QA3 - Hatteras FOR SALE

QA3 stands proudly among the coveted 48’ Hatteras Long Range Cruiser series. Unequivocally, “QA3” presents as the best-kept 48LRC currently available. Formerly in the hands of a professional captain, this trawler-style motor yacht enjoyed a thoughtful mini-refit from mid-2024 through mid-2025, followed by a relaxed season cruising the Bahamas. Now offered due to family commitments, she is genuinely turn-key, Great Loop capable, and conveniently positioned for viewing in Stuart, Florida—an elegant bluewater passagemaker with true liveaboard appeal.

Inside, a beautifully finished teak two-stateroom layout showcases a master with an athwartship king, complemented by a welcoming salon and a pristine custom galley. Power comes from economical twin Detroit Diesel 4-53Ns, with recently serviced Naiad fin stabilizers for composed passages and Key Power hydraulic bow and stern thrusters for confident close-quarters handling. Navigation is effortless with a newly updated Garmin electronics suite backed up by Raymarine, while reliable ship’s power is delivered by two Northern Lights generators. Seamless connectivity is assured via Starlink for uninterrupted communication and streaming. Additional highlights include a hinged mast that opens bridge-clearance options for the Great Loop, inviting foredeck seating under a canvas sail shade, a new Dometic MasterFlush freshwater head system with renewed hoses, and a refreshed HRO Horizon reverse-osmosis watermaker producing approximately 15 gallons per hour. With a substantial 1,380-gallon fuel capacity, “QA3” offers the impressive range discerning cruising yacht owners expect—refined, efficient, and ready to voyage.

Accommodations & walk-through

Designed for effortless cruising, this yacht offers two staterooms and heads, with special emphasis on the centrally located master stateroom, delivering exceptional comfort for a cruising couple. The forward guest stateroom features a spacious V-berth, reading lights, generous drawer and locker storage, a built-in seat with cushion, two opening port lights, teak sheathing on the hull sides, and an opening hatch overhead. Just aft to starboard, the guest head provides a vanity, sink, electric toilet, a stall shower, and an opening portlight.

Mid-ship, the master stateroom presents a walk-around king berth set athwartships and slightly off the port side, complemented by abundant drawer and locker storage, large opening portlights, and an ensuite head with vanity, sink, electric toilet, and a spacious stall shower with seat and portlight. Moving forward from the companionway, spiral steps lead up to the pilothouse, where a center-line helm is paired with a watch berth situated above and behind the raised leather settee, while sliding wing doors to port and starboard open to the generous side decks. Returning inside, three steps descend to the saloon, arranged with a U-shaped galley to port, an L-shaped settee aft to port, and a comfortable lounge chair to starboard.

Salon

A refined Hatteras Mozambique teak and Afromosia wood interior sets a warm, sophisticated tone. A sliding centerline rear entry door to the cockpit integrates a hideaway Phantom screen door, inviting breeze and light. To port, an L-shaped, freshly covered ivory vinyl settee with pillows conceals storage beneath, served by a hi-low expanding teak table. Opposite, a custom storage cabinet organizes liquor bottles along with AV and stereo equipment, topped by a table lamp and complemented by various teak book and magazine shelves. Opening side and aft windows, complete with screens, wood mini-blinds, and renewed dark tinting, modulate light and airflow, while wood valances and wood strip ceiling battens underscore the yacht’s craftsmanship. Brass wall sconce lamps warm the aft salon corners. Forward to starboard, teak drawers and a desktop sit beneath a swing-mounted LG TV. The 48LRC iconic circular portlights are here and above the galley sink. Underfoot, a varnished teak decking sole runs throughout the interior, softened by area rugs.

Galley

Located forward to port and open to the salon, the updated, impeccably clean galley is appointed for serious cruising and gracious living. A Corian countertop with molded-in double sinks and a fold-down counter extension anchors the workspace, complemented by a stainless backsplash on the forward countertop and along the side by the stovetop. Cold-plate refrigeration is thoughtfully arranged with a freezer under the counter and a refrigerator paired with a wine cooler, both with pull-out drawers for easy access. Cooking is handled by a Force 10 stainless steel three-burner propane cooktop with an oven below, supported by a Frigidaire stainless-front microwave oven. A Splendide 2000 washer/dryer adds onboard convenience, while a custom storage cabinet with slide-out drawers, together with abundant storage drawers and cabinets throughout, keeps provisions and cookware neatly organized.

Pilothouse

Designed for command and comfort, the pilothouse centers on a Pompanette helm seat with a teak ladderback and armrests, paired with a fiberglass footrest for assured footing. An L-shaped, leather-covered settee integrates storage and is served by a folding teak table, with a watch berth positioned above the settee for extended passages. Clear visibility and clean operation come from windshield wipers with freshwater wash, while classic touches include a brass clock and barometer. Practicality abounds with side deck access doors on both sides, storage drawers, and a dedicated chart drawer below the settee. Light and breeze are invited through an opening aft window with screen, and the space is finished with a varnished teak sole for timeless warmth.

Flybridge

The flybridge is reached via four teak-tread stairs from both side decks, leading to an open cabin-top deck encircled by stainless steel railings, and forward, a couple more steps rise to the helm deck positioned above the pilothouse. Comfort and control are assured beneath a Bimini top with a three-sided enclosure, while three Pompanette helm seats with teak ladderbacks, armrests, and footrests provide secure, ergonomic seating. A cushioned bench seat conceals a cold-plate cooler beneath, complemented by a fiberglass deck box for additional storage. Tender operations are effortless with freshly painted and refreshed tender chocks and a Nautical Structures HMC 1,000 lbs davit with new hydraulic lines. The package includes an AB Ocean Runner 12 VS RIB measuring 11'6", model year 2012, powered by a newer Yamaha 20 HP four-stroke outboard. Safety is enhanced by a Viking six-man emergency coastal canister raft with hydrostatic release, dated September 2024.

Deck and hull

Commanding the foredeck is a Maxwell 4000 hydraulic windlass, refreshed ’23, operated by convenient foot control switches and feeding a stainless steel anchor chute and roller set into the fiberglass pulpit, partnered with a CQR plow anchor. A spare Danforth 40 lbs anchor stands ready with a 300-foot nylon rode. The area is secured by stainless steel bow and pulpit rails and accented by stainless steel deck hardware, while teak cap rails are preserved beneath tailored canvas covers. Comfort and versatility come together with foredeck bench seating that conceals useful storage, two deck storage boxes on the bow with cushions for the tops, and a canvas sail shade with support posts that mount cleanly on the bow railing. For anglers and adventurers, rod holders and a fender storage rack line the aft flybridge railing, collapsible outriggers are stowed in the forward locker, and a dual trumpet air horn ensures clear signaling. Boarding is simplified by a Marquip Sea Stair gangway, and a fiberglass swim platform with a retractable swim ladder makes water access effortless, further enhanced after dark by underwater lights added ’24. The cockpit showcases a teak deck, coverboards, and side-mounted name boards, each with protective covers, complemented by a navy canvas windshield cover and a pulpit canvas cover. Practical cruising details include a double propane tank locker aft of the helm deck, and a hinged mast that makes the Great Loop possible.

Electronics

Command and control are elevated by two Garmin GPSMAP 1243xvs touchscreens in the pilothouse (’24), complemented by a Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot with a GHC 50 control panel in the pilothouse (’24) and a Garmin GMI 20 digital data display in the pilothouse (’24). A Garmin GMR Fantom 54 open array radar with a seventy-two-mile range (’24), the Garmin G‑Wind masthead unit, a Garmin satellite compass, and a Garmin NMEA backbone integrate seamlessly for precise navigation. On the flybridge, a Garmin GPSMAP 1643 touchscreen (’24) works in concert with Raymarine C‑series multi‑function displays located both on the flybridge and in the pilothouse, with Raymarine radar interfaced to each Raymarine multi‑function display for comprehensive situational awareness. Redundant guidance is assured by Raytheon RayPilot RP650 autopilot systems on the flybridge and in the pilothouse, while Raytheon ST80 Mulitview and ST60 Multiview displays on the flybridge and a Raytheon ST80 Masterview display in the pilothouse present data clearly. Core navigation aids include a Ritchie magnetic compass at both stations and ACR spotlight controls on the flybridge and in the pilothouse.

Communication and monitoring are equally robust, with Raymarine Ray218 VHFs on the flybridge and in the pilothouse featuring full‑function microphones, and an ICOM IC‑M700 SSB in the pilothouse. A CCTV monitor with an Everplex switching panel oversees three cameras in the engine room, augmented by a Garmin GC200 Marine IP camera with IR on the aft deck (’24) and a Sionyx Nightwave Ultra Low‑Light marine camera on the mast (’24). The electronics suite is supported by a dedicated battery and charger, renewed in (’24), and enhanced by Starlink Gen 3 connectivity. Finishing touches include a Chelsea clock in the pilothouse, a Boston barometer and clock in the salon, and a Fusion Marine stereo on the flybridge.

Mechanical & electrical

Power comes from twin Detroit Diesel 4-53 Naturals rated at 130 HP, with posted engine hours read from the working hour meters on the General Systems electrical panel; no paperwork is available to support total hours since new or any engine overhauls. Protection and control are thoughtfully specified with engine alarms with bell, an additional dedicated engine start battery, dual Racor primary fuel filters, Morse engine controls, Hynautic hydraulic steering, a Glendinning engine synchronizer, Borg Warner 72C gearboxes with a 2.91:1 ratio, and three-blade propellers. Confident seakeeping is enhanced by a Naiad 252 stabilizer system with six square foot fins and KeyPower hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, while an oil change system and an engine room fire suppression system with current certification underscore reliable operation. Tank levels are easily monitored via a Tank Tender indicator for fuel, water, and holding tanks.

Electrical generation and distribution are equally robust, featuring Northern Lights generators of 20 kW and 8 kW, complemented by a Xantrex inverter with a remote panel in the pilothouse installed in 2024. Shore power is flexible and convenient with a 50-amp shore power cord and 50-amp and 30-amp shore power connections provided forward and aft, plus 110 VAC outlets on the flybridge.

Onboard comfort is delivered by a Cruisair reverse-cycle air conditioning and heating system across four zones, with the forward stateroom unit new in 2025. Service updates include a flush and descale of heat exchangers, the air-conditioning system, and refrigeration in late 2024. Freshwater independence comes via an HRO SeaFari watermaker fully renovated in 2024 and producing 15 gallons per hour. During the replacement of the marine toilets, all hoses to and from the blackwater tank were replaced, as was the macerator pump. Rounding out the ship’s readiness are spare propellers, a spare shaft, and an extra-large inventory of spare parts.

Broker's comments

Presented in truly turn-key condition, this 48LRC—QA3—returns to the market sooner than expected after a brief period of use that followed a full year of comprehensive systems review and updating. Ready to roam the open waters once more, she promises genuine pleasure for her next fortunate owner. The seller is fully committed to the sale, and the yacht is easily available for inspection in Stuart, Florida.

Exclusions

The sale expressly excludes tools, personal items, and certain pieces of artwork.

Disclaimer

The details of this vessel are presented in good faith; however, neither the accuracy of this information nor the condition of the vessel is guaranteed or warranted. Prospective buyers are encouraged to instruct their agents or surveyors to examine and verify any particulars they wish to have validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. Items visible in photographs or aboard at the time of showing may be excluded from the sale, and a list of specific exclusions may be requested and included with a written offer. Tools and personal effects are likely to be excluded.

Overview & features

QA3 is one of the ever‑popular 48’ Hatteras Long Range Cruisers, and it stands out with confidence as the best-condition 48LRC available. Owned by a former professional captain, it benefited from a thoughtful mini-refit from mid‑2024 to mid‑2025 before spending several months cruising the Bahamas. Now offered due to family obligations, this turn‑key yacht is ready to continue its adventures and is easily shown in Stuart, Florida.

Step inside to a beautiful teak two‑stateroom interior highlighted by an athwartship king bed in the master, complemented by a comfortable salon and a spotless custom galley. Underway, twin Detroit Diesel 4‑53 N engines deliver exceptional economy, while serviced Naiad fin stabilizers and Key Power hydraulic bow and stern thrusters ensure composed handling in all conditions. A hinged mast makes Great Loop travel a genuine possibility, and foredeck seating with a canvas sail shade invites relaxed moments at anchor.

Modernized for effortless cruising, QA3 features a newly updated Garmin electronics suite with a Raymarine backup system and a Starlink system for non‑stop communications and streaming. Power needs are met by two Northern Lights generators, while a new Dometic Masterflush freshwater head system with renewed hoses adds fresh convenience. Extended autonomy comes from a renewed HRO Horizon reverse‑osmosis watermaker producing 15 gallons per hour and a 1,380‑gallon fuel capacity that delivers impressive range.