Westerly Oceanmaster 48 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Westerly Oceanmaster 48 means looking at a small, late-1980s to early-1990s British cruiser with just two dozen ever completed, so each available example carries weight. Ed Dubois drew her as a center-cockpit masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, and the standard Volvo Penta MD22 diesel of 59 horsepower defines most boats, though a few may carry the optional 78-horsepower Perkins anchor.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common version afloat, but both owner and other layouts appear, and ex-charter boats are a common sight in the pool. The center-cockpit configuration places the helm between forward and aft sleeping spaces, and the 901-liter water and 450-liter fuel tanks indicate a boat sized for weeks offshore rather than weekend hops.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most Oceanmasters on the market carry a strong house system: air conditioning, heating, solar, lithium batteries, cockpit shower, inverter, AIS, autopilot, and chartplotter are commonly fitted, meaning a buyer can expect modern navigation and climate comfort as standard fare. Often-seen additions include a wind generator, furling main, bow thruster, and hot water, clusters that point to owners bolstering energy independence and docking ease. For a shopper, the presence of lithium and solar reduces the risk of a tired original electrical system, while a bow thruster mitigates the maneuvering demands of a 48-foot spade-rudder hull in marinas.
What to Inspect
The key mechanical variable is the engine: confirm whether the vessel has the standard Volvo MD22 or the optional Perkins 78 hp diesel, as spares and service paths differ anchor. With only 24 built, verify the hull's maintenance history and any structural survey rather than assuming class-wide data exists.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts turn up in the Netherlands and New Zealand, the two regions where the used market concentrates. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm engine variant, check the center-cockpit sole and tankage for age-related issues, and verify the electrical upgrades match the commonly fitted lithium-solar profile. A three-cabin owner layout ex-charter boat with autopilot and bow thruster is a representative find.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Westerly Oceanmaster 48. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | 2 | $134,482 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $134,482 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $161,857 | +20.4% |
Where they're listed
Westerly Oceanmaster 48 listings appear across 2 countries. Netherlands has the most listings with 2 (50.0%), followed by New Zealand.
Country view
4 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $161,857 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
| New Zealand | $107,107 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tayana 48 | 48' | $ 330,000 | 29 | 5 |
| Oyster 485 | 48.5' | $ 295,000 | 18 | 2 |
| Wauquiez Centurion 48 S | 48.88' | $ 150,214 | 6 | 0 |
| Westerly Oceanmaster 48You are here | — | $ 161,859 | 5 | 0 |