Design and Construction
Luders shaped the Clipper 48 inside the same series that gave Cheoy Lee the 33, 36, and 42 footers, almost all of them ketch-rigged, and the 48 reads as the mature expression of that cruising philosophy. The hull is solid fiberglass with a long keel and an attached rudder, and the deck is solid fiberglass as well. Her 13 foot beam and 6 foot draft give a stable, voluminous platform; the displacement-to-length ratio of 352 and comfort ratio of 41.22 confirm a boat built to carry load and absorb motion rather than to sprint. The capsize screening figure of 1.66 marks her as a conservative offshore hull with modest but adequate sail power for her weight.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a masthead ketch with a total sail area of 1,182 square feet ketch rig total area, split between a 580 square foot fore triangle, a 396 square foot main, and a 206 square foot mizzen. A schooner alternative was offered, raising total area to 1,390 square feet through a 441 square foot fore triangle, a 423 square foot main, and a 525 square foot staysail. The ketch configuration breaks the total area into three manageable pieces, and the long keel with attached rudder gives predictable tracking at the cost of pivot agility. Her theoretical hull speed is 7.81 knots, consistent with the low sail-area-to-displacement number and the heavy displacement.
Accommodations
Cheoy Lee offered the 48 in three interior layouts three available layouts. Plan A slept nine people, a high count that speaks to the volume the 13 foot beam and 34 foot waterline provide. Plans B and C substituted a circular settee, a distinctive arrangement choice that trades some berth count for a social salon space. The 200 gallon water tank and 100 gallon fuel tank underpin the boat's long-range cruising intent, giving generous self-sufficiency for a hull of this size.
The Verdict
The Clipper 48 Ketch is a rare, purpose-built Luders cruiser whose 20-unit production makes her an uncommon find. She is a straightforward, heavily ballasted long-keel ketch with real offshore credentials in her numbers and a flexible interior program. The schooner option and three layouts show a builder willing to tailor the boat, while the solid fiberglass hull and attached rudder keep the structure simple to survey.
Pros
- Heavy 31,000 lb displacement with 41.94% ballast ratio for stability
- Three interior layouts including a nine-berth plan and circular-settee alternatives
- Ketch or schooner rig options for manageable sail handling
- 200 gal water and 100 gal fuel capacity for extended cruising
Cons
- Only 20 built, limiting availability and spares familiarity
- Long keel and attached rudder reduce maneuverability in tight quarters
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.16 limits light-air performance
