Bristol 48 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Bristol 48 represents the pinnacle of the collaboration between the legendary designer Ted Hood and Bristol Yachts of Rhode Island. Launched in the mid-1980s as a successor to the highly regarded Bristol 47.7, the 48 was conceived as a high-performance, blue-water cruiser capable of offshore passages while maintaining a manageable draft. Built with a robust fiberglass laminate and often featuring the signature Ted Hood centerboard configuration, the vessel bridges the gap between a shallow-water gunkholer and a deep-sea voyager. Its "Delta" hull form—a hallmark of Hood’s design philosophy—provides significant internal volume and stability without the drag associated with overly wide beams. While production numbers were limited compared to smaller models, the Bristol 48 remains a sought-after hull for traditionalists who value the "overbuilt" American construction standards of the era.