Marine publications and customers greeted the boat with acclaim, including a best-in-class award. At 52.3 feet overall, with a 43-foot-7-inch waterline and a displacement-to-length ratio of 160, she is a considered cruiser rather than a racer. Perry described her as the next logical step beyond the 43: a comfortable, fast, easy-to-handle boat for a couple.
Design and Construction
Perry kept the fine entry and nearly plumb stem of his earlier Sagas but gave the 48 more beam, resulting in a length-to-beam ratio of 3.47. The keel is a moderately shoal fin-and-bulb design, chosen more for cruising convenience than blazing upwind speed. A large spade rudder sits as far aft as the hull allows, a position that gives the boat good tracking characteristics.
With a waterline of 43 feet 7 inches and a D/L of 160, the hull form is intended to perform well under both sail and power. Perry expected roughly 9.5 knots under power. The aim was a quick cruising boat capable of navigating the Intracoastal Waterway, a requirement that shaped the shoal keel and modest rig rather than a maxed-out racing profile.
A pipe-frame bowsprit houses the ground-tackle rollers, continuing a Saga trademark.
Rig and Handling
The cockpit has twin steering wheels that leave the transom opening clear to the swim step. Molded consoles at each wheel provide space for instruments and computer screens.
The 48 is intended to sail primarily under a non-overlapping, self-tacking jib. Its single sheet runs up the mast from the jib track, then down to a coaming-mounted winch. Above 8 knots of wind, the convenience of this arrangement outweighs the jib’s small sail-area penalty.
Tracks are also fitted for a masthead genoa, intended for light air or reaching. Perry advised partially or fully rolling up the genoa before tacking it. A taller rig is available for sailors unconcerned about bridge clearance; it raises the sail-area-to-displacement ratio to 19.98.
Cockpit and Interior
A raised double helm seat works with the inside steering position, allowing the boat to be handled from shelter in poor weather. The aft cockpit layout also leaves room for a huge lazarette, useful for cruising-gear stowage.
Below, the large galley has abundant counter space and a very large reefer/freezer unit. The dinette isn’t raised, but it extends outboard beneath the side deck and measures 7 feet 6 inches long. A navigation station sits beside the aft head, and the two heads share one shower stall.
There’s also a large hanging locker and a forward stateroom with a bed six feet across at its widest point. The plumb stem creates enough volume for a large fo’c’sle, reached through a foredeck hatch. Together, these features suit the boat’s emphasis on liveaboard comfort and extended cruising for two.
Production and Ownership
Before introducing the 48, Saga had built 50 examples of the 43 and 12 of the 35. That small-run pedigree informs the 48’s semi-custom character.
Owners reported genuine elegance in the finished boat. Its reception among both customers and the press suggests a cared-for ownership culture rather than that of a volume commodity.
The Verdict
The Saga 48 is a Robert Perry cruiser that trades ultimate upwind bite for shoal-draft convenience, Intracoastal Waterway capability, and a couple-friendly self-tacking rig. Compared with the earlier Sagas, her beamier hull combines with a fine entry and far-aft spade rudder to provide predictable tracking and decent speed under power.
Inside, the large galley, long dinette, wide forward berth, and substantial fo’c’sle are arranged for extended two-person cruising. She’s an elegant, accolade-winning design from a small marque of Canadian origin—not another beamy market clone.
Pros
- Nearly plumb-stemmed hull with more beam than earlier Sagas
- Good tracking from the far-aft spade rudder
- Self-tacking jib simplifies short-handed sailing above 8 knots
- Shoal fin-and-bulb keel and ICW-capable concept suit gunkholing
- Spacious, couple-oriented interior with a large galley, 7-foot-6-inch dinette, and forward berth six feet wide at its broadest
Cons
- Fin-and-bulb keel prioritizes cruising convenience over upwind speed
- Masthead genoa needs to be partially or fully rolled up for tacking, adding minor handling friction
