BoatsNordfarer 42 (Alden)

Nordfarer 42 (Alden)

Masthead Yawl · Long Keel · 1956–1960

A classic John G. Alden masthead yawl with a long keel, built between 1956 and 1960 for offshore comfort

Designed by John G. Alden, built by LaCompte.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43
CoastalBluewater

At 1.56 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.56
LightHeavy

388 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 388
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.6
TenderStiff

33% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 33%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Draws more than ~91% of boats her size on file

Compared with 350 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
32.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Yawl
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.6
Displacement / length
388.3
Comfort ratio
43.2
Capsize screening
1.56
Hull speed
7.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1178
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Wood
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1956–1960
Units built
15
Designer
John G. Alden
Builder
LaCompte, LeComte Yachts

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.

Cabo Rico 3811.58 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterAn aft-cockpit evolution of the Tiburon 36, offering a heavy-displacement cutter platform for stable blue-water sailing
Mason 4413.39 mSame hull family0.7 m longerAn updated long-keeled evolution of the Mason 43, offered as a masthead ketch or cutter for stable blue-water cruising
Downeaster 3811.58 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterA 1974-era cutter with a 35.4 comfort ratio, built for stable, long-distance voyaging on a heavy-displacement hull
Whitby Boatworks 4212.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Edward S. Brewer-designed long-keeled ketch built for offshore comfort and stability over a long production run
Bristol Yachts 3911.89 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA 1966 masthead sloop with a long keel, built for five years as a precursor to the long-running Bristol 40
Hans Christian 38T11.56 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterA traditional cutter with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built between 1976 and 1989 for steady offshore cruising

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

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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