The Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985 vs Ocean Yachts Super Sport 48 1990 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 735 hp, the Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985 has a 250-hp advantage over the Ocean Yachts Super Sport 48 1990's 485-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Ocean Yachts Super Sport 48 1990 carries 635 gallons versus 1 gallons in the Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Ocean Yachts Super Sport 48 1990 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport 1985 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 55,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Ocean Yachts Super Sport 48 1990 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.