Oyster Marine 48 Lightwave

BoatsOyster Marine 48 Lightwave

See her sail

The Oyster Marine 48 Lightwave, on the water

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

Footage from Be The Captain

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 28 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 28

CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.91

LightHeavy

167 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 167

EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 18.9

TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

Draws less than ~76% of boats her size on file
Beamier than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1961 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Oyster Marine 48 Lightwave, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Oyster Marine 48 LIGHTWAVE is a 14.6-meter masthead sloop designed by Carl Schumacher and built by Oyster Marine Ltd. from 1987 to 1991. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, a 4.4-meter beam, 1.8-meter draft, and displaces 12,247 kg.0:47 The design has a sail area to displacement ratio of 18.9 and a comfort ratio of 27.6. When evaluating used sailboats for offshore cruising, the Oyster Marine 48 LIGHTWAVE is considered alongside other proven hull designs like the Valiant 42, Mason 43, and Hinckley B40.2:40 Buyers are advised to prioritize structural integrity over interior volume and amenities, and to conduct a full audit of all systems on older vessels.3:58

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen for sale

Listed for sale at 85 grand, but has many red flags and needs serious work
from Be The Captainseen June 2025watch

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

40.7%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

18.9

Displacement / length

166.6

Comfort ratio

27.6

Capsize screening

1.91

Hull speed

8.7 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

2134

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/spade rudder

Construction

Fiberglass

Production

Years built

1987–1991

Designer

Carl Schumacher

Builder

Oyster Marine Ltd

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.

Hanse Yachts 46014.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2022 Berret-Racoupeau fractional sloop with a 4.79-meter beam and a 2.25-meter draft for stable, high-volume cruising

Hanse 460 - Norwegian0:10 from SEILmagasinet

Bavaria Yachts C4514.43 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Cossutti-designed fractional sloop featuring dual rudders and a high-volume hull optimized for modern cruising comfort

Full Tour of Our Sailing Home - Venus Ketch 198411:42 from Sailing SV Cordelia

Beneteau Oceanis 4814.61 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA spacious 14.6-meter cruiser featuring a high-volume interior by Nauta Design and a performance-oriented fractional rig

Just a sneaky transfer and haul out0:23 from 45 Degrees Sailing

Bavaria Yachts 4714.65 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 14.65-metre cruiser featuring a fin keel with bulb and spade rudder, produced throughout the 1990s

Bavaria 471:34 from SVN solovelanet

Hallberg-Rassy 4414.45 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA modern 14.45-metre cruiser featuring a performance-oriented fractional rig and dual rudders for precise control

HIDDEN Costs of a BRAND NEW Hallberg Rassy 44 from Practical Sailor

Bavaria Yachts C4614.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA modern Cossutti-designed fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance

Bavaria C46, the German cruiser designed by Cossutti0:03 from SVN solovelanet

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.

Oyster Marine 45A Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop built for blue water comfort with a heavy displacement and high stability Oyster 46A Holman & Pye designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a high ballast ratio and skeg-mounted rudder

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The fleet has more to say

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