Saturn 48 RS: An Out-Of-This-World Sailboat
This classy bluewater cruising sailboat comes from the drawing board of Bill Dixon.
April 5, 2014
There’s a new cruiser on the block, with the celestial name of Saturn. The 48-foot model slots in between proposed models in the British company’s line including 44, 55 and 72-footers, and it received quite a bit of attention at the last Annapolis boat show.
The Saturn 48 made a serious splash at the Annapolis Sailboat Boat Show.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 48'5" |
| Beam | 14'6" |
| Draft | 5'6"/6'6" |
| Displacement | 38,896 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 242 gal. |
| Water capacity | 100 gal. |
The Saturn 48 RS is built in Taiwan by the Ta Yang boatyard, which has built over 1,400 yachts from 37 to 65 feet and is known for their Tayana models. This raised salon (RS) design is by naval architect Bill Dixon, who has drawn luxury sailboats to 120 feet and has a fat portfolio of high-end and fast sailboats. The Saturn is a cutter rigged sloop, with a center cockpit, a steel-topped bow (which is excellent for anchoring work), and a stepped transom for easy boarding from a dinghy. With almost 40,000 pounds of displacement and a 14’ 6” beam, this is a substantial boat but with its versatile sail plan, it should be manageable by a couple.The deck is a sandwich construction while the hull is solid FRP that has two watertight bulkheads, a major plus for bluewater cruisers. Two keels are offered – 6’ 6” for good upwind performance or 5’ 6” for skinny water cruising.
This is a semi-custom yacht which offers a two- or three-stateroom interior with a sumptuous master stateroom aft, a walkthrough galley to port, a generous saloon, and guest cabins forward. The interior teak joinery and the vast stowage options make a statement: this is no regular production boat, but rather a classy offshore yacht ready for long distance cruising.
The Saturn 48 is a good looking boat and rumor has it that it has sailing chops as well. It’s demanding a place at the luxury bluewater cruiser table along with yachts such as Hylas, Outbound and Tayana.
For more information, visit Saturn.
