Advertisement
Beneteau continues to build on its distinctive and popular line of Swift Trawlers with the newly introduced 47 that will be showcased in February 2019 at the Miami International Boat Show.
The line started in America with the Swift 34, a single-engine boat that Beneteau took on a fast-moving marketing tour 5,137 nautical miles around the Great Loop (in just 71 days!) in the summer of 2012.
Beneteau responded and the lineup was expanded that now includes a range of boats from 30 to 50 feet. The new 47 fills out the line and offers a three-cabin layout with room for three couples, expandable to four utilizing the convertible sofa in the saloon. There are two heads with showers and a light and airy feel below thanks to large glazed ports in the hull sides — an option of light oak finish in place of the standard teak also helps lighten below-deck spaces.
The saloon is large and welcoming with a large U-shaped galley forward on the port side with ample counter space to satisfy even the most discerning of cooks. Opposite the galley on the starboard side is the lower helm, which, thanks to a plethora of large windows and an opening door to the starboard side deck, affords excellent visibility with almost 360-degree views. Aft of the lower helm and galley is the main interior seating area that can be configured in several different ways for dining and relaxing.
Large full sliding glass doors open to the aft cockpit that is at the same level as the saloon — there are no step here, so there’s tons of room for family and friends to socialize. Teak steps on the port side of the cockpit lead to the flybridge, which offers copious space for entertaining and operating the boat in clement weather.
Standard power is from a pair of Cummins 425-hp diesels, which give the boat a top speed of 26 knots. Figures for the engine suggest a fast, comfortable cruise in the 20-knot range for a fuel burn of 1 gallon per mile. Ease up on the throttles to a displacement speed of 6 knot,s and the boat will sip fuel using only 2 gallons per hour, good for close to 1,500 miles from the 510 gallons of fuel carried in a pair of fuel tanks.
The boat debuted in the U.S. at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in fall 2018 and will be available for viewing at the Miami International Boat Show this February. Prices start at $733,000; up from there depending on options chosen.