BoatsHans Christian 48

Hans Christian 48

Cutter · Long Keel · First built 1985

A 14.5-metre cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, later produced as the Traditional 48 in Thailand

Designed by Scott Sprague, built by Anderson Yachts Ltd. (Taiwan).

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Hans Christian 48, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Northern Brees

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

Capsize screening 1.62
LightHeavy

280 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 280
EasygoingPowered-up

14.5 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.5
TenderStiff

33% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 33%

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

  • Heavier than ~94% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~91% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~92% of boats her size on file

Compared with 227 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Hans Christian 48, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Hans CHRISTIAN 48 is a Scott Sprague-designed cutter-rigged sailboat with a long keel, built from 1985 to the present by Anderson Yachts Ltd. in Taiwan and Hans Christian Yachts. It measures 14.6 meters LOA, with a 4.3-meter beam, 2.0-meter draft, and 19958 kg displacement.3:18 A similar yacht, the TRADITIONAL 48, was later offered by Pantawee Marine Co., Ltd. in Thailand, also available as a staysail ketch. The Hans Christian 48 is a heavy-displacement vessel, similar to the Hans Christian 41T, which is known for its robust construction and sea-kindly motion, suitable for long-distance ocean passages.1:34

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

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
33.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.5
Displacement / length
279.9
Comfort ratio
45.7
Capsize screening
1.62
Hull speed
8.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2100
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1985
Units built
30
Designer
Scott Sprague
Builder
Anderson Yachts Ltd. (TAIWAN), Hans Christian Yachts

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.

Hans Christian 4312.99 mSame hull family1.6 m shorterA 12.99-metre staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built from 1974 to 1992 for steady offshore work
Island Packet 43914.33 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA modern 2021-launched cutter with a heavy-displacement hull and a 1.52-meter draft for stable, deep-water cruising
Island Packet 44013.94 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA 44-foot blue-water cruiser featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a 1.52-metre draft for versatile coastal exploration
Paul E. Luke S&s 5015.24 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA Sparkman & Stephens masthead ketch with a long keel, built by Paul E. Luke for heavy-weather stability and comfort
Vagabond 4714.20 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA William Garden-designed staysail ketch with a long keel, built for heavy-displacement offshore comfort since 1972
TA Chaio Shipbuilding Co. (Taiwan) Ct-5416.46 mSame hull family1.9 m longerA Robert Perry-designed staysail ketch with a heavy-displacement long keel, originally intended as a Hans Christian 54

The family

Boats like this

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

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The fleet has more to say

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