Tayana 47

1991–present · designed by Robert Perry · built by Ta Yang Yacht Building Co.

The Tayana 47 is a Taiwanese-built bluewater cruising cutter (centre-cockpit) designed by Robert Perry and built by Ta Yang Yacht Building Co. It is aimed at serious offshore passagemakers seeking a heavy-displacement vessel with a fin keel, generous tankage, full cruising gear, and robust construction. The boat was sold primarily in the US market. Its reputation rests on structural solidity and sea-kindly motion in heavy weather rather than performance. A deck-saloon variant (DS) was also produced alongside the centre-cockpit (CC) version.

This is a general read on the Tayana 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.

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At a glance

Hull form: Fin Keel
Ballast: Encapsulated Iron
Rudder: Skeg Hung
Mast step: Keel Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Production: 1991–present
Built in: Taiwan

What the Tayana 47 is known for

Heavy-displacement fin-keel construction delivers a genuinely sea-kindly motion offshore — the boat tracks well and is forgiving in confused seas.
Robust hand-laid fiberglass hull construction from a builder with a long record in bluewater cruising boats, designed by an experienced offshore designer (Robert Perry); structural failures are rare when maintenance is kept up.
Large tankage (water and diesel) typically standard or easily fitted, making the class well-suited to extended passages away from fuel and water.
Cutter rig allows the headsail area to be split into overlapping yankee and staysail, making shorthanded sail handling more manageable offshore.

Known trade-offs

Teak decks on virtually every example built are now at or past end-of-life, and full re-decking is a five-figure expense that many owners defer — making deck leaks and core rot nearly universal on older boats.
Heavy displacement and the conservative fin-keel underbody mean performance in light air is modest; the boat needs meaningful breeze to move well, and motoring is frequently necessary in light-air cruising grounds.
Chainplate design routes loads through bulkhead tabbing in ways that are difficult to inspect and prone to hidden corrosion — a known structural concern on aging examples.
Older examples carry layers of deferred systems work — watermakers, inverters, battery banks, autopilots, and electronics from the 1990s — making full systems audits expensive and time-consuming.
Parts and specialist knowledge for the class are not as widely available as for higher-production designs, and finding yards with direct Tayana 47 experience requires research.

Age-related quirks to expect

Osmotic blistering — heavy hand-laid hulls from this era used polyester resin prone to hydrolysis Medium 1991–late 1990s

Teak decks deteriorating — laid teak over fiberglass deck was standard; caulking fails, fastenings back out, decks leak into core High all years

Engine room corrosion and original Perkins / Yanmar repower exposure — engines from early builds are at or past service life Medium 1991–late 1990s

Stainless standing rigging age — wire rigging on 20+ year old boats often original or once-replaced; fatigue risk on ocean passages High all years

Chainplate through-deck and bulkhead fastening corrosion — inboard chainplates embedded in or tabbed to fiberglass/wood composite bulkheads High all years

Systems to check before you buy

Teak decks and underlying core priority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal

Laid teak over fiberglass deck is the single largest deferred-maintenance risk on this class. Probe all seams for soft core, check bungs and fastenings for backing-out or weeping, and moisture-meter the fiberglass substrate. Full re-deck is a major shipyard event; partial repairs rarely hold long-term.

Standing rigging and chainplates priority: offshore, coastal

Inspect all chainplates for corrosion at the deck penetration and at the structural attachment point. Wire rigging over 10 years old should be condemned for offshore use regardless of appearance. The cutter rig means inner and outer forestay chainplates as well as shroud chainplates all need examination.

Hull below waterline — osmosis and keel-to-hull joint priority: offshore, coastal, liveaboard

Moisture-meter the full hull below the waterline. The fin keel with encapsulated ballast means the keel-to-hull joint and root area must be inspected for cracking, stress crazing, and delamination. Blistering if present can range from cosmetic to deep laminate.

Engine and fuel system priority: offshore, liveaboard, motor

Original Perkins 4-108 or early Yanmar engines in older boats are aged past typical service life. Inspect raw-water cooling circuits, heat exchanger, and injectors. Large diesel tanks common on this class — inspect for corrosion (steel) or delamination (fiberglass), and check fuel polishing provision.

Interior joinery and bulkhead tabbing priority: liveaboard, offshore

Teak and holly sole, teak joinery, and plywood bulkheads are susceptible to rot and delamination from years of condensation and minor leaks — especially under the V-berth and quarterberth areas. Check all bulkhead-to-hull tabbing for delamination, which can indicate structural compromise.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: A capable bluewater passagemaker when properly maintained and re-rigged — the heavy displacement, fin keel with skeg-hung rudder, and sea-kindly motion suit extended offshore work. Key caveat: deferred maintenance on standing rigging and chainplates is a hard stop before any offshore passage. Budget for a full rig inspection and likely replacement before departure.
Liveaboard: Generous interior volume for a 47-footer with separate aft cabin, decent tankage, and typically a large refrigeration and galley fit-out. Livable full-time but older boats carry real systems overhead — watermaker, AC, electrical systems all of uncertain remaining life.
Coastal: Comfortable coastal cruiser with forgiving motion, though the heavy displacement means modest VMG in light air and the fin keel draft (around 6 ft) can restrict some shallower anchorages.
Weekending: Overkill for weekending in terms of systems complexity and maintenance overhead, though pleasant to sail given the easy motion. Better suited to buyers planning longer passages.
Racing: Not a racing platform. Heavy displacement, fin-keel-with-skeg, cutter-rigged — displacement and conservative underbody work against the class in any performance context.

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