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Hinckley 48
Designer: William H. Tripp  ·  Builder: Henry R. Hinckley & Co.  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Hinckley 48

Built by Maine's prestigious Hinckley Company, this 48-foot sailboat represents the yard's commitment to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern sailing performance. Hinckley's reputation for building some of America's finest yachts extends back decades, with their boats known for exceptional build quality, elegant lines, and thoughtful design details that set them apart in the luxury sailing market. The Hinckley 48 embodies the yard's philosophy of creating boats that excel in both coastal and offshore sailing environments. These yachts typically feature the kind of robust construction and seaworthy characteristics that inspire confidence in challenging conditions, while maintaining the comfort and refinement expected from a premium builder. Hinckley boats are renowned for their attention to joinery work, hardware selection, and overall finish quality that often surpasses mass-production competitors. For sailors considering a Hinckley 48, expect a yacht designed for serious cruising with the capability to handle extended passages. The boat appeals to discerning owners who value craftsmanship, performance, and the prestige associated with the Hinckley name. While these yachts command premium pricing, they typically retain their value well and offer a sailing experience that reflects decades of refined boatbuilding expertise.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 48.25 ft / 14.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.17 ft / 10.42 m
Beam 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Max Draft 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Min Draft 5.17 ft / 1.58 m
Displacement 36,000.00 lb / 16,329 kg
Ballast 10,600.00 lb / 4,808 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,017.00 ft² / 94.48 m²
Headroom 6.75 ft / 2.06 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William H. Tripp
Builder Henry R. Hinckley & Co.
First Built 1965
Last Built 1975
Related Sailboats Tartan 48 · Cc 48 Custom · Oceanic 48 Tripp · Pj 48 · Soverel 48
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
14.99
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
47.6
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
1.58
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. 7.83
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
1.01
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 56.4
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.2
P (Mainsail Luff) 50.1
E (Mainsail Foot) 20.1
SA Fore 513.24
SA Main 503.51
How It Compares

vs. Cc 48 Custom, Oceanic 48 Tripp, Pj 48, Soverel 48, Tartan 48

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hinckley 48 ★
48.3 ft
Cc 48 Custom
48.2 ft
Oceanic 48 Tripp
48.2 ft
Pj 48
48.1 ft
Soverel 48
48.0 ft
Tartan 48
48.0 ft
LWL
Hinckley 48 ★
34.2 ft
Cc 48 Custom
39.0 ft
Oceanic 48 Tripp
32.0 ft
Pj 48
39.0 ft
Soverel 48
40.0 ft
Tartan 48
36.0 ft
Beam
Hinckley 48 ★
13.0 ft
Cc 48 Custom
13.7 ft
Oceanic 48 Tripp
12.0 ft
Pj 48
13.6 ft
Soverel 48
13.3 ft
Tartan 48
14.0 ft
Displacement
Hinckley 48 ★
36 lbs
Cc 48 Custom
28 lbs
Oceanic 48 Tripp
27 lbs
Pj 48
34 lbs
Soverel 48
27 lbs
Tartan 48
28 lbs
Ballast
Hinckley 48 ★
10 lbs
Cc 48 Custom
12 lbs
Oceanic 48 Tripp
10 lbs
Pj 48
14 lbs
Soverel 48
14 lbs
Tartan 48
Sail Area
Hinckley 48 ★
1 sq ft
Cc 48 Custom
1 sq ft
Oceanic 48 Tripp
1 sq ft
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Hinckley 48 ★
108 s/nm
Cc 48 Custom
Oceanic 48 Tripp
Pj 48
Soverel 48
111 s/nm
Tartan 48
80 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Hinckley 48 ★
15.0
Cc 48 Custom
19.2
Oceanic 48 Tripp
17.9
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Hinckley 48 ★
Cc 48 Custom
45.4 %
Oceanic 48 Tripp
Pj 48
41.2 %
Soverel 48
50.4 %
Tartan 48
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hinckley 48 ★
47.6
Cc 48 Custom
32.0
Oceanic 48 Tripp
41.4
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Hinckley 48 ★
1.58
Cc 48 Custom
1.80
Oceanic 48 Tripp
1.60
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Hinckley 48 ★
Cc 48 Custom
211
Oceanic 48 Tripp
Pj 48
255
Soverel 48
193
Tartan 48
272
Hull Speed
Hinckley 48 ★
7.8 kts
Cc 48 Custom
8.4 kts
Oceanic 48 Tripp
7.6 kts
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Hinckley 48 ★
1.0
Cc 48 Custom
2.8
Oceanic 48 Tripp
Pj 48
Soverel 48
Tartan 48
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