A Brief History of the H-48

In 1933, Henry Hinckley built his first production wooden sailboat, the Sou’wester 34 Huntress, designed by Sparkman & Stephens. His company, then known as Southwest Harbor Boat Yard, would go on to become the Henry R. Hinckley Company and produce a line of distinguished wooden yachts, including the Pilot 35, Sou’wester 30, Sou’wester 42, and various custom designs. These boats were crafted from Honduras mahogany planking, white oak frames, and featured teak decks and brightwork, with interiors finished in mahogany or teak.

In 1959, Hinckley asked William Tripp Jr. to design their first fiberglass sailboat, the Bermuda 40. Unlike many competitors, Hinckley embraced fiberglass early and aggressively. The result was a yacht that became an American classic: a yawl-rigged, moderate-displacement, full-keel cruiser with a graceful sheer, sweeping bow, and overhanging stern. The centerboard allowed for shallow-water access while maintaining excellent upwind performance. With more than 200 sold, the Bermuda 40 became a defining model for Hinckley.

In 1965, a group of Bermuda 40 owners approached Henry Hinckley asking for a larger version of the boat they loved. Once again, Tripp was commissioned, this time to design the H-48.

The H-48 carried forward the elegant lines of the B-40: sweeping sheer, spoon bow, and counter stern. Only 15 H-48s were built between 1965 and 1973, making it one of the rarest Hinckley models. At 48.25 feet LOA with a beam of 13 feet, she displaced 36,000 pounds and carried 10,600 pounds of lead ballast. The long keel was fitted with an electrically operated worm-gear centerboard, giving her a draft range from 5.17 to 11.75 feet. Most were yawl-rigged, though a few were ordered as sloops.

Song is the 15th and final H-48 built.