Sunward 48 Buyer's Guide
The Sunward 48 is a 48-foot ketch designed by Sparkman & Stephens in the mid eighties and built by Sunward Yachts/Bennett Bros. Yachts, a heavy-displacement cruiser whose 50,000-pound hull and 16,500-pound lead ballast mark her as a voyaging boat rather than a coastal weekender. For a shopper scanning the brokerage market, she represents the sort of traditional long-keel cruiser that rewards careful inspection over impulse.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Sunward 48 carries the same fundamental accommodation: two cabins with a mahogany interior, a galley, and a toilet facility. Fresh water capacity is 1,900 liters and waste water 120 liters, while the fiberglass fuel tank holds 1,200 liters. The two-cabin plan puts private space fore and aft rather than offering multiple guest berths, so buyers should view her as a couple-or-small-family offshore boat. Her 14.25-foot beam and 38.5-foot waterline give the interior the roomy feel of a dedicated passagemaker.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because the Sunward 48 left the yard with different engine alternatives, buyers will find either a Detroit diesel at 127 hp or a Yanmar 4JH4-THE at 115 hp, both driving a shaft. The ketch rig is standard, with halyards and sheets sized for the original plan; any rig changes would be owner-driven. A buyer should focus on the consequence items — the engine and drivetrain condition, and whether the ketch's running rigging matches the original 39.4-meter halyards and 16 mm sheets — rather than expecting factory-fitted luxuries.
What to Inspect
The fiberglass hull and solid deck should be checked for osmosis or impact damage consistent with age, and the long keel's bond to the hull examined for separation. The shaft drive transmission and chosen diesel — Detroit or Yanmar — deserve oil-analysis and compression checks, since calculated max speeds of 6.9 and 6.6 knots depend on healthy propulsion. The fiberglass fuel tank of 1,200 liters warrants internal inspection for delamination or contamination after decades of service.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Sunward 48 is found on the used market in the United States. For a buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm which engine is fitted and its service history
- Survey hull, deck, and long-keel joint for age-related issues
- Verify ketch rigging matches original dimensions
- Inspect fiberglass fuel and water tanks internally
- Assess mahogany interior for rot or previous repair
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Sunward 48. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.