1983–1993 · designed by Robert Perry · built by Passport Yachts (built at King Dragon Yard, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan)
The Passport 47 was designed by Robert Perry as a capable bluewater cruising vessel, prioritizing seakeeping and offshore range over racing performance. Perry's characteristic moderate-displacement, fin-keel form with generous waterline length delivers a comfortable motion in a seaway and a good turn of speed for her displacement. Available in aft-cockpit (10 built, 1983–1988) and rare center-cockpit (approximately 4 built) configurations, and cutter or ketch rig, she was positioned as a semi-custom offshore cruiser for serious passage-makers. She earned a solid reputation among offshore couples and liveaboards in the 1980s–90s bluewater community.
This is a general read on the Passport 47 class — informed
background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history,
and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class
reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific
listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.
Robert Perry's hull design delivers a notably comfortable motion in a seaway — the moderate-displacement, easily-driven hull does not pound or hobby-horse excessively in an ocean chop.
Taiwanese build quality from King Dragon Yard is regarded among the better production-era offshore builds: hull laminates are hand-laid and solid, structural bulkheads are well-bonded, and the encapsulated iron keel (no keel bolts) eliminates the keel-bolt corrosion and bedding failure risk common on bolt-on designs.
Skeg-hung rudder provides reliable, repairable steering and meaningful protection for the rudder blade — a significant offshore advantage over a spade.
Cutter rig configuration divides sail area into manageable working sails well-suited to shorthanded offshore work, and the keel-stepped mast gives better staying geometry and redundancy.
Low production numbers and a dedicated owner community mean well-documented known issues and a network of experienced owners — good when hunting for parts knowledge or survey second opinions.
Known trade-offs
Chainplates corrode internally with little visual warning — this is the highest-probability structural finding on a 35-40 year old example and is not optional to investigate before any offshore use.
Teak decks — ubiquitous on this class — are at or past end-of-life on most hulls. A marginal deck is a six-figure liability depending on extent of substrate damage; buyers should treat this as a likely capital item, not a cosmetic issue.
Performance in light air is modest — the displacement/length ratio of approximately 256 and moderate sail area means she is not a quick boat in sub-10-knot conditions, which matters for ocean passages and scheduling.
Extremely small production run (approximately 14 hulls total across variants) means very limited availability, almost no comparable sales data points, and significant challenges sourcing original-specification hardware.
35-40 year old electrical systems on unrefitted hulls are a persistent maintenance burden — original wiring, outdated panels, and accumulated owner modifications are the norm rather than the exception.
Age-related quirks to expect
Chainplate corrosion and deck-seal failureHigh1983–1988 (all hulls)
Teak decks: caulk failure, fastening leaks, substrate saturationHigh1983–1988 (most hulls fitted with laid teak decks)
Original Perkins 4-108 engine — high hours or corrosion-worn examples may need repowerMedium1983–1988
Standing rigging age — wire and toggles on 35-40-year-old rigs at or past service lifeHighAll hulls where rigging has not been replaced
Deck core (marine plywood on early hulls, Airex foam on later) water intrusion at hardware penetrationsMedium1983–1988
Systems to check before you buy
Chainplates and deck penetrationspriority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard
Chainplate corrosion is the most common serious finding on Passport 47s. Internal chainplates run through the deck with minimal inspection access; pitting at the deck-level seal is common and goes undetected until the seal fails and water migrates into the liner. All chainplates should be pulled and inspected — replacement is a meaningful structural undertaking. 40% of rig failures industry-wide trace to chainplate corrosion; on 35-40-year-old hulls this is not theoretical.
Teak deck and underlying corepriority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal
Most Passport 47s were fitted with laid teak decks that are now 35-40 years old. Failed caulking seams allow water to wick under the planks and into the cored deck substrate (marine plywood on early hulls, Airex foam on later hulls). Probe every seam, tap the substrate for delamination, and moisture-meter the side decks. A marginal teak deck that needs full removal and core repair is one of the most expensive items a buyer can inherit on a boat this size — budget can exceed depending on condition and port.
Standing rigging and mast hardwarepriority: offshore, coastal
Wire standing rigging on unrefitted hulls is at or past the commonly accepted 10-15 year service life by a wide margin. Toggles, turnbuckles, and swage fittings are the hidden failure points — visually inspect swage ends for cracking under magnification. Do not passage-plan on original or unknown-age wire. Budget a full rig inspection from aloft and plan for replacement if provenance is unknown.
Main engine and cooling systempriority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal
Most hulls were delivered with the Perkins 4-108, a reliable but now-elderly 4-cylinder diesel. Raw water impellers, heat exchanger cores, and injectors degrade with age even on low-hour engines. High-hour or seized examples should be budgeted for a Yanmar 4JH or Beta Marine repower. Confirm hours, run the engine hard under load, and check exhaust smoke and coolant carefully. A repower on a 47-footer is a significant yard project.
Electrical system and DC wiringpriority: liveaboard, offshore
Boats in this age bracket typically have original or partially updated DC wiring — undersized wire runs, corroded terminals, and non-marine-rated connections are common. Liveaboard and offshore buyers should budget a full electrical audit and likely a bank/alternator upgrade. Look for evidence of DIY wiring additions over the decades; this class attracts self-sufficient owners who often modify systems with mixed results.
How it fits your plans
Offshore
A genuine bluewater design — moderate displacement, skeg-hung rudder, keel-stepped rig, and Perry's proven hull form give her good seakeeping credentials. Subject to full inspection passing (rigging, chainplates, deck core), she is a capable offshore cruiser. Do not depart on original rigging.
Coastal
Comfortable and capable for coastal work. Draft of 6'6" limits some anchorages. The aft-cockpit layout (most common configuration) is practical for shorthanded sailing. Fin keel gives reasonable maneuverability in close quarters.
Liveaboard
One of her strongest use cases. The teak interior, sensible layout, and reasonable displacement make her comfortable for extended aboard living. Condition of interior joinery and systems will vary enormously across a 35-40 year old fleet.
Weekending
Workable but somewhat heavy for purely recreational weekending — she is optimized for passage-making, not afternoon sailing. Running costs and maintenance on a boat this size and age will feel disproportionate for part-time use.
Racing
Not applicable. Built and optimized for offshore cruising, not racing.
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