PassageBoats
offshore

Norseman 447

Ta Shing · 1980–1986 · Cutter rig

Compare this boat →
Norseman 447 profile drawing
LOA44.58'
Beam13'
Draft6.33'
Displ.14.0t
Rigcutter
HullFiberglass

Bluewater Evidence · Ocean Proven

95% confidence
Doc.CapableProven

A named boat of this design has finished an ocean race in the official results: Westcoast Eagle (Pacific Cup 1990). John Neal's Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising lists the Norseman 447, rated 2 of 5: 'Have held their value well but require a lot of maintenance. Rusty fuel tanks present an expensive repair issue.' He also calls them attractive with good sailing characteristics. Its capsize screen value is 1.72.

Overview

The Norseman 447 is a Robert Perry cutter built by Ta Shing in Taiwan for Norseman Yachts from 1980 to 1986, with 55 completed.

Design and Construction

sailboatdata.com lists a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder, 44.58 ft overall on a 37.5 ft waterline, 13 ft of beam and 6.33 ft of draft. Displacement is 28,000 lb with 12,000 lb of ballast, and the cutter carries about 937 sq ft.

Ocean Racing Record

Westcoast Eagle (Mark Miller) finished the Pacific Cup (1990).

Buyers Notes

John Neal rates it 2 of 5: attractive and good sailing, but maintenance-heavy, with rusty fuel tanks an expensive problem (see Known Issues). Teak decks on older boats are also worth a close look.

Passage records

Westcoast Eagle· Mark Miller1990

Pacific Cup (1990)

Finished 1 time in the official results.

Source: Pacific Cup official results archive, 1980-2012

Mavourneen2002

Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (2000, 2002)

Finished 2 times in the official results.

Source: Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race 2002 results

Kia Ora2019

ARC (2019)

Finished.

Source: World Cruising Club: ARC 2019 results

Segue2000

Caribbean 1500 (2000)

Finished.

Source: Caribbean 1500 2000 results

Oblivion2014

Caribbean 1500 (2014)

Finished.

Source: Caribbean 1500 2014 results

Conviction· George & Nina Deane1999

Baja Ha-Ha (1999)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 1999 results

Lady B· Helmut & Mary Draxl2001

Baja Ha-Ha (2001)

Finished.

Source: Baja Ha-Ha 2001 results

Known Issues

Fuel tanksseriousPassageBoats editorial

Neal reports rusty fuel tanks on Norseman yachts as an expensive repair.

Inspection: Inspect the fuel tanks and their access, look for rust and weeping, and price replacement if they are original.

Source: John Neal - Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising

Documented repairs and system-specific fixes reported for the Norseman 447, drawn from known-issue write-ups and video transcripts.

Repairs Documented on Video

⚙ standing rigging

The presenter says the standing rigging is all new as of last year, "like a $6,000 upgrade all in", and that the owner also refinished the spreaders and added new spreader lights.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 8:13

What sailing channels say about the Norseman 447, quoted from video transcripts with a link to the exact moment. Opinions belong to the speakers; the written review above stays independent of them.

discusses

The presenter says the cockpit looks small at first glance for a reason: it is an offshore cruiser, so if she ships water there is little volume to fill, and two huge scuppers under the teak grate drain it. The sheets lead aft to the cockpit and the dodger gives good vision from the helm.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 4:10
discusses

The presenter rates the teak decks "probably a four or five out of 10". He says there are no leaks, the owner's survey found no moisture in the decks, and people either love teak or hate it and realize they have to deal with it.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 5:03
repairs⚙ standing rigging

The presenter says the standing rigging is all new as of last year, "like a $6,000 upgrade all in", and that the owner also refinished the spreaders and added new spreader lights.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 8:13
discusses

The presenter says the boat holds over 80 gallons of diesel, so the owner does not need to fill up all season, and 140 gallons of water.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 15:24
discusses

The presenter shows a Ford diesel with a V-drive transmission and good access around it, steering cables visible, and says it apparently runs like a top and has never had an issue. A generator beside it has only 450 hours.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 18:07
discusses

The presenters say she has a fin keel with the rudder on a skeg, which protects the rudder, and encapsulated lead ballast, so there are no keel bolts to worry about. She draws just over six feet.

BoatFools Sailing

We Tour a Norseman 447: Is This the Perfect Offshore Sailboat? | A $139,500 Bob Perry Classic [SOLD]

▶ watch at 24:16
  1. [1]SpecificationsNORSEMAN 447 - SailboatData.com- Dimensions, displacement, ballast, sail area, keel, rig, designer and builder.
  2. [2]EditorialJohn Neal - Boats to Consider for Ocean Cruising (Mahina)- Lists the Norseman 447, rated 2 of 5.
See something wrong? Suggest a correction

Corrections need evidence: a link or citation we can check. Sourced suggestions get reviewed and credited in the entry's change notes if applied.

Owner knowledge counts: name the boat and year so we can attribute it.

Similar Boats

Lafitte 44 sailboat

Lafitte 44

1978–1987 · 44.33'

Van de Stadt 44 sailboat

Van de Stadt 44

1983 · 44.33'

Hylas 44 sailboat

Hylas 44

1984–1992 · 44.17'

Pacific Seacraft 44 sailboat

Pacific Seacraft 44

1990 · 44.08'

CSY 44 sailboat

CSY 44

1977–1980 · 44'

Bowman 45 sailboat

Bowman 45

1985 · 45.21'