Design and Construction
Mayflower Boatyards (Taiwan) built the 48 with solid fiberglass for both hull and deck, and the keel itself is iron, as is the 568-liter fuel tank. The ballast ratio comes in at 34 percent against a displacement that the DL-ratio of 275 places firmly in the "heavy cruisers" category. A length-to-beam ratio of 3.56 and a fin keel with skeg-hung rudder give the hull a moderate, seaworthy profile rather than a slender performance shape. The capsize screening value of 1.62 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 42.4 reinforce the picture of a stable, load-carrying offshore hull; the CE Class A Ocean certification confirms the builder's own declared envelope for extended voyages in severe conditions.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig carries 1,055 square feet of sail area, returning a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.20 — modest, consistent with a heavy-displacement cruiser that prioritizes control and balance over raw acceleration. The theoretical displacement-hull speed for a boat this length is 8.4 knots, while the calculated maximum speed is about 6.5 knots, and the immersed surface of the wetted bottom is roughly 559 square feet. Draft varies between 5.68 and 5.98 feet depending on load, and the immersion rate of about 1,841 pounds per inch tells you how heavily she sits as provisions and tankage come aboard. A shaft-drive Perkins 4.236 diesel of 72 hp is the listed inboard power, turning a fixed shaft for dependable motoring when the wind fails.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is laid out with two cabins and six berths, a galley, and a toilet facility, all finished in teak like many of her contemporaries. Fresh water capacity is a generous 199 US gallons, supporting long stretches away from dock or catchment. The two-cabin arrangement suggests a private-owner cruising layout rather than a charter bunkroom, and the teak interior speaks to the period's expectation of warm, traditional joinery below decks.
Naming and Production Notes
A quirk worth knowing: hulls 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 17 were sold under the Mariner 48 name, while the balance carried Mayflower or Stadel badges. Fewer than 100 were built in total, making any example a relatively scarce find and the Mariner-numbered hulls a sub-set that shares the same Stadel design DNA.
The Verdict
The Mayflower 48 is a heavily built, CE-certified ocean cruiser with a sensible ketch rig and a teak interior suited to long-term liveaboard use. Her modest sail plan and heavy displacement will not win passages, but the numbers describe a stable, forgiving hull with serious tankage and a documented ocean rating.
Pros
- Iron-keeled, solid fiberglass hull and deck from a Taiwanese builder
- CE Class A (Ocean) certification for extended offshore voyages
- 199-gallon fresh water and 150-gallon iron fuel tank for long range
- Ketch rig with moderate SA/D of 15.20 for manageable offshore sail handling
Cons
- Heavy-displacement hull with calculated max speed of only 6.5 knots
- Fewer than 100 built, so spares and model familiarity can be scarce
- Modest performance envelope limits appeal to speed-minded buyers
