Design and Construction
At 23,000 pounds displacement with 7,500 pounds of ballast and a 13-foot-3-inch beam, the hull is relatively narrow for its length. Sailing magazine described it as nicely constructed and well styled, and noted that the relatively narrow hull held its course well through a leftover ocean swell without slamming anchor. The 32.6 percent ballast-displacement ratio and 1.86 capsize screening number place it among reasonably offshore-capable cruisers.
Rig and Handling
The 46 RK is a masthead sloop carrying 1,006 square feet of sail area under a 62-foot mast, with a self-tacking jib that test sailors found made the boat easy to handle in 10 to 12 knots of breeze anchor. Twin rudders and twin skegs protecting the propellers contribute to excellent course-keeping anchor, and a flick of the switch lifted the keel enough to sail off a grounding. With keel up the draft shrinks to 2 feet 5 inches, and the builder claimed plans for a cantilevered mast to sneak under low bridges.
Accommodations and Command
Belowdecks, the 46 RK uses a central command station with near-panoramic vision, paired with twin diesels. The 180-gallon fuel and water capacities and 44-foot-10-inch waterline suit extended cruising. Period reviews framed it as capable of blue water but ideal for the thin waters of the East Coast and the Bahamas.
Refits and Ownership
The 46 RK entered production in 2012 as the flagship RK model. Twin engines and a lifting keel mean higher complexity than a conventional single-engine cruiser, but the design centers on easy handling and shallow access.
The Verdict
The Seaward 46 RK is a genuinely unusual 48-foot cruiser: a narrow, solidly built hull with lifting keel, twin rudders, twin diesels, and a panoramic belowdecks helm.
Pros
- Retracting keel and twin rudders open thin-water cruising grounds
- Self-tacking jib and balanced hull make for easy handling
- Twin diesels with central command station offer redundant propulsion and visibility
- Narrow hull holds course well in a seaway without slamming
Cons
- Higher mechanical complexity than a single-engine fixed-keel cruiser
- No stated end of production or total hull count
- Cantilevered mast for bridge clearance remains a designer plan, not a delivered option
