ALAJUELA 48
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 53.75 ft |
| LWL | 40.5 ft |
| Beam | 13.83 ft |
| Draft | 6.75 ft |
| Displacement | 29,500 lb |
| Ballast | 10,000.5 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 8.5 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 55.68 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 25.3 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 53.15 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 17.7 ft |
| PYmizzen luff | 32.4 ft |
| EYmizzen foot | 11.2 ft |
| FLforestay | 25.3 ft |
| Mainsail | 1,212.4 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 704.4 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 1,197.4 sq ft |
About the ALAJUELA 48
LOD: 48.5ft / 14.8m. Available as cutter, ketchr or schooner. Sail Area: - 1,170 ft² (cutter) -1,395 ft² (ketch) - 1,270 ft² (schooner) Hulls 1 & 2 were built in Huntington Beach, CA exactly to blueprint The molds then went to Taiwan, where is is thought about 5 more were built. U.S. boats had lead ballast; foreign built had iron ballast. The iron was bigger, which equaled slightly smaller tanks. Thanks to Michael Moyer, previous owner of hull #1, for providing information and drawings.
The Alajuela 48 is a rare, large-displacement ketch designed by Raymond Richards and built by Alajuela Yacht Corp. (USA) in 1981, with only 7 hulls constructed. Its substantial 29500.0 lb displacement and 13.83 ft beam reflect a serious, heavy-weather cruising pedigree typical of late-1970s/early-1980s American yacht building.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for experienced bluewater cruisers who prioritize seakeeping and comfort over high-speed performance, particularly those who appreciate the balanced handling of a masthead ketch rig.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a low capsize ratio of 1.79 and a high displacement-to-length ratio of 198.25, the Alajuela 48 exhibits strong inherent stability and motion comfort, making it highly capable for offshore passages.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include the Tartan 48 and the O'Day 48, as they share similar production eras, heavy displacement characteristics, and ketch rig configurations aimed at offshore passage-making.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the ALAJUELA 48 yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 53.75ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the ALAJUELA 48yet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a ALAJUELA 48? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your ALAJUELA 48?
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Used sails that fit the ALAJUELA 48
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…