BoatsBeneteau R/C 42

Beneteau R/C 42

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1983

A shoal-draft variant of the First 42, balancing performance with a 2.21m keel for shallower cruising grounds

Designed by German Frers.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

1.99 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.99
LightHeavy

174 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 174
EasygoingPowered-up

16.8 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.8
TenderStiff

47% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 47%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Draws more than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2499 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
46.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.8
Displacement / length
174.3
Comfort ratio
24.1
Capsize screening
1.99
Hull speed
8.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1705
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1983
Designer
German Frers
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Ct-44 (Pilot House)13.16 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Tanton-designed pilot house cutter featuring a fin keel and skeg-mounted rudder for offshore stability
Beneteau 42 CC13.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA cutter-rigged cruiser produced from 2003 to 2007, widely utilized in the charter trade for its accessible layout
Italia Yachts 12.9812.98 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop by Matteo Polli, balancing a powerful sail area with a modern, light-displacement hull
Dufour Yachts 430 Grand Large13.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2019 Umberto Felci design with a 2.1-meter bulb keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited cruising
Tartan Marine 430013.13 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 13-meter masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.51-meter fin keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
C&C 44 Custom13.46 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn ultra-light, race-focused iteration of the C&C 44 featuring exotic materials and a deeper 2.57-meter keel

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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