The Cheoy Lee 48 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 39.0′, the Cheoy Lee 48 tops out around 8.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √39.0′ LWL = 8.4 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
174s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
15.6
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
40.3%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
244
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
36.6
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.73
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
15.1
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
36.6
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.73
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Cheoy Lee 48 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Golden Wave 48
66s/nm
Swan 47 Ss
75s/nm
Peterson 46
87s/nm
Bowman 48
114s/nm
Cheoy Lee 48
174s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.9 |
4.9 |
5.5 |
5.7 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
6.0 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.4 |
5.5 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
| Run150–180° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.2 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (8.4 kts),
SA/D (15.6), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Cheoy Lee 48 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–22 kts
22–32 kts
32+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–22 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
22–32 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
32+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Cheoy Lee 48.
|
Cheoy Lee 48 |
Bowman 48 |
Golden Wave 48 |
Landfall 48 Cc |
Peterson 46 |
Swan 47 Ss |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
47.8 |
48.2 |
47.8 |
47.5 |
47.5 |
47.8 |
| LWL |
39.0 |
38.3 |
40.6 |
37.3 |
40.6 |
36.2 |
| Beam |
13.8 |
14.2 |
15.9 |
14.0 |
13.0 |
13.8 |
| Displacement |
32 |
34 |
32 |
31 |
33 |
32 |
| Ballast |
13 |
10 |
— |
12 |
— |
15 |
| Sail Area |
984 |
1 |
1 |
958 |
878 |
1 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
174 |
114 |
66 |
— |
87 |
75 |
| SA/Disp |
15.6 |
16.2 |
19.5 |
15.4 |
13.6 |
16.7 |
| Bal/Disp |
40.3 |
31.1 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Comfort |
36.6 |
37.7 |
29.7 |
36.0 |
39.6 |
38.4 |
| Capsize |
1.73 |
1.75 |
1.99 |
1.77 |
1.62 |
1.73 |
| Hull Speed |
8.4 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
8.5 |
8.1 |