1986 Buddy Davis 47

[bloodandguts]

Anyone ever own or fish in a 47 Davis? "Tribute" once posted that he owned hull #4/#13. I'd like to know more about that. Wondering what the experience in the boat was: performance, fishability, cockpit room, etc. How do you feel about the 8v92's (735 hp)?

[scattered_grass]

but to me, that is one of the sexiest looking bridge boats on the water, period. I've got a friend who has one getting a refit done right now. It burned a ton of fuel and was slow. I'm pretty sure it had Detroits in her. Amazingly pretty boat, to me.

I know there are some older threads on this topic, plus a few guys that know this boat inside and out on here. I'm sure they'll chime in.

[JPH]

Pros:
Good ride for size in a direct head sea 10 degrees or less off the bow
Nice lines

Cons:
Heavy
fuel hog; 3.1 gallons per mile with 8v-92s
small engine room with 8v-92s, difficult to work-on stuff
horrible beam or following sea ride
tiny cockpit

My advice is to pass on that model and keep looking...

As a comparison, a modern 58-60' carolina boat built by Spencer, Holton, Briggs, Howell, Blackwell, etc. with C-18 Cats will cruise at 28-30 knots burning less than 2.2 gallons per mile.

[captian]

A friend of mine owns a 1991 47 Davis, fished out of south Jersey (Southern Lady). I have had the chance to fish the boat inshore and off shore. The prior post would be dead on. Small engine room, fuel hog ECT..... But the things that make up for all the cons are its ride, looks, and ability to raise fish. I have had the chance to fish the jersey canyons in many boats Viking, luhrs, wellcraft, and hatteras. The one thing they all had in common was a wet, pounding ride at speed. Not the Davis, we came home from the Lindy in 7-8 foot sees about 30 degrees off the bow, that boat was bad ***. Bridge enclosure never got more than a light spray, but that bow threw water in every direction but up. A boat that can run off shore in 8 foot sees at speed and never pound has to be taken seriously no matter how much fuel she burns. For safety and stability at 22-23knots in 8 foot seas I wouldn't mind spending the extra for fuel. Nine times out of ten your going to run into a weather change off shore, I would rather be in that Davis than just about any other boat, short of a custom built boat. As far as raising fish. We buddied up with a 48 ocean supper sport out of the same marina fished the same line and over nighted within a 1/4 mile of each other. Dock side the count was 22 nice yellow fins Davis to 1 yellow fin ocean. Most fish were caught while trolling. A 47 Davis with the right captain is able to out fish, out run, and look better doing it than any other 47 foot production line boat on the market. These are just my thoughts on the boat.