BoatsHallberg-Rassy 48

Hallberg-Rassy 48

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/rudder On Partial Skeg · 2004–2013

A German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a stiff 42% ballast ratio and a stable, comfortable motion at-sea motion

Designed by German Frers.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/rudder On Partial Skeg

See her sail

The Hallberg-Rassy 48, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 39 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 39
CoastalBluewater

1.72 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.72
LightHeavy

222 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 222
EasygoingPowered-up

18.0 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.0
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

  • Heavier than ~92% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1839 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Hallberg-Rassy 48, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 is a 15-meter masthead sloop designed by German Frers and built by Hallberg-Rassy from 2004 to 2013. It displaces 18,500 kg, has a 4.5-meter beam, and a standard draft of 2.4 meters, with a 2-meter shallow draft option available. The hull features a fin keel with a rudder on a partial skeg.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.0
Displacement / length
221.7
Comfort ratio
38.7
Capsize screening
1.72
Hull speed
8.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2293
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/rudder on partial skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
2004–2013
Units built
69
Designer
German Frers
Builder
Hallberg-Rassy

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Contest Yachts 50CS14.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA George Nissen-designed fractional sloop with a high comfort ratio, built for stable and capable offshore cruising
boot Düsseldorf 2026. A look at the sailing yachts on display. Which is your favourite?1:27from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Orion 5015.09 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Gary Mull-designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a heavy displacement and skeg-mounted rudder
Sailing South: Dover, Storms and the Bay of Biscay0:52from Distant Shores TV
Hallberg-Rassy 4914.96 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile staysail ketch or sloop offering a high comfort ratio and a stable fin keel with skeg-hung rudder
Beware of ORCAS! Part 2: Sailing SOUTH through Orca Territory to Portugal | Ep 2760:21from Distant Shores TV
Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability
Dufour 48 - YES&NO, the cross-examination0:03from SVN solovelanet
Hallberg-Rassy 4614.78 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for stability and comfort with a high ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudder
Seldén Furling Mainsail Part 3 (4): Furling the Main Sailfrom Leon Schulz, Reginasailing
Oyster Marine 48514.78 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA robust cutter-rigged blue water cruiser developed from the 461, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for offshore security
I crashed my boat into the rocks. Here's the story.8:58from Be The Captain

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Hallberg-Rassy 48 MKIIA 15-metre masthead sloop optimized for long-range passage-making with a high comfort ratio and a 2.35-metre draftHallberg-Rassy 46A German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for stability and comfort with a high ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudderHallberg-Rassy 45A heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, engineered for offshore stability and long-range comfortHallberg-Rassy 54A German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for serious offshore passage-making with a stiff, stable hull formHallberg-Rassy 40A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a high comfort ratio and a partial skeg rudderHallberg-Rassy 53A German Frers-designed blue water cruiser balancing a heavy, stable displacement with a powerful masthead rig

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