The Southerly 470 2017 vs Southerly 480 2019 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Southerly 470 2017 at 47,4 ft versus Southerly 480 2019 at 48,8 ft. At 38 043 lbs and 38 043 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 80 hp for the Southerly 470 2017 and 80 hp for the Southerly 480 2019. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 174 gal and 175 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 14 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 38 043 lbs for the Southerly 470 2017 and 38 043 lbs for the Southerly 480 2019. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.

Both boats draw a similar depth — 10,2 ft and 10,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Southerly 470 2017 is rigged as a fractional_rig_sloop while the Southerly 480 2019 carries Sloop rigging — a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably.

Hull speed is rated at 8,8 knots for the Southerly 480 2019 and 8,8 knots for the Southerly 470 2017. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Southerly 470 2017 carries 129 gallons versus 107 gallons on the Southerly 480 2019 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.