Extremely rare to the market carbon-built Gunboat 48 with upgraded rig and interior. Just one private owner since new and now offered for sale with a great performance cruising inventory
FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:
Arguably the boat that started the current trend for composite performance cruising catamarans. Real world proof that you can have your cake and eat it. Sculpted in carbon and Kevlar to designs by Morrelli & Melvin and the second to be launched from a run of 6 built between 2004 & 2009, DANCING BEAR has benefitted from just one caring private owner since new.
Much updated since her launch, DANCING BEAR now represents arguably the most effective way to cover ground quickly and in total comfort. With fanatical attention to detail and weight-saving, Gunboat 48’s are easily capable of upwards of 400Nm per day in ideal conditions.
Fitted out for low-carbon footprint effortless long-distance cruising, DANCING BEAR boasts many inventory highlights including:-
• Carbon & Kevlar hull construction with epoxy foam sandwich and Nomex aramid honeycomb
• 3-cabin, 3-heads interior layout with fantastic owner’s cabin aft and VIP cabins forward.
• New interior by Riskas Snickeri (Nautor Swan & Baltic Yachts) costing circa 600 000€ in 2013
• Windows and all glass renewed in 2019
• New rig and taller wing-mast by Marström 2010
• New ECSix standing rigging - 2022
• Twin 40hp Lombardini engines
• Carbon daggerboards with 0.60m-2.20m draft
• Retractable carbon fibre rudders
• Twin autopilot systems
• B&G navigation system with plotter, HD radar, AIS and night-vision top-mast camera
• Lewmar Electric winches
• Karver & Harken deck gear
• Facnor continuous line jib furler and self-tacking jib system
• Harken low-friction battencars for fully-battened mainsail
• North 3Di mainsail and jibs- 2011
• One Sails mainsail & J2 – 2023
• New unused Codeo form North Sails
• Furling Code Zero and Spinnakers
• Carbon davits with Aquapro dinghy and Suzuki 6hp outboard
• 2,100w solar panel array
• Lithium-Ion service batteries
• Empirbus DC switching system
• Victron inverter
• DC watermaker with 80lph output
• Diesel fired heating and DC ventilation fans
• Fridges and freezers
• Electric carbon heads
Finnish flagged, EU VAT-paid, privately used and 100% ready to go.
High-resolution photographs and walk-through videos available on request.
MANUFACTURER’S COMMENTS:
Built from 2004-2009 and designed for uncrewed, family sabbatical sailing, the GUNBOAT 48 series captivated the sailing dreams of an even broader scope of sailors. The overall design premise for the 48 followed on the heels of the wildly successful Gunboat 62 and called upon designers Morrelli and Melvin to achieve the same dream but in a package built for owner-operators – with simple systems, Gunboat performance, and the usual ease of handling.
The interior and accommodations had to be light and airy, with the salon, helm, and galley located on the main deck within the pilothouse and a spacious, well-protected aft cockpit for dining and lounging on the shaded double daybed. She featured three queen berths, a convertible office/4th berth, and two heads within the hulls.
Highly sought after, only six Gunboat 48’s were built and they rarely change hands. Over the years the 48 has captured the hearts of many sailors who dream of quality world-cruising on their own terms, from the clandestine love of quiet owners who may never part with them to the well-known adventurers who bequeath their ownership to friends. Look closely in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, or the fjords of Norway, and you just may sight one of these mythical two-hulled creatures.
PRESS COMMENTS:
“The Gunboat 48: a classic catamaran. They only built six of them and they rarely come up for sale.
The 48 is the Owner Operator Gunboat set up for short-handed sailing. I think she’s the best-looking Gunboat: she looks like an E-Type Jag on the water with that long bow. An absolute legend that goes like the wind...”
“…The 48 is around the same length as many popular production boats like the Nautitech 46 Open and the Lagoon 46, but she´s quite a bit faster…She is lightning quick. The 48 has to be one of the best-looking cats on the water. That cosy protected helm, a short step away from the mast and all of the lines. The aft cockpit or “back porch” is a great place to hang out if you want a break from all of the action.
For owner-operators, the Gunboat 48 is well set up for short-handed sailing. That’s not something you can say about their larger models, except maybe the 55.”
“Original Gunboat founder Peter Johnstone picked up the phone to Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin when he was dreaming up the 48. These are all guys who love to sail, and the brief was for a boat that would increase the fun factor while being safe, reliable, and seaworthy for a cruising couple. And being a Gunboat, this catamaran had to be fast!
What they came up with was a powerful, no nonsense catamaran built of the latest, lightest materials, with ample room to sleep and relax that was easy to sail with a short-handed crew. The 48 was the second design off the blocks after the 62 (including Tribe, the original Gunboat). They later extended the 62 into the 66…”
“…The Gunboat 48 starts to shine when you get the sails up and the big difference between this boat and other multihulls is that you will be covering good ground upwind too. The high roach main and self-tacking jib is well set up for shorthanded sailing.
The tacking angle is around 100 degrees going into the wind and you can expect boat speeds of between 7.5 to 9 knots on a close reach in decent conditions.
Head off the wind and you will sail close to wind speed with the right sails up (gennaker, code 0 or jib), tacking downwind again at 90-100 degrees for the best VMG (velocity to waypoint).
When the 48 hits 12 knots, she really starts to fly. In the right conditions sailed properly, you should be seeing speeds in the 20s – OK, you might be getting a helping hand from the waves, but you get my drift – this is a fast catamaran. Even in light winds you should see speeds approaching True Wind Speed.”
“…What do you get for your money? Well, vacuum-bagged, oven-cured hulls and a foam sandwich deck built with epoxy, (biaxial with unidirectional glass) and Kevlar plus carbon fibre, dagger-boards, lifting rudders, stringers, ring frames, and a crossbeam. This yacht couldn´t be further away from a similar sized production cat like the Fountaine Pajot 45 or the Lagoon 46. It´s all in the details. Oh, and you get a slice of catamaran history of course…”
SPECIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION
RCD Status:
• It is our understanding that the yacht conforms with the essential safety requirements of Directive 94/25EC (Recreational Craft Directive) and is categorised A — "Ocean".
Hull, Deck & Superstructure Construction:
• Composite construction of vacuum-bagged, epoxy foam sandwich and Nomex aramid honeycomb with carbon fibre inner skins and Kevlar outer skins for impact resistance
• Carbon fibre stringers, ring fames and crossbeam
• Metallic Silver painted topsides and superstructure – 2022
• Black & Yellow topside vinyl wrap- 2023
• White painted non-slip deck surfaces
• Teak laid aft cockpit and bathing platform steps
Keel & Rudder:
• Carbon fibre retractable rudders
• Carbon fibre retractable daggerboards – 0.60m-2.20m draft – manual block & tackle adjustment
MACHINERY
Engines & gearboxes:
• 2x Lombardini LDW1404M 4-cylinder marine diesel engines producing 40hp @ 3,600rpm
• Fresh water cooling via raw water intake and heat exchangers
• Mechanical reduction gearboxes
• ZF electronic gear/throttle controls
• Shaft drive
• Aquadrive flexible drive couplings
• Twin Separ 2000/5/50 fuel/water filters for each engine
• Vetus exhaust systems
Maintenance & Performance:
• Engine hours: Approx 930 as of Summer 2025
• Date of last engine servicing – Spring 2025
Propulsion & Steering:
• Feather/folding propellers
• Edson custom lacquered carbon fibre helm wheel
• Cable steering system
• MaxPower 12vDC twin bowthrusters with joystick controls at helm station
• MaxPower 12vDC sternthruster (starboard hull) with joystick control at helm station
• Vessel control joystick for integrated thruster movement
• Emergency steering system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Voltage systems:
• 12vDC primary domestic system with 12vDC start system and 220vAC via inverter of shorepower
• Empirbus digital switching system
Battery Banks:
• 4 x Victron smart Lithium 12vDC 200 Ah Lithium-Ion service batteries - 2021
• 12vDC engine start batteries
• 12vDC bow & stern thruster batteries
• Victron Smart Lynx BMS - 2021
• Victron Energy colour control display BMV-700
• Victron Battery monitor BMV-700
Chargers & Inverters:
• Victron Energy 12vDC automatic battery charger
Solar Power:
• 2100W solar panels on cabin top arranged in two banks (port and starboard) by sunbeam -2018
• Victron MPPT charge controllers
Alternators:
• 2 x Balmar 150A engine mounted alternators - 2020
• 12v engine-mounted alternator for charging engine start battery
Shorepower:
• 220vAC shore power system with twin 50Amp Marinco inputs
• Ring-main with 220vAC sockets throughout yacht
PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS
Fresh Water:
• 12vDC pressure system
• Hot water supplied via engine cooling with calorifier or via 230vAC immersion heater element from shore power in well-insulated hot water tank
• Hot & cold pressurised water to galley, heads and shower in cockpit
Watermaker:
• Schenker Zen30 reverse osmosis watermaker
•
Bilge Pumps:
• 2x 12vDC electric bilge pumps located in the engine rooms
• Bilge pump override switch at AC/DC panel
• Whale manual bilge pump in cockpit
Black Water:
• Black water discharges to holding tanks or overboard via diverter switches
TANKAGE
Fuel:
• Approx. 480 litres in 2x 240 litres polyethylene fuel tanks
• Tank Tender manual tank level gauge
Fresh Water:
• Approx. 480 litres in 2x 240 litres polyethylene freshwater tanks
• Tank Tender manual tank level gauge
Salt Water:
• 18 litre stainless steel salt water tank for manual supply at galley
Holding Tanks:
• 2 x 151.5 litre blackwater holding tanks in the forward head – discharge to sea or via deck extraction
• 1 x 64.4 litre blackwater holding tanks in the aft head – discharge to sea or via deck extraction
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
Navigation equipment
• B&G Glasshelm 19´-2021
• B&G H5000 Hercules system - 2019
• B&G HALO 20+ Radar - 2022
• B&G H5000 multi-display instruments with Airmar speed, depth, temperature transducers and B&G wind transducer
• B&G H5000 autopilot system with controller at helm station
• B&G V3100 AIS SODTMA 5W - 2022
• Raymarine secondary autopilot system connected to Type 25 drive unit with control head at helm station
• 2 x Raymarine chart plotters
• Raymarine radar
• Raymarine speed & depth
• FLIR – camera with joystick
• Ritchie Powerdamp Plus steering compass
• Masthead nightvision camera integrated to B&G display
• AIS transceiver
Communications Equipment:
• ICOM HF Marine IC-M802
• ICOM VHF Marine IC-M504
• Thrane & Thrane satellite telephone
• Iridium GO satellite phone – 2022
• Teltonika Wifi-router - 2023
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Galley:
• Stainless steel stove with 4-burners
• Samsung Microwave oven
• Vitrifrigo front opening fridge with freezer box
• Top loading freezer
• Hot & cold pressurised fresh water supply to carbon fibre inset sink
• Filtered pressurised fresh water supply
Heads:
• Tecma 12vDC electric heads, Carbon
• Hot & cold pressurised showers in heads
• Carbon sinks
Heating & Ventilation:
• 12vDC ventilation fans
• Espar diesel fired hot air cabin heating system
Entertainment:
• Simrad Stereo
• Simrad Iphone connector
• Finnlux LCD TV
Lighting:
• Low power consumption LED lighting throughout
• Red night lighting in the salon
ACCOMMODATION
Summary of Accommodation:
• Up to 7 berths in three double berths with additional upper bunk berth in port aft cabin. Three heads.
• Headroom - Saloon approx. 1.98m / 6’6”
• Headroom – Hulls approx. 1.98m/ 6’6″
Accommodation Finish:
• Teak interior joinery
• Laquered carbon fibre trim
• Cream Alcantara upholstery in saloon
• Retractable blinds throughout
• Laminated headlinings
• Carbon stairs to access both hulls interior cabins
• Carbon galley worktops and surfaces in heads compartments
Description of Accommodation of the Port Hull:
Access to the hull:
• Carbon stairs with emergency escape hatch
• One door cabinet for food storage
• Two doors cabinet for fridge and Stowage lockers for crockery, pots and pans
• Vitifrigo 45W 130 liters
Aft Triple Cabin:
• 2 x bunk beds
• 1 x extra bed transforming the below the bed
• 1 door cloth cabinet
• Leather hanging case to port and starboard sides
• 1 x opening deck hatch
• 2 x port holes gives light and ventilation.
• Port holes sunlight carbon covers
Forward Double Cabin:
• Centre line upper double berth with large storage lockers beneath
• Leather hanging case to port and starboard sides
• 1 x ventilation fan
• Opening deck hatch and port holes gives light and ventilation.
• Port holes sunlight carbon covers
• Access to the bow bathroom
Forward bathroom:
• 1 x carbon wash basin sink with fresh water tap
• Teak cabinet with double door
• 1 x mirror with LED lights
• Electric TECMA WC toilet
• Separate shower with Led light wooden floor board
• 1 x port hole
• Hatch with mosquito net
Description of Accommodation of the Starboard Hull:
Access to the hull:
• Carbon stairs with emergency escape hatch
• Two doors cabinet for storage
Day heads:
• 1 x carbon wash basin with fresh water tap
• Electric TECMA WC toilet
• Open space for storage and direct access to the stern thruster
Double Cabin:
• Centre line upper double berth with large storage lockers beneath
• Leather hanging case to port and starboard sides
• 2 x ventilation fan
• Opening deck hatch and port holes gives light and ventilation.
• Port holes sunlight carbon covers
• Access to the bow bathroom
Bow Bathroom:
• 1 x carbon wash basin sink with fresh water tap
• Teak cabinet with double door
• 1 x mirror with LED lights
• Electric TECMA WC toilet
• Separate shower with Led light wooden floor board
• 1 x port hole
• Hatch with mosquito net
Description of Accommodation in Main Deck Level:
Main Saloon:
• Settee sofa with extending leaf dining table with stainless steel and carbon feet support
• Lateral armrest with inside locker for storage
• Generous stowage space beneath settee
• Built-in 2 seater sofa to portside with stainless steel and carbon feet support
• 2 x opening window to stern to provide ventilation
• 2 x movable carbon and stainless steel stool provide additional seating for dining purposes
Chart Table:
• Teak furniture units to incorporate space for navigational instruments, electronics, and electrical distribution board
• AC/DC panels
• 2 x Lower locker
Galley:
• Galley in teak with carbon worktops.
• 4 -burner gas stove
• Owen
• Samsung Micro
• Hot/cold water galley tap
• Saltwater manual tap
• Storage under worktops
• Top opening storage beside sink
DECK EQUIPMENT
Rig:
• Marstrom lacquered carbon fibre spars – 2010
• Deck-stepped fractional mast with single set of swept-back spreaders
• Harken ball-bearing low-friction battencar system for mainsail
• Facnor continuos line furler for jib
• Harken self-tacking jib track
• Facnor furling gear for Code Zero with 2:1 halyard and adjustable tackline
• Karver deck gear
• Karver Halyard locks/Jammers
• Future fibres standing rigging, ECSix – 2022
• Bridle mainsheet aft to German mainsheet system led forward to control cockpit
• 2:1 mainsail halyard
• Lazyjacks for mainsail
• Dyneema running rigging
Winches:
• Lewmar 2-speed self-tailing winches with 2x electric control line/sheet winches and 1x central manual control line winch – Serviced and gearbox renewed-2022
• Harken electric winch – 2022
Sails:
• North Sails 3Di fully-battened mainsail – 2011
• North Sails 3Di furling self-tacking jib – 2011
• North Sails furling Code Zero – 2017
• OneSails Mainsail – 2023
• OneSails J2 – 2023
• NorthSails Code0 (unused) – 2023
• 1 x North sails Asymmetrical spinnaker
General:
• Guardrail stanchions with dyneema guardlines
• Deep aft cockpit with overhang structural bimini
• L-shaped cockpit seating
• Cockpit table with flip-up additions for dining
• Hot and cold transom shower
Covers, Cushions & Canvas:
• Cream leather cockpit upholstery
• Black canvas mainsail cover
• Grey canvas aft cockpit screens
Anchoring & Mooring:
• Lewmar 12vDC reversing electric windlass with foot controls at helm station
• 20kgs ROCNA a anchor with 50m stainless steel chain
• Spade 7Kg kedge anchor
• Aluminium pop-up cleats
• Carbon chafe protection
• Pressurised anchor wash in anchor locker
• Warps and fenders
Tender & Outboard:
• Carbon fibre fixed davits with 2x Lewmar 30ST 2-speed self-tailing davit winches
• Aquapro SMR Dinghy with 6hp Suzuki outboard engine
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.
Navigation Lights:
• Navigation LED light bulbs
• Navigation lights checked and renewed 2024
Life saving:
• Full OSR CAT inventory
Fire control:
• 6 x Fire extinguishers in all cabins
• Semi-Automatic fire extinguishing system in engine room