Tested by Brandon DeNatale

Formula’s 47 is the flagship of the fleet and the first ever Formula Yacht. She’s an elegantly designed cruiser that’s perfect for long-range trips with several friends or can serve as a platform for entertaining guests.

Cockpit

Starting aft, the transom is clean with all shore power cords and attachments located to port. The large lazarette opens with pneumatic lifts and provides great storage. The most striking feature back here is the full-width hydraulic swim platform. You can store a jet ski or small tender back here and with the push of a button lower the entire platform into the water for easy exit and boarding.

The large aft cockpit on the 47 Yacht is ideal for cocktail parties and also extends your living space while cruising. There is a large U-shaped bench seat to port, which can accommodate two tables for entertaining and handy pullout bunk seats allow for easy passage to the side decks when needed. Over to starboard there is more seating and behind both areas are two large storage compartments.

The large cockpit continues up by the helm. Over to port there is bench seating for four people. Across from the bench seat is the wet bar, which has plenty of counter space and includes a refrigerator/icemaker, sink, storage compartments, and removable cooler.

Behind the Wheel

Up at the helm the view through the large windshield is excellent and the separate climate control allows you to use the heat as a defroster on those chilly mornings. There is plenty of room for all of your electronics and some of the features found here are the air vents, bow thruster, trim indicators Volvo throttle controls and smart key. All of the breaker switches are located under the helm in this cabinet for keeping things organized. There is seating for two here and each features its own bolster.

Up on the Bow

Getting up to the bow is easy with these built-in steps at the helm. The side decks are narrow, so I wouldn’t recommend using them while underway. Up in the bow is a large anchor locker, windlass and washdown to keep the foredeck clean. And rounding out this area of the boat are two large sun pads.

Engine Access

Main access to the engine is through the rear swim platform hatch which opens up to reveal excellent access to the twin Volvo engines below.

Cabin

Moving down into the cabin, over to starboard is the U-shaped galley with Corian countertops and beautiful American cherry cabinets. On the counter you will find storage bins and a three-burner cooktop. Below is a large two door refrigerator/freezer, a microwave and plenty of extra storage.

Attached to the end of the counter is a built-in glass rack and wine storage and above is a 22” wide screen LCD TV, which tilts for optimal viewing over at the port lounge.

The port lounge is curved and there is a cocktail table that electrically raises and lowers with a push of a button. There are also two leaves that fit over the table to accommodate larger parties. You can also lower the table to convert the lounge into a berth. And in the corner the entertainment center houses the stereo, DVD player and room for all of your favorite movies.

Staterooms

The guest stateroom is located astern and doubles as a den. The seating consists of an L-shaped lounger, which converts into two twin berths or one queen by pulling down this bunk and electrically extending the lounger. Also located here is the ships washer/dryer unit for those long cruises. And to keep the attached head uncluttered the vanity with Corian countertop and sink is located in this room too.

All the way forward is the owner’s stateroom and private head. The large centerline bed features an electrical tilt, which allows you to watch TV and read more comfortably while in bed. The vanity located at the end of the bed features large mirror, drawers and a swing out seat, and just above is the LCD TV. The private head features Corian countertops with molded sink, mirrored medicine cabinets, and large circular shower with acrylic sliding door.

Specs and Performance

Measuring in at 50 feet with the bow platform and fourteen feet in the beam, the 47 Yacht is a large vessel that handles and maneuvers like a much smaller boat. I never felt overwhelmed by the size of the boat. This is due in part to the good visibility all around the boat from the helm seat. Anyone with a little practice and patience will be docking this boat like a champ. We did use the bow thruster, not out of necessity but I just can’t stand there and let gadgets go unused. I also found the boat was able to spin on its own length while in a crowded mooring area making parallel parking a cinch.

Out on the test track, equipped with twin 480-hp Volvo TAMD75P EDC inboards we achieved a top speed of 30.8 mph at full throttle, and when cruising at 21.1 mph our range was just over 200 miles with a 350-gallon fuel capacity. The boat handled very well through the turns with very light adjustments to the wheel, and acceleration was satisfactory with a time to plane of 14.3 seconds.

All and all I was impressed with this boat in the way of its comfort and handling. She’s a luxurious yacht that’s meant for weekends or even weeks away with family and friends, and thanks to her large cockpit and roomy interior you won’t have a problem fitting everyone aboard.

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions