Design and Construction
The Oceanmaster 48 measures 14.63 meters overall with a 4.6-meter beam and draws 2.11 meters at the fin keel, carrying 12,701 kilograms of displacement on a 12.5-meter waterline. Her 5,300-kilogram ballast works out to a 41.73% ballast-to-displacement ratio, paired with a displacement-to-length figure of 181.23 that places her firmly in the heavy-cruiser band rather than the light-displacement racer end of the spectrum. Westerly built her in the UK under the Westerly Marine Construction Ltd name during a period when the company was nearing the receivership and restructuring that reshaped the marque in 1991. The solid fiberglass hull and fin-with-spade-rudder arrangement reflect a conventional, robust cruising platform rather than an experimental one.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop carrying 102.19 square meters of sail area, the Oceanmaster 48 posts a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.16 and an S# of 3.20, figures that suggest a moderately powered cruiser with enough canvas to make decent progress without being overcanvased for short-handed control. Her comfort ratio of 27.04 and capsize screening value of 1.99 reinforce the picture of a stable, seakindly hull intended for extended voyaging rather than all-out speed. The 8.58-knot hull-speed maximum and 2,211 lbs-per-inch immersion figure describe a vessel that responds predictably to load and sails close to her theoretical limit in a fresh breeze. The spade rudder gives her maneuverability in tight quarters that a skeg-hung arrangement might not match.
Accommodations
The boat is laid out as a center-cockpit yacht, a configuration that on a hull this size typically separates the owner's forward cabin from aft guest quarters under the cockpit sole. While the source does not itemize berth counts or joinery details, the 238-gallon water capacity and 119-gallon fuel capacity from the spec record, echoed by the 901-liter and 450-liter figures in the source, indicate provisioning for long periods away from shore. The 59-horsepower Volvo Penta MD22 is the standard diesel, with a 78-horsepower Perkins offered as a factory option for those wanting more auxiliary power anchor.
The Verdict
The Westerly Oceanmaster 48 is a limited-production Dubois design that captures the builder's final years of independent British production: a heavy, stable center-cockpit cruiser with conservative ratios and a practical rig. Only 24 were built, which limits market familiarity but underscores her as a considered choice rather than a volume product.
Pros
- Ed Dubois design with fin keel and spade rudder for predictable handling
- Heavy 12,701 kg displacement with 41.73% ballast ratio for offshore stability
- Center-cockpit layout with large water and fuel capacity for long-range cruising
- Optional 78 hp Perkins alongside standard 59 hp Volvo MD22
Cons
- Only 24 built, so spares and class knowledge are thin
- Displacement-to-length of 181 marks her as slow to accelerate compared with modern light cruisers
