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Cherubini 48

Designer: John E. Cherubini  ·  Builder: Cherubini Boat Co.  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Cherubini 48

Designed by John Cherubini in the 1980s, this substantial cruising yacht represents the builder's commitment to creating serious offshore passage-makers. The Cherubini 48 emerged during an era when American yacht designers were focusing on robust construction and seaworthy hull forms for long-distance cruising. Built with a traditional full keel configuration and heavy displacement design philosophy, this yacht prioritizes stability and comfort over speed. The hull features a moderate beam and graceful sheerline that reflects classic cruising yacht proportions. Her substantial construction includes a solid fiberglass layup designed to withstand the rigors of extended ocean passages. Below decks, the accommodations emphasize practical cruising layouts with generous storage and comfortable living spaces for extended time aboard. The interior typically features traditional yacht joinery and sensible arrangements that work well at sea. While not particularly fast by modern standards, the Cherubini 48 excels in heavy weather conditions where her conservative design approach becomes an asset. This yacht appeals to serious cruisers who value seaworthiness and traditional sailing characteristics over racing performance. Her reputation centers on being a capable blue-water cruiser suited for couples or small crews planning extended voyages.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$550,000 – $550,000
typical asking price
Median $550,000  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$550,000 – $550,000 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 48.75 ft / 14.86 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 44.00 ft / 13.41 m
Beam 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Max Draft 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Displacement 40,000.00 lb / 18,144 kg
Ballast 16,900.00 lb / 7,666 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,218.00 ft² / 113.16 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Sheel Keel
Rigging Type 2 Mst. Schooner
Construction FG
Designer John E. Cherubini
Builder Cherubini Boat Co.
First Built 1983
Owner Reviews

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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
108
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
16.73
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
44.7
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
1.52
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. 8.89
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. 2.0
How It Compares

vs. Hallberg Rassy 49, Hinckley 49, Oyster 485, Seguin 48, Taswell 49

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cherubini 48 ★
48.8 ft
Hallberg Rassy 49
49.1 ft
Hinckley 49
49.0 ft
Oyster 485
48.5 ft
Seguin 48
48.7 ft
Taswell 49
48.8 ft
LWL
Cherubini 48 ★
44.0 ft
Hallberg Rassy 49
41.0 ft
Hinckley 49
40.4 ft
Oyster 485
37.5 ft
Seguin 48
37.5 ft
Taswell 49
41.9 ft
Beam
Cherubini 48 ★
13.0 ft
Hallberg Rassy 49
14.5 ft
Hinckley 49
13.4 ft
Oyster 485
14.0 ft
Seguin 48
13.8 ft
Taswell 49
15.0 ft
Displacement
Cherubini 48 ★
40 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 49
39 lbs
Hinckley 49
38 lbs
Oyster 485
37 lbs
Seguin 48
26 lbs
Taswell 49
32 lbs
Ballast
Cherubini 48 ★
16 lbs
Hallberg Rassy 49
17 lbs
Hinckley 49
8 lbs
Oyster 485
13 lbs
Seguin 48
10 lbs
Taswell 49
13 lbs
Sail Area
Cherubini 48 ★
1 sq ft
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
922 sq ft
Oyster 485
960 sq ft
Seguin 48
1 sq ft
Taswell 49
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cherubini 48 ★
108 s/nm
Hallberg Rassy 49
120 s/nm
Hinckley 49
150 s/nm
Oyster 485
Seguin 48
Taswell 49
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cherubini 48 ★
16.7
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
13.1
Oyster 485
13.8
Seguin 48
21.3
Taswell 49
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cherubini 48 ★
Hallberg Rassy 49
45.1 %
Hinckley 49
21.1 %
Oyster 485
Seguin 48
39.9 %
Taswell 49
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cherubini 48 ★
44.7
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
43.0
Oyster 485
42.3
Seguin 48
30.3
Taswell 49
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cherubini 48 ★
1.52
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
1.60
Oyster 485
1.68
Seguin 48
1.85
Taswell 49
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cherubini 48 ★
Hallberg Rassy 49
257
Hinckley 49
256
Oyster 485
Seguin 48
222
Taswell 49
196
Hull Speed
Cherubini 48 ★
8.9 kts
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
8.5 kts
Oyster 485
8.2 kts
Seguin 48
8.2 kts
Taswell 49
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cherubini 48 ★
Hallberg Rassy 49
Hinckley 49
1.5
Oyster 485
1.4
Seguin 48
2.9
Taswell 49
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