 47 Yacht’s bowrise was minimal, and it reached cruising speed quickly. In turns, the boat feels more like a Formula go-fast, leaning into tight arcs.

To give the 47 Yacht a strong backbone, Formula developed a one-piece molded fiberglass stringer grid linked by small transverses. The boat’s partial and full bulkheads are formed individually from Diab closed-cell foam and glassed in place.

In the engine compartment, steel plates bonded into the tops of the stringers double as the anchors for the motors. A day hatch forward of the aft bench seat provides access for quick checks, but primary entrance to the engine compartment is gained off the swim platform. The hatch is hinged at the front, and you push a button near the aft cockpit bench seat to raise it. The genset is forward, as are all the fuel separators, including redundant units in case one gets too full of water or debris. The water heater is outboard of the starboard motor, and to port, the larger engine-starting batteries are forward of the shorepower cable retractor, which would make replacing them difficult.

SPACE CRAFT. With the engine hatch closed, there’s room for a waterbike or tender on the swim platform. Our test model had the hydraulic platform ($21,015), an item that comes standard on the Sealine and the Sunseeker.

The 47 Yacht’s trunk is set up with stainless-steel fender racks, dockline hooks, and extra space. In the cockpit the seating arrangement features a lounge that almost encircles the aft area, hinged backrests to port and starboard that lift up, and two more bottom cushions that fold out to fill in the circle. Along the portside, house batteries are in the seat bases. A locker to starboard is lined with a canvas pouch, perfect for a PFD. In a locker to port, I noticed exposed sharp ends of the screws used to secure the upper-lounge backrest. This area is intended for canvas stowage. Formula says it normally covers screws with plastic tubes, so check for yourself.

Glare is not an issue for the driver thanks to tan gel coat on the console ahead of the helm. Our test model has Volvo Penta’s engine-monitoring screens, meaning there are few analog gauges. Between the two seats at the 47 Yacht’s helm, there’s a 1’8″-deep stowage area beneath an armrest. On the backside of the helm seat, the wetbar has a sink, a wastebasket, U-line icemaker, and 12-volt cooler.

A walkthrough center windshield is rare on a 47-footer, but it sure makes it easy to get on deck. The nonslip and 2’6″-high bowrail enhance security, but I’d rather see the lower rail made of stainless-steel instead of a plastic-covered cable. In the 47 Yacht’s anchor locker, the windlass is beneath a locker hatch that opens on a gas strut, the chain drops into a dedicated box, and there’s a quick disconnect for a washdown.

DIVERSITY RULES. Make your way back through the windshield and you can head belowdecks, where you’ll find the highlight of the 47 Yacht, the midcabin or “den.” What sets apart this area is its versatility. The kids can hang out and play a video game on the flat-screen TV, or you could plug in your laptop. Unfold a cushion that’s secured against the aft bulkhead, and you can sleep two in separate berths. Push a button to slide the forward cushion up against the aft one to form a queen-size berth. And if one of your guests is taller than 6′, flip up the backrests along the starboard side of the boat to gain more legroom. The den has its own head with a small separate washing area and a dedicated air-conditioning zone.

The Sunseeker’s midcabin comes with two single berths and a private head. Sealine calls the S48’s midcabin the master stateroom. It has twin singles that convert to a double with a filler cushion and a desk with a plug-in for your laptop.

Moving forward, the 47 Yacht’s salon has an open feel thanks to ample headroom and the use of lighter colors on the wood and vinyl upholstery. To starboard, the galley, sink, and three-burner stove are recessed beneath a hinged section countertop. But the cabinet beneath the sink has carpet right behind the pipes, which will inevitably invite mildew.

The salon’s convertible cockpit/dinette table work flawlessly. The electronic motor is the same one used to raise and lower operating tables. Directly across the salon, the flat-screen TV tilts toward you for a perfect viewing angle.

The slip-off ends of the cockpit table stow in slots beneath the innerspring queen-size mattress in the forward master stateroom. It rises on gas struts. The head of the master berth is split in two and each half rises electronically.

And because the 47 Yacht runs so quietly, you’ll be able to watch your favorite show or read a book in peace, even when the boat’s running.

The Highs: As quiet as a Rolls-Royce and you don’t get diesel soot on the transom. A tight turning radius for this style of boat. Hidden rollers and dovetail joinery on maple cabinets a study in craftsmanship. An anchor locker that other builders would do well to emulate.

The Lows : It’ll take a lot of your money. Tough to get the engine batteries out. Lower section of the bowrail is made up of a cable. Carpet in the cabinet beneath the galley sink. Exposed screw ends in cockpit canvas locker.

EXTRA POINT : If you’re hooked up to city water while at the docks, a bypass in the plumbing lets you fill the boat’s water tank, and when it’s topped off, an automatic shutoff closes the valve to return the system to normal operation.

LOA ………………….50′ ** **

Beam ………………..14′ ** **

Draft (max.) ……..3’8″ ****

Displacement (lbs., approx.) ……….31,500 ****

Transom deadrise …………..18° ****

Bridge clearance ………….14′ ****

Minimum cockpit depth ………………2’7″

Max. cabin headroom ………..7’6″ ****

Fuel capacity (gal.) …..350 ****

Water capacity (gal.) …..100 ****

Price(w/standard power) …….$777,660 ****

Price (w/test power) …….$777,660

Standard power Twin 480-bhp Volvo Penta TAMD 75P EDC or 480-bhp Cummins 480C-E in-line-6 diesel inboards.

Optional power Twin diesel inboards to 1,320 bhp total.

Test boat power Twin 480-bhp Volvo Penta TAMD 75P EDC in-line-6 diesel inboards with 444 cid, 4.21″ bore x 5.31″ stroke, swinging 26″ x 30″ four-bladed Nibral props through 2.1:1 reductions.

Standard equipment (major items): Electronic windlass w/200′ of chain; windshield wipers/washers; radar arch; transom shower; 240v shorepower w/50a cord, Glendinning retractor; city water connection w/Glendinning retractor; Bennett trim tabs w/switches and indicators; Raymarine 520 chartplotter; VHF radio w/antenna; hydraulic steering w/Dino tilt wheel; auxiliary 12v outlet; in-dash AM/FM/CD stereo w/6-disc changer, 4 speakers; cockpit wetbar w/sink and refrigerator/icemaker; Bimini top and aft canopy w/front and side Strataglass enclosure, aft and side curtains; Panasonic 22″ flat-screen TV; Kenwood surround-sound stereo w/5-disc CD/DVD player; Bose home theater system; CO detector; 16,000-Btu reverse-cycle a/c; central vac.; U-shaped galley w/sink, 3-burner stove, microwave oven, refrigerator/freezer, coffeemaker; galley fire extinguisher; water heater; 2 heads w/Vacu-Flush commodes; circular shower stall w/rainwater head; power engine hatch; 12v oil exchange system; engine start and house batteries; 160a battery charger; 2 auto. bilge pumps; high-water alarm; 12.6kW diesel generator.

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Formula 47 Yacht

• By Chris Caswell
• Updated: October 4, 2007

The newly crowned flagship of the Formula line, the 47 Yacht, is remarkable for a number of features, not the least of which is a cleverly designed and luxuriously appointed interior. Formula, of course, has always been a “performance company”, and since the record-setting Formula offshore winners back in the 1960s, the company has used racing to improve the fleet. While the Formula fleet remains skewed toward high performance, the 47 Yacht is to a lesser extent. And that’s not necessarily bad news.

While the 47 Yacht may look racy with her long foredeck, the rakishly swept-back windscreen and even the reversed transom, she is not about speed. This is a yacht that is about luxury, about elegance and about sheer, unadulterated comfort. Think sexy rather than 60. After all, the 47 is full of cherry and suede and air conditioning and flat-screen TVs.

The starting point for the 47 Yacht, as with all Formulas since the ’70s, is a slippery and seaworthy hull designed by John Adams. With an 18-degree V-bottom for a soft ride in all sea conditions, the 47 also has prop pockets to keep the draft to just 3 feet, 8 inches.

Make no mistake about it: This is a big boat. When you’re standing on a floating dock, the deck level is above head height, and everything seems scaled to Gulliver proportions. Even the transom platform is extra wide to accommodate a tender or PWC, and as an option, the platform can lower and rise at the touch of a button to launch and retrieve your water toys. I’d be surprised if any 47 Yacht is ordered without this useful tool.

The lower cockpit has lounge seating that wraps around on all sides, with a removable two-piece table for alfresco dining. The bridge level has seating for four adults to port while a beautifully upholstered helm bench has individual flip-up bolsters and enough room for two large men to sit without getting too cozy.

The helm obviously draws on Formula offshore racing. The VDO gauges are easy to scan, and the Volvo Penta electronic displays are in the skipper’s line of sight. A full Raymarine electronics package is standard, including GPS, chart plotter and VHF radio, all flush-mounted and user friendly. The wood-rimmed Dino wheel tilts for standing or seating, and the Volvo Penta electronic shifters took only the slightest nudge to change speeds.

Just abaft the helm seat is a dedicated wet bar with a sink hidden under the Corian counter, a refrigerator to one side, and more than enough room for a full buffet. At first, I thought that this was a waste of space but later changed my mind while under way, when it proved to be a very comfortable place to stand. Besides, no one can ever accuse the 47 Yacht of having a cramped cockpit, and this would be difficult to use in other ways.

One impressive feature is the molded stairway leading to the opening windscreen, which makes foredeck access safe and secure. You don’t think of a 50-foot yacht as having the features of a bowrider but the sturdy 316 stainless-steel rail puts the foredeck within reach for sunning or anchoring.

Our test boat also had the optional fiberglass hardtop that incorporates twin hatches for ventilation, as well as built-in speakers and lighting. A side benefit of the hardtop is that it permits a complete enclosure of the bridge and even the cockpit. With the optional cockpit air conditioning/heating, it creates an all-weather living area.

Of course, the belowdecks accommodations are so enticing that you may not need an enclosed cockpit. Not obvious in the photos but startling in person is the ample headroom that stretches to 7 feet, 6 inches at the highest point. This gives immense volume to the saloon and opens the galley, as well, creating a convivial living area with high-gloss cherry combined with softly padded bulkheads.

At first glance, the galley appears to be nothing but Corian counters, but there’s a three-burner Kenyon cooktop tucked under a folding section, a deep stainless-steel double sink is outboard, and all the usual appliances are equally well hidd en. Included is a two-door, under-counter Nova Kool refrigerator/freezer, and the number of drawers, cupboards and lockers is impressive. There’s even a “basement pantry under the hardwood maple galley sole with a nicely finished area that allows additional food stowage in three portable tubs.

The curved Ultrasuede settee in the saloon doubles as a lounge and, with two Corian leaves in place on the Hi-Lo table, a formal dining area. Two upholstered stools hide neatly under the table, but I can’t imagine offering them to anyone for dinner seating, unless it’s a mother-in-law or unwanted guest. Plan on adding folding chairs, or better yet, dine in comfort in the cockpit.

The saloon does become a comfortable media room in conjunction with the built-in Panasonic 22-inch LCD flat-screen television which, when powered up, automatically tilts to the best viewing angle from the settee. At night, the 47 Yacht is elegantly fitted with hidden lighting, including the acrylic glassware and wine cabinet.

The master stateroom is forward, with a rounded centerline berth that tilts up on gas lifts to reveal a deep stowage area. Even more innovative, the forward portion of the berth tilts up at the touch of a button for reading or watching television. A pair of cedar-lined mini-lockers provides some hanging stowage, and four drawers are under the berth.

Most of the after bulkhead is devoted to a stylish vanity with a swing-out upholstered seat and theater-style bulb lighting. Women may love it, but to a man, it seems a waste of space in an area already challenged for usable stowage. For once- or twice-a-day use, I’d prefer to see a built-in bureau to handle the clothes for a long weekend.

Besides, the private master head on the 47 Yacht is so incredibly spacious and well-appointed that it would serve the vanity needs admirably, with beveled mirrors, a large shower with curving acrylic door, ample stowage cabinets, a VacuFlush head, and Corian counters and sole.

Just abaft the saloon is a guest stateroom or den that takes full advantage of the full beam and the raised bridge deck to create a spacious cabin with headroom of 6 feet, 8 inches. The daytime arrangement creates an L-shape lounge facing another LCD TV and this area, like the master, is independently air-conditioned. For night use, a Pullman berth drops from the after bulkhead to create a pair of twin beds or, with filler cushions, a queen berth. Here again, the Formula design team has thoughtfully remembered that guests need a place to dress when the beds are in place, and there is more than ample room to move around. The private head includes a shower and doubles as a day head convenient to the cockpit.

With the optional 480 hp Volvo Penta diesels on our test boat, I was impressed that less than 1,000 horses were able to move some 17 tons of luxury trappings at half-mile-a-minute speeds. If you can’t live without blowing the doors off all the other 50-footers in your marina, take heart: Formula is finalizing the details of putting more horsepower under the engine hatch.

Because Formula didn’t shoehorn huge power plants into the engineroom, this area remains a model of efficiency and easy access. While there is a day hatch from the cockpit, the better entry is aft, where the entire transom raises hydraulically to expose the entire compartment. With nearly 5 feet of headroom and a centerline sole between stringers, it’s easy to reach seacocks, handle daily maintenance chores and check on the 12.6kW Onan genset or the oil changing systems.

Under way, the 47 Yacht had impeccable manners. There was no waddling or struggling; the 47 came onto plane easily and simply hit a speed wall shy of 30 knots. Running flat out or at a fast cruise of 25 knots, the race-bred Adams hull becomes apparent: tracking straight, gobbling up small swells with aplomb and needing only a touch of tabs to get the bow down. Even more impressive was winding in full steering lock at speed, and the 47 simply banks into the tight corner with no cavitation, a tribute to the prop pockets that keep feeding solid water to the Teignbridge four-blade props. And, if you decide to go with the optional bowthruster, you’ll find the 47 pivots neatly, even into tight slips.

From flawless fiberglass, to an extensive equipment list, to dovetailed drawer joints, Formula has created a luxury express cruiser to world-class standards, yet one that has a lingering flavor of performance in styling and handling.

Contact: Thunderbird Products, (800) 736-7685; www.formulaboats.com . For more information, contact: (866) 922-4877

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