BoatsDufour Yachts 42 (S&S)

Dufour Yachts 42 (S&S)

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1988–1992

A Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop designed for performance with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

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

See her sail

The Dufour Yachts 42 (S&S), on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Triteia

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.91
LightHeavy

183 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 183
EasygoingPowered-up

25.1 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 25.1
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

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

  • Draws more than ~89% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2630 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Dufour Yachts 42 (S&S), as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Dufour Yachts 42 (S&S) is a 1988–1992 Sparkman & Stephens-designed masthead sloop, originally offered as the LACOSTE 42, with a fin keel and spade rudder. It measures 12.8 meters LOA, 3.9 meters beam, 2.3 meters draft, and displaces 8499 kg. The design, S&S #2462, was also available in a shoal draft version of 1.75 meters. The spade rudder design, while offering maneuverability for coastal cruising, is vulnerable to damage during groundings, unlike skeg-hung or full-keel rudders.6:32

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
25.1
Displacement / length
182.9
Comfort ratio
26.2
Capsize screening
1.91
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1614
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1988–1992
Units built
12
Designer
Sparkman, Stephens
Builder
Dufour Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

Dufour Yachts 425 Grand Large12.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.9-meter fractional sloop with a 2.1-meter bulb keel, optimized for a stable 8.13-knot hull speed
Dufour 425 Grand Large Boat Tour | Our home at seafrom Sailing Blue Prince
Bavaria Yachts 4112.83 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1995 fractional sloop with a high 23.59 SA/D ratio, designed for performance-oriented cruising
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT WE'D BE SAILING HERE AGAIN! EP-897:58from Leading the Escapade
Baltic Yachts 42 DP12.78 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson design with a 2.41-metre draft, available in tall mast and keel-centerboard configurations.
These Tiny Boats Are Crossing the Atlantic in Hurricane Season Ep 52from Sailing Northern Brees
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Sailing Alone in Fog Without Losing Your Cool11:09from The Mariner
X Yachts X-4312.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Niels Jeppesen-designed fractional sloop balancing performance-oriented sail area with a stiff, bulb-keel hull
I finally found my next boat!from Sam Holmes Sailing
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/4212.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.8-metre cruiser featuring a fin keel with bulb and spade rudder, designed for offshore stability and speed
Back on land after nearly 3 years - nasty surprise?? Shipyard part 1/20:47from Eternal Sailing

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.

Lacoste 42A Sparkman & Stephens design with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, later produced as the Dufour 42Dufour Yachts Classic 41A J&J-designed masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited cruising performanceDufour Yachts 41A 1971 masthead sloop with a skeg-mounted rudder, offered in both sloop and ketch configurations for versatile cruisingDufour Yachts Classic 43A Mortain & Mavrikios cruiser featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a 1.9m fin keel for balanced speedGulfstream 42 (S&S)A 1960 fin-keeled masthead sloop from Sparkman & Stephens, featuring a moderate displacement and classic linesDufour Yachts Classic 32A J&J-designed masthead sloop balancing a high sail area-to-displacement ratio with a comfortable, stable cruising hull

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