BoatsSeafarer Yachts 48

Seafarer Yachts 48

Masthead Yawl · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1969

A rare Sparkman & Stephens masthead yawl, this 1969 design was the original iteration of the Hughes 48

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, built by Hughes Boat Works Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 46 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 46
CoastalBluewater

At 1.53 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.53
LightHeavy

373 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 373
EasygoingPowered-up

15.5 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.5
TenderStiff

52% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 52%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Heavier than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~81% of boats her size on file

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

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
52.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Yawl
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.5
Displacement / length
372.7
Comfort ratio
46.0
Capsize screening
1.53
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1395
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1969
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Hughes Boat Works Ltd, Seafarer Fiberglass Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Nicholson 4814.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement masthead ketch designed by Raymond Wall for comfortable, stable offshore passage making
Swan 47 S&S14.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens design #2201 featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability
Swan 48 - S&S14.60 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile Sparkman & Stephens design available in sloop or ketch configurations with an optional tall rig
Oyster Marine 48514.78 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA robust cutter-rigged blue water cruiser developed from the 461, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for offshore security
Hallberg-Rassy 4614.78 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for stability and comfort with a high ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudder
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

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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