The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 vs Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 at 48,6 ft versus Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 at 48,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 tips the scales at 31 702 lbs — 837 lbs less than the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 at 30 865 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 carries a rated maximum of 110 hp. Engine data for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 172 gal and 172 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
Both boats are rated for 14 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 30 865 lbs for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 and 31 702 lbs for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 draws 7,8 ft, compared to 5,1 ft for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016. That 2,7-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 uses Sloop rigging. The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 has a documented auxiliary engine of 110 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 8,7 knots for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 and 8,7 knots for the Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016.
Bottom line: The Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Deep draft Deep draft 2016 and Wauquiez Pilot Saloon 48 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.