BoatsHallberg-Rassy 48 MKII

Hallberg-Rassy 48 MKII

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/rudder On Partial Skeg · 2013–2020

A German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water stability with a high comfort ratio and a deep fin keel

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 MKII, on the water

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

Footage from Berthon International

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 MKII, 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 MKII is a 15.0 m masthead sloop designed by German Frers and built by Hallberg-Rassy from 2013 to 2020. It features a fin keel with a rudder on a partial skeg, a beam of 4.5 m, a draft of 2.4 m, and a displacement of 18,500 kg. The 2016 Hallberg-Rassy 48 MkII *Elk* is equipped with a three-spreader masthead rig, Sanders tri-radial hydronet sails, and a fully hydraulic rig for headsail and in-mast furling.0:38 Its deck includes upgraded davits and a lazarette, while the cockpit houses Raymarine instrumentation and controls for the hydraulic sail systems.3:01 Below deck, the interior is finished in satin-varnished mahogany with teak and holly soles, and the galley contains a stainless microwave, an Ocean Chef cooker, and dual refrigeration units.5:23 The owner’s aft cabin features a centerline double berth and an en suite with a separate shower stall and a 120-liter-per-hour water maker.5:43 Mechanical systems include a Volvo D3 110 engine, an Ultra 8 generator, air conditioning, and diesel hot air heating.9:52

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

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Hallberg-Rassy 48 MKII may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

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

1seen for sale

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
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
2013–2020
Units built
21
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.

Hallberg-Rassy 4814.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a stiff 42% ballast ratio and a stable, comfortable motion at-sea motion
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
Orion 5015.09 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Gary Mull-designed staysail ketch built for offshore stability with a high comfort ratio and skeg-mounted rudder
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
Bestevaer 49ST14.97 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15-metre aluminium cruiser with a fixed fin keel and bulb, designed for stability and offshore performance
Bestewind 5014.97 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Dykstra-designed fractional sloop built for offshore comfort with a high displacement-to-length ratio

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Hallberg-Rassy 48 MKII, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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