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Cheoy Lee 48
Designer: Robert H. Perry  ·  Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(Hk)  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Cheoy Lee 48

Designed by renowned naval architect Robert H. Perry, this classic cutter represents the golden era of offshore cruising yachts from the early 1980s. Built by Hong Kong's respected Cheoy Lee Shipyard, only 40 hulls were produced between 1980 and the mid-1980s, making this a relatively rare find in today's market. Perry's design philosophy shines through in the boat's substantial 32,300-pound displacement and generous ballast-to-displacement ratio, creating exceptional stability and seaworthiness for serious offshore passages. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides excellent directional stability while maintaining good performance characteristics. At 47.83 feet overall with a 38.96-foot waterline, she offers impressive interior volume while achieving a respectable hull speed of 8.36 knots. The cutter rig with 984 square feet of sail area delivers versatility for various wind conditions, particularly valuable during extended offshore voyages. Her comfort ratio of 36.56 reflects Perry's emphasis on motion comfort in seaways, while the capsize screening formula of 1.73 indicates excellent stability for ocean crossings. This yacht appeals primarily to serious cruising sailors seeking a proven offshore platform with classic lines and robust construction. The fiberglass hull construction ensures durability, while Perry's time-tested design continues to earn respect among blue-water cruising enthusiasts.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.83 ft / 14.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 38.96 ft / 11.88 m
Beam 13.75 ft / 4.19 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 32,300.00 lb / 14,651 kg
Ballast 13,000.00 lb / 5,897 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 984.00 ft² / 91.42 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Robert H. Perry
Builder Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.(HK)
First Built 1980
Number Built 40
Associations Cheoy Lee Association Web Site
Related Sailboats ["Golden Wave 48" · "Swan 47 Ss" · "Landfall 48 Cc" · "Bowman 48" · "Peterson 46"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 174
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.59
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40.25
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 243.84
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 36.56
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.73
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 8.36 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.04
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,914.12 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.1
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 55.90 ft / 17.04 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.80 ft / 14.87 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.30 ft / 5.27 m
SA Fore 531.05 ft² / 49.34 m²
SA Main 422.12 ft² / 39.22 m²
SA Total (100%) 953.17 ft² / 88.55 m²
Est. Forestay Length 59.04 ft / 18.00 m
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 90 gals / 341 L
Water Capacity 200 gals / 757 L
How It Compares

vs. Bowman 48, Landfall 48 Cc, Swan 47 Ss

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
47.8 ft
Bowman 48
48.2 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
47.5 ft
Swan 47 Ss
47.8 ft
LWL
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
39.0 ft
Bowman 48
38.3 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
37.3 ft
Swan 47 Ss
36.2 ft
Beam
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
13.8 ft
Bowman 48
14.2 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
14.0 ft
Swan 47 Ss
13.8 ft
Displacement
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
32 lbs
Bowman 48
34 lbs
Landfall 48 Cc
31 lbs
Swan 47 Ss
32 lbs
Ballast
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
13 lbs
Bowman 48
10 lbs
Landfall 48 Cc
12 lbs
Swan 47 Ss
15 lbs
Sail Area
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
984 sq ft
Bowman 48
1 sq ft
Landfall 48 Cc
958 sq ft
Swan 47 Ss
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
174 s/nm
Bowman 48
114 s/nm
Landfall 48 Cc
—
Swan 47 Ss
75 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
15.6
Bowman 48
16.2
Landfall 48 Cc
15.4
Swan 47 Ss
16.7
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
36.6
Bowman 48
37.7
Landfall 48 Cc
36.0
Swan 47 Ss
38.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
1.73
Bowman 48
1.75
Landfall 48 Cc
1.77
Swan 47 Ss
1.73
Hull Speed
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
8.4 kts
Bowman 48
8.3 kts
Landfall 48 Cc
8.2 kts
Swan 47 Ss
8.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cheoy Lee 48 ★
2.0
Bowman 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
1.8
Swan 47 Ss
1.7
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