Design and Construction
The Oceanmaster 48 measures 14.63 meters overall, with a 12.5-meter waterline, a 4.6-meter beam, and a draft of 2.11 meters. She displaces 12,701 kilograms and carries 5,300 kilograms of ballast, giving her a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 41.73%.
Her displacement-to-length figure of 181.23 places her firmly in the heavy-cruiser camp rather than among light-displacement racers. The solid fiberglass hull, fin keel, and spade rudder make for a conventional, robust cruising platform rather than an experimental one.
Westerly Marine Construction Ltd built the Oceanmaster 48 in the UK as the company approached the receivership and restructuring that reshaped the marque in 1991.
Rig and Handling
The masthead-sloop rig carries 102.19 square meters of sail. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.16 and an S# of 3.20 suggest a moderately powered cruiser, with enough sail to make decent progress without being overcanvased for short-handed control.
A 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 stated maximum hull speed is 8.58 knots, while the immersion figure is 2,211 lbs per inch. Together, these figures describe a boat that responds predictably to loading and can sail close to her theoretical limit in a fresh breeze. The spade rudder also gives her a degree of maneuverability in tight quarters that a skeg-hung arrangement might not match.
Accommodation and Cruising Capacity
The Oceanmaster 48 has a center-cockpit layout. On a hull of this size, that configuration typically separates the owner’s forward cabin from aft guest quarters under the cockpit sole. The source doesn’t itemize berth numbers or joinery details.
Tankage is substantial: 238 gallons of water and 119 gallons of fuel. The source also gives these capacities as 901 liters and 450 liters, respectively. Those figures indicate provisioning for long periods away from shore.
The standard engine is a 59-horsepower Volvo Penta MD22. A 78-horsepower Perkins was offered as a factory option for buyers wanting more auxiliary power.
Verdict
The Westerly Oceanmaster 48 is a limited-production Dubois design that captures the final years of Westerly’s independent British production. She is a heavy, stable center-cockpit cruiser with conservative ratios and a practical rig. Only 24 were built, which limits familiarity in the market but also marks her out as a considered choice rather than a volume-production yacht.
Pros
- Ed Dubois design with a fin keel and spade rudder for predictable handling
- Heavy 12,701 kg displacement and a 41.73% ballast ratio for offshore stability
- Center-cockpit layout with large water and fuel capacities for long-range cruising
- Optional 78 hp Perkins engine alongside the standard 59 hp Volvo Penta MD22
Cons
- Only 24 were built, so spares and class knowledge are thin
- A displacement-to-length ratio of 181 means she will accelerate more slowly than modern light cruisers
