On 28 Oct 2004 08:07:26 -0700, George wrote:

This month's Blue Water Sailing has a favorable article concerning the
Caliber 47 LRC. I have not heard much of the Caliber, and I would
like to hear opinions as to how it compares to other boats,
specifically the Island Packet.
Thanks

The caliber 47 is one of the finest boats you can acquire for shorthanded
long distance passage makeing. She has a forgiving keel and rudder that
will give good performance, while taking the occasional grounding well.
She has a versatile rig and is known for her substantial tankage and
storage.

We particularly like the center cockpit. Separating the living spaces
makes a more livable layout. The aft cabin is a haven and retreat. Your
guests or kids are separated from you. We have an Allied Mistress 39'
Center Cockpit ketch and find the Caliber better offers the advantages of
the Mistress's aft cabin at the boat shows. We've been making bluewater
passages and have learned the hard way, that with shorthanded crews,
fatigue is a true danger. The off watch must get their rest. On the
Caliber, as on the Mistress, the off watch is snug in the low motion,
comfortable aft cabin, only sleeping in the saloon when conditions are
extreme. The on watch has the cockpit, saloon and galley all to
themselves. They can cook, navigate, trim and stand watch without being on
top of the off watch. We can't see sleeping forward except in calm harbor.

Island Packet has a great rig, a conservative keel, and will offer a more
spacious, very attractive saloon. This large space is better in shore than
off. On the aft cockpits, the aft cabin is much less of a home than the
Calber's center cockpit's. On the new center cockpit Island Packets they
have bizarrely placed the aft bunk at an angle, rendering it only useful in
harbor. Its not wide enough to lay fore and aft. When the boat heels
you'd have your head or feet to leeward rather than laying along the angle
of the boat's heel. That puts the off watch on the saloon settees for
passage making where they'll have the on watch constantly pestering them.

One issue on which the Island Packet is tops is their deck coring. The
IP's nonorganic core is not subject to rot and is much less likely to
delaminate than balsa and plywood cores. We don't know how Caliber cores
its decks.

We would choose the Caliber over the Island Packet for cruising unless the
Island Packet could be acquired for substantially less. If entertaining is
very important to you the Island Packet might be your choice. Ten year old
Island Packets might be better price values than comparable Calibers. On
new boats this is probably no longer true.