2009 San Juan Express Cruiser

The SJ48 combines lobster boat styling with state-of-the-art design, engineering and composite construction. Her hull provides comfort and sea keeping in difficult sea conditions yet allows for higher speed cruising in calm to moderate sea conditions.  The SJ48 provides a safe, comfortable, dry ride in the no-nonsense environment of any ocean or waterway. 

At 51’-10” L.O.A. x 15’-6” Beam, the SJ48 offers a premium level of interior space in a highly functional interior/exterior layout.  The SJ48 offers unmatched care and craftsmanship in her interiors, fit, finish, joinery and systems.

The SJ48 hull has a traditional flared bow with fine entry and tumble home aft, complemented by her hydro-dynamically efficient underbody. The SJ48 hull is formed using a Kevlar/E-glass and Corecell foam core composite vacuum infused with vinyl ester resin. Dupont Kevlar/E-glass hybrid is used to greatly increase the strength of the hull against damage caused by impact.  Her resin infusion process yields strong lightweight parts with high glass to resin ratios.  The core is removed and replaced with solid glass and extra laminations in areas of major penetrations and high stress.  Watertight structural bulkheads separate the hull into damage control zones with dedicated bilge pumps.  Structural bulkheads are built using Corecell foam core with E-glass skins infused with vinyl ester resin. Longitudinal and transverse stringers are an E-glass PVC and Corecell foam core composite. The swim step is built using Corecell foam core with E-glass skins infused with vinyl ester resin.  The walking surface of the swim step is teak.  The swim step is fastened to the hull using stainless steel fasteners and three custom stainless steel struts for support.  The entire structure of the boat is built using wood free composites.

All exterior teak trim is finished to a high gloss using multiple build coats of UV inhibited epoxy and multiple coats of Imron clear acrylic providing an extremely hard, low maintenance finish.  The deck and superstructure are hand faired to the highest industry standards and are painted with Imron paint.  The hull is painted with Alexseal paint.  There is a double boot stripe painted.

The deck is a one-piece vacuum infused composite molding using E-glass and Corecell with vinyl ester resin.  The hull is joined to the deck using an engineered flanged box joint and is bonded using a high strength adhesive with stainless steel mechanical fasteners.  This provides a permanent, watertight hull/deck joint.  The walking surfaces of the foredeck, side decks, cabin top and aft deck are molded non-skid with 1” waterways.  The walking surfaces of the cockpit and pilothouse have teak decking as standard. 

The pilothouse is built of an E-glass, Corecell, resin infused composite providing a stiff, strong, lightweight structure with sound and vibration dampening qualities.  The starboard helm seat provides seating for two with storage below.  The pilothouse seat storage includes a chart / computer accessory locker and also storage under the seat cushion.  The main electrical panel is located on the backside of the pilothouse helm seat.  Aft of the helm seat is the bar area with counter, bar sink, icemaker / beverage fridge, drawers and storage cabinet beneath. The portside settee with high gloss teak table provides seating for six with panoramic views. The portside of the pilothouse, forward of the settee, is open to the below decks galley providing daylight and additional ventilation.  A large retractable composite sunroof with tinted glass in the pilothouse results in all-weather versatility.  Vents in the overhead provide additional fresh air ventilation to the pilothouse.  The pilothouse helm station provides for a complete array of electronics and instruments, and offers 360-degree visibility.  There is also a wireless remote to operate the Side-Power bow and stern thrusters from the decks. Pilothouse windshield and side window glass is light gray tinted, ¼” bonded, tempered glass with ceramic frits.  Non-tinted ¼” tempered glass is bonded into the “scallops” on the aft sides of the pilothouse.  The pilothouse is secured with removable clear rigid panels and a frosted glass door with locking handset located aft of the settee and bar area.  A hinged composite mast that folds down for low bridge clearance is located on the pilothouse roof.

The large cockpit was designed to allow ample room for sitting, dining, fishing and sunbathing. There is a custom teak side boarding ladder from the cockpit to gunnel and a temporary sun awning. An opening transom door is provided for ease of boarding.  There is a custom cockpit table with cover and built-in transom seat which hinges forward and opens mechanically to provide a safe, secure, underside dinghy stowage garage for quick launch and retrieval of a shore boat, personal watercraft or mountain bikes. A custom removable electric davit system with power winch & remote control is provided for launch and retrieval of the shore boat. The davit is designed to be easily removed from its aft deck socket and stowed in the transom garage. The shore boat garage also provides gear stowage. Her shore boat is a HighField #CL 260 tender 2018 at 8’ 6” long with an aluminum bottom, powered by a 5hp “Leer” propane engine. A hot and cold cockpit shower is located at the transom.  Sitting and sunbathing space is also available at port and starboard sun pads as a standard. There are two custom removable drink holders.

A flush hatch in the deck provides easy access to the main engine compartment and generator.  Port and starboard cockpit bulwark lockers allow for storage of fenders and mooring lines. Teak toe-rails and 1-1/4” solid stainless steel half-round guards are fastened through the hull and deck flange.  Eight polished stainless steel deck cleats are provided; two at the bow, four amidships and two at the stern.  Custom stainless steel mooring line chocks are located at the bow and amidships.  Stainless steel chafe guards are fitted as required.  Two stainless steel deck fuel fills are located starboard side amidships.  The water tank fill and holding tank dockside discharge are located on the starboard side forward.  The foredeck anchor handling system consists of a stainless steel bow roller with a stainless steel “Bruce type” anchor and 250 feet of galvanized chain. A Muir 2500 anchor windlass is standard.  Three Lewmar Low Profile deck hatches are located over the forward stateroom and the two heads.  Each is equipped with retractable screens and privacy shades.  Six opening stainless steel portlights with screens provide ventilation to the cabin area.  A teak flagpole with stainless steel socket is supplied aft with a stainless steel flagpole supplied forward at the bow.  

A three-burner electric radiant heat cook top is standard along with a stainless steel Sharp convection microwave oven mounted above.  A Fisher & Paykel dishwasher is located in a teak cabinet below the cook top. A double stainless steel sink is supplied with hot and cold water through a Scandvik mixer with a pullout-extending faucet.  An abundance of storage is provided in above counter cabinets, below counter cabinets and drawers.  

The refrigerator is a custom stainless steel, front loading, refrigerator and drawer freezer with a water cooled remote mounted compressor.  Countertops are solid surface material with teak sea rails.  An opening port-light with screen in the galley provides ventilation.  The galley is open above to the pilothouse providing additional daylight and ventilation.

Northern Lights 13.5 KW marine diesel generator with 2,460 hours as of 28 August 2024 and bank of four 8D AGM batteries ( 2020) provide ship’s power.  Battery switching is located in the engine room. Two 8D AGM batteries ( 2020) provide engine-starting power.  Isolation is provided between the lighting and house circuits and the starting bank with the provision for emergency starting if necessary.  Charging of the electrical system is done through the Genset and the alternators mounted on each engine as well as a battery charger/inverter.  

A Glendinning “Cablemaster” shore power cord storage system is provided starboard side aft in the cockpit to provide power to 220V equipment and 110V outlets in each cabin as well as the galley, heads and pilothouse, where shore power is available.  Switching for both the 24V and 220V are provided at the main distribution panel located on the aft side of the helm seat and is equipped with both a voltmeter and ammeter.

All circuits are protected with circuit breakers and main disconnects.  All hull penetrating marine hardware is bonded and connected to a sacrificial zinc plate located at the transom below the swim step. Interior lighting includes overhead recessed lights positioned in the pilothouse and cabin areas. The lights are all conveniently switched and dimmable.  Bulkhead mounted reading lights are located in the two staterooms over the berths. Galley lights are located above the counter under the cabinets. Courtesy lights illuminate the walkway from the cockpit to the cabin sole.  Lighting is provided for the engine / mechanical compartment and lazarette.  Navigation lights meeting International Rules are provided. The red overhead lights above the helm and pilothouse table allow for night navigation.

She is equipped with Starlink,  Sirius radio and a Fusion audio/video system. There are two (2) NEW stereo speakers located in cockpit, pilothouse & galley. There is a NEW Flatscreen TV with DVD/CD recessed in the Master Stateroom, NEW Flatscreen TV with DVD also recessed in Galley for use when the Guest Stateroom is opened to the Galley as a Den/Sitting area and an additional Flatscreen TV in the Pilothouse. Apple TV on Salon TV.

ELECTRONICS include (2) Garmin Multi-function 17" displays: GPS, Radar, Chart & Camera, (2) Garmin depth sounders with transducers, folding composite mast, ICOM M-422 VHF radio, Simrad AP24 autopilot and an ACR Spotlight RCL100D mounted on the mast with electric remote control. 

Her main engines are twin MTU 600 Series (825hp) diesel engines with 1149 hours as of 28 April 2020. Her propellers are Nibral bronze, four bladed wheels.  The engine compartment is protected by an automatic fire extinguisher system.  A Reverso oil transfer pump system is provided for engine oil changes. There are Lenco Electric trim tabs.

One fully baffled aluminum fuel tank provides 750-gallon capacity with a double starboard side deck fill for fast refueling and a fuel polishing system. The tank is sounded with an electronic fuel gauge as well as a sight tube in the engine room. In-line double Racor fuel/water separators are provided for each engine.  The engine compartment is well lit and is easily accessed via a flush cockpit hatch.  Large ‘dry patches’ are located under the cockpit seating/sun pads for additional engine access during servicing. 

NEW 2019 MarineAir air conditioning chiller system with two (2) air handler units supply heat and air conditioning.  There is a large spare parts kit for engines and systems.

An 18” stainless steel destroyer type wheel with varnished mahogany trim is provided.  There is an engine room camera that feeds to the Garmin displays. Transmission and throttle control for the main engines is achieved using MTU electronic controls.  The electronic controls offer shift and throttle control with built-in safety features for use during emergency maneuvers.  Electronic engine synchronization is standard. Maneuvering and docking of the vessel is simplified with the Side-Power 8hp bow thruster and  Side-Power stern thruster with joystick control and wireless remote. The main engines are alarmed to warn of engine problems.  The electronic main engine instrument control panel located at the helm displays RPM’s with engine oil pressure and temperature, gear oil pressure and temperature, gallons per hour and DC volts. A 4 ½” Ritchie Navigator compass is mounted forward of the helm console. 

All pilothouse helm and settee cushions were new in 2018. All interior below decks cushions and mattresses are covered in Sunbrella fabric.  Exterior cockpit cushions are re covered in 2022 with appropriate outdoor Sunbrella fabric to resist moisture.  A canvas cockpit cover is supplied in Sunbrella material to cover the entire cockpit aft of the pilothouse. A Textaline windshield provides privacy and UV protection to the pilothouse. All exterior canvas is NEW in 2019. NEW canvas toe rail covers included.

120 gallons of fresh water are stored in a baffled stainless steel tank with an electronic tank sounding gauge. Hot water is supplied by a ten-gallon hot water heater.  Both showers drain to a sump pump system for discharge overboard.  Three Rule 3700 GPH electric bilge pumps with Rule Ultra automatic float switches are located forward in the cabin, aft in the engine compartment and in the lazarette. Bilge alarm system will produce an audible and visual alarm at the helm if water is detected. Bronze thru hull fittings throughout are U. L. listed and fitted with seacocks. 

A Village Marine 25gph watermaker is provided. Freshwater washdown systems are located on the foredeck, cockpit and skiff garage.

The below decks general arrangement offers forward and starboard side staterooms with queen berths, with a galley and two heads complete with separate showers.  Both staterooms have ample storage in hanging lockers and drawers.  Storage is also provided beneath the berths. Solid teak louvered doors are used throughout for privacy and ventilation.  The master stateroom forward provides an “island queen” berth arrangement with two large hanging lockers and further storage provided in drawers and lockers.  The master stateroom has two screened, opening stainless steel port lights and a screened Lewmar Low Profile overhead hatch providing daylight and ventilation.  The starboard side guest stateroom provides a queen berth arrangement that folds up converting the queen berth into a settee, with a hanging locker and stowage in under berth drawers and lockers.  An upper pilot berth provides an additional single berth The center line bulkhead is a two panel pocket door that opens the guest stateroom to the galley, converting it into a below decks settee, den or entertainment area. The interior is trimmed with teak and finished to a satin sheen.  The hull sides forward in the master stateroom and in the starboard side guest stateroom are sheathed with solid teak “ceiling” strips. High gloss teak & holly finish the floors in the galley and staterooms. Countertops are surfaced with solid surfacing material with teak rails.A screened, opening stainless steel port light provides daylight and ventilation to the guest stateroom.  Berth mattress is full-size and custom-made by Handcraft Mattress.  Overheads are Majilite fabric and Waynes coating with teak trim supports.