Tayana 48 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Tayana 48 means weighing a Robert Perry design that Ta Yang has built in Taiwan since 1992, with the deck-saloon evolution by Rob Ladd arriving in the early 2000s. These are semi-custom yachts, so no two are spec-for-spec identical, but the constant is a 48-foot cruiser with a centerline queen aft and a walkthrough galley. The rest of this guide focuses on what you will actually find aboard used boats and what to inspect before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. Every hull shares the aft centerline queen and the walkthrough galley, with a separate stall shower in the aft cabin. The early-2000s Rob Ladd revision added a raised salon with elevated floor, and the DS version carries large windows for a panoramic view below — a meaningful difference if you prefer bright interior light over the earlier trunk-cabin feel.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped boats commonly carry electric winches, a chartplotter, radar, autopilot, AIS, and an inverter, usually paired with a furling main, bimini, and dodger for cockpit comfort. A watermaker and EPIRB are also commonly fitted, reflecting the boat's blue-water intent. Dinghy davits are a common cruising addition. Often-seen systems include a bow thruster and hot water. Less common owner upgrades run to solar, lithium batteries, and a hardtop — nice-to-have rather than expected.
What to Inspect
The low freeboard at the bow means waves occasionally enter the boat, so check the forward bulkhead and interior joinerwork for past water staining. There is no forward chain locker access, which bears on how the ground tackle is serviced and stowed. The standard fuel tank is black steel holding 120 gallons; inspect for internal tank condition and any repair history. The regular 62-horsepower Yanmar is reached through and under the stainless sinks in the walkthrough, so confirm real-world service access matches your tolerance before purchase.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States, Greece, Malta, Spain, Italy, and Grenada. For a buyer, the checklist is short and sourced:
- Confirm layout: three-cabin owner version vs. other; DS vs. raised-salon
- Inspect bow interior for water entry marks from low freeboard
- Verify black steel fuel tank condition and any replacement
- Test engine access through walkthrough sinks
- Note absence of forward chain locker access for ground-tackle planning
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tayana 48. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 12 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $230,000 | — |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $279,000 | +21.3% |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $204,500 | -26.7% |
| Sep 25 | 5 | $330,000 | +61.4% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $330,000 | 0.0% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $330,000 | 0.0% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $335,453 | +1.7% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $199,900 | -40.4% |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $330,000 | +65.1% |
| May 26 | 5 | $343,530 | +4.1% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $148,888 | -56.7% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $299,000 | +100.8% |
Where they're listed
Tayana 48 listings appear across 9 countries. United States has the most listings with 9 (32.1%), followed by Spain and Greece.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taswell 49 | 48.83' | $ 175,000 | 31 | 3 |
| Tayana 48You are here | — | $ 330,000 | 29 | 5 |
| Hans Christian 48 | 47.83' | $ 247,383 | 7 | 2 |