Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II is a 49-foot blue-water cruising yacht designed by Argentine-born naval architect Germán Frers and built by Hallberg-Rassy at their yard in Gothenburg, Sweden. Produced from 2013 to 2022 with approximately 90 hulls completed across both the original 48 and the Mk II iteration, the model carries a CE Category A certification for unlimited ocean voyages. Rated by Yacht magazine as 'the new measure for Blue Water Cruisers' when the original 48 was introduced, the Mk II refined the formula with 15 documented improvements over its predecessor, focusing on natural light, interior elegance, and ease of handling.

The Mk II introduced larger frameless tempered-glass saloon portlights, opening portlights between saloon and cockpit, a redesigned curved windscreen, a slimmer anchor windlass, and a new pushpit and pulpit profile. Optional push-button sailing functions — covering the mainsail, furling genoa, cutter stay, backstay tensioner, and vang — allow a small crew to manage the rig without leaving the center cockpit.

The hull is built in GRP sandwich fiberglass using polyester resin, a construction method Hallberg-Rassy has employed for decades to achieve both stiffness and moderate weight. The keel is a fin with a lead bulb mounted on a deep GRP bilge stub, and the rudder is carried on a partial skeg — a configuration that provides directional stability and rudder protection without the drag penalty of a full skeg. The ballast ratio of approximately 42 percent, with 7,750 kg of lead, gives the 48 Mk II a stiff, confident motion offshore. The deck is finished with teak and the coachroofing is designed with seven slim Dorade-style ventilators that close automatically in rain. Air draft is 21.75 m (71' 4"), and the design carries a GRT of approximately 28.

The Volvo Penta D3-110 five-cylinder common-rail diesel delivers 110 hp, providing a motoring range of roughly 1,060 nautical miles on an 800-litre fuel tank when paired with a folding Gori propeller.

The 48 Mk II's masthead sloop rig carries 123.4 m² (1,328 sq ft) with a standard furling jib, rising to 143.7 m² (1,549 sq ft) with a full genoa. Three-level aluminum spreaders support the mast, and the rig is designed for shorthanded offshore passages with all sail controls leading to the center cockpit. Despite a displacement of 18,500 kg — roughly 20 tons fully loaded — cruising reviews consistently describe the boat as quick and responsive even in light air, a result of the extended waterline (up 5'6" over the previous 46) and increased waterline beam. Hull speed calculates to approximately 8.83 knots, and the displacement-to-length ratio of 225 places it in the moderate-heavy cruising category well suited to ocean passages.

The center cockpit is small and sheltered by a curved tempered-glass windscreen, giving the helm a well-protected station in rough weather. Retractable bow and stern thrusters are available as options, simplifying marina maneuvering for short-handed couples.

Below decks the 48 Mk II offers three double cabins — an owner's cabin aft, a guest cabin forward, and a third cabin — plus a spacious center saloon with 1.99 m (6'6") headroom. Layout options include a choice of a linear galley to port or a U-shaped galley to starboard, and the saloon can be configured with armchairs or a sofa. An optional 'Supercabin' arrangement converts the forward area into a particularly large stateroom. Two heads, each with a separate shower behind plexiglass doors, serve the cabins.

Interior joinery is available in either mahogany or teak, and the fit and finish is widely described as among the highest standards in production boatbuilding. Deep sea berths, strong handholds, and fiddled surfaces throughout make the interior genuinely seaworthy rather than merely comfortable at anchor. Fresh water stowage of 910 litres (241 US gallons) and the large fuel capacity support extended ocean passages without reprovisioning.