The Southerly 470 2017 vs Southerly 600 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Southerly 600 2019 measures 58,4 feet overall (2019), giving it roughly 11,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Southerly 470 2017 at 47,4 feet (2017). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Southerly 600 2019 tips the scales at 58 753 lbs — 20 710 lbs less than the Southerly 470 2017 at 38 043 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 160 hp, the Southerly 600 2019 has a 80-hp advantage over the Southerly 470 2017's 80-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Southerly 600 2019 carries 368 gallons versus 174 gallons in the Southerly 470 2017. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Southerly 600 2019 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Southerly 470 2017 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Southerly 600 2019 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Southerly 600 2019 displaces 58 753 lbs — a 20 710-lb difference over the Southerly 470 2017 at 38 043 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.

Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Southerly 600 2019 draws 11,4 ft, compared to 10,2 ft for the Southerly 470 2017. That 1,2-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.

The Southerly 470 2017 is rigged as a fractional_rig_sloop while the Southerly 600 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. For auxiliary power the Southerly 600 2019 carries a 160-hp engine against 80 hp on the Southerly 470 2017. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.

Hull speed is rated at 10,1 knots for the Southerly 600 2019 and 8,8 knots for the Southerly 470 2017. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Southerly 600 2019 carries 275 gallons versus 129 gallons on the Southerly 470 2017 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.