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Golden Wave 48
Designer: Britton Chance  ·  Builder: Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.  ·  First built: 1981
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About the Golden Wave 48

With limited specifications available in public records, the Golden Wave 48 represents one of the more elusive entries in the 48-foot sailing yacht category. This relative obscurity often indicates either a limited production run or a boat that flew under the radar of mainstream boating publications during its era. Based on its length designation, this yacht would naturally fall into the serious cruising category, offering the size and displacement typically associated with comfortable long-distance sailing. Boats in this size range generally provide the interior volume necessary for extended passages while maintaining manageable handling characteristics for small crews. The Golden Wave name suggests a design philosophy oriented toward ocean sailing rather than coastal day sailing or racing, though without detailed specifications, the exact design intent remains somewhat mysterious. For prospective buyers researching this model, the limited available data means that individual boat surveys and owner testimonials become particularly valuable resources. Given the sparse documentation, potential purchasers should approach any Golden Wave 48 with thorough professional inspection, paying special attention to the boat's construction details, rigging configuration, and overall condition to better understand its capabilities and suitability for their intended sailing applications.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.83 ft / 14.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 40.58 ft / 12.37 m
Beam 15.92 ft / 4.85 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 32,800.00 lb / 14,878 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,244.00 ft² / 115.57 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Britton Chance
Builder Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd.
First Built 1981
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
66
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
19.51
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
29.74
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
1.99
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. 8.54
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
2.75
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
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 66.7
J (Foretriangle Base) 20.9
P (Mainsail Luff) 61.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.7
SA Fore 697.02
SA Main 546.93
How It Compares

vs. Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee, J/145, X 482

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Golden Wave 48 ★
47.8 ft
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
47.9 ft
J/145
47.9 ft
X 482
48.0 ft
LWL
Golden Wave 48 ★
40.6 ft
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
34.0 ft
J/145
41.0 ft
X 482
41.0 ft
Beam
Golden Wave 48 ★
15.9 ft
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
13.0 ft
J/145
14.2 ft
X 482
14.1 ft
Displacement
Golden Wave 48 ★
32 lbs
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
31 lbs
J/145
26 lbs
X 482
26 lbs
Ballast
Golden Wave 48 ★
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
13 lbs
J/145
11 lbs
X 482
11 lbs
Sail Area
Golden Wave 48 ★
1 sq ft
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
1 sq ft
J/145
1,020 sq ft
X 482
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Golden Wave 48 ★
66 s/nm
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
J/145
X 482
15 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Golden Wave 48 ★
19.5
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
19.2
J/145
16.5
X 482
20.8
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Golden Wave 48 ★
29.7
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
41.2
J/145
35.9
X 482
28.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Golden Wave 48 ★
1.99
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
1.66
J/145
1.54
X 482
1.89
Hull Speed
Golden Wave 48 ★
8.5 kts
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
7.8 kts
J/145
11.0 kts
X 482
8.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Golden Wave 48 ★
2.8
Clipper 48 Ketch Cheoy Lee
J/145
X 482
3.6
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