The 42C is the little
brother of the immensely popular 46 Convertible, which is nearly
identical in every way except scale. The 42 was slightly less
popular, and therefore there are fewer of them, perhaps because
the price differential with the 46 was not all that much.
Like a lot of builders, they end up with two models that compete
with each other. But its a real gem of a boat if you don't mind
cabin spaces that are not as well laid out as they should be.
As a fishing platform it is nearly ideal, and makes a decent
southern cruising boat as well. There are lots of them that are
never fished.
As with the 46, the 42 was also offered in a
motor yacht model (shown on the introduction page), both of which
were a total bust because they didn't fool anyone as to what they
are: an attempt to make a motor yacht out of a hull designed for
a sport fisherman. Few builders are ever successful doing this.
This model was first introduced in 1973, and
along with the 46C, is one of the longest production yachts ever
built, finally discontinued in 1987. Fourteen years of non-stop
production has to tell you something about this boat when the
average production run is probably more like two years. Originally
coming in at 34,000 lbs., she grew in weight over the years to
40,000 lbs. but engine power increased considerably also. The
original 8V71's were a bit slow, but these engines are going to
last a long time, too. The 6V92's move her along at respectable
speeds, although fuel consumption is not so respectable.
In our view, the 42C offers one of the best values
around in a used boat of its class. Not only is it well built,
but the overall design achieves its purpose of creating a first
rate fishing platform with decent amenities. With a 14-10 beam
and a moderately sized deck house, interior space is adequate.
The bridge layout is good, and the cockpit, having fished this
one myself, is plenty big with a full Murray Brothers chair. Throw
in a tackle center on both sides of the door and it cramps up
a bit because the bridge ladder stands off the bulkhead by 30".
What makes the 42 an overall better performer
are the fact that the hull vee is less than the 46, plus the fact
that she'll hold the same size engines. That means that
she isn't hobbled by underpowered engines and they are comparatively
much faster boats, a feature which nearly everyone likes. Nor
are they as fuel hoggy. Power options run the gamut, all the way
from 6-71's, 8V71's, 6V92's and the Cummins 903. You really need
800 HP to drive this boat, so we don't recommend anything less
than that. With that much power, not many folks will be dissatisfied
with her performance.
What you will be dissatisfied with are (1) wood
cockpits on earlier models, (2) generators under leaky cockpit
decks that turn into a ball of rust, (3) wood tackle centers,
(4) those horrible aluminum rub rails that corrode badly, and
(5) an engine room that is badly cramped.
Beyond that, this a great boat. The photo above
is a dolled up job that looks just super by just adding a small
feature stripe, tinted windows and painting the window frames
black, plus a little gold striping. If she looks to be sitting
a little funny, that's because this photo was taken just a few
days after hurricane Opal. Other boats around her were badly damaged
or destroyed, but total damage to this one was $22,000. Below
is another 42 that the 160 MPH winds and waves of Andrew pushed
through and took down nearly 100 yards of mangrove forest. And
mangrove wood is darn tough stuff.
After seeing so many of these boats bashed and
battered, we know how they're built, and we can tell you that
they really are tough cookies. These hull laminates are no thicker
than anybody else's, but it is the engineering expertise - often
utterly lacking in so many others - that makes the difference.
These hulls are plain old woven roving construction and hold up
better than all the exotic materials you hear about put together.
When you hear builders touting the latest and greatest high tech
stuff, we say HOOEY! And we'll be pleased to show you the proof,
because its contained right here on the pages of this web site.
That's why, over and over again, we show you pictures of busted
up boats. The only way to test 'em is to break 'em, and that's
what storms do.
In the photo showing the boat sitting on the roadway,
most of the bottom strakes were torn off. The props and rudders
are completely mangled. With the weight of the boat sitting on them,
were they pushed up through the bottom and did it fill with water?
Nope. No water entered the hull.
There aren't a lot of 15-20 year old boats that
are really worth spending some money on, but the 42C definitely
is. With prices in the low $100's, putting 50-100k into one of these
can net you a nearly new boat at half the price. And one that
will continue to look good and not deteriorate at a rate that breaks
the bank.
