Motor Boat & Yachting — November 2017

AT A GLANCE

Length 43ft 6in (13.3m)

Beam 14ft 1in (4.3m)

Engines Twin Cummins 480hp

Top speed on trial 24 knots

Price from £570,000 inc 20%

VAT Price as tested £664,950

inc 20% VAT

temperature more evenly than a hot-
air heating system. It’s a standard
feature, too.
A new exhaust system runs right aft
to an exit at the waterline, the result
being a tickover so quiet, it’s hard to
tell if the engines are running or not.
At displacement speeds, the most
intrusive sound is that of water
burbling past the bathing platform.
The joystick takes some getting
used to as the bow thruster activates

more immediately than the engines

and when you apply full power

sideways, the bow thruster has little

hope of keeping up with the stern and

its 960hp of grunt. Still, it does take

the sting out of berthing, especially

if you’re new to twin engines. It’s

possible to use the throttles and bow

thruster in the traditional method too.

The 480s are the largest engines

available and they managed to thrust

the 42 up to a top speed of 24 knots

with very little fuel on board and some

basic stores. That’s comfortable

performance for a semi-displacement

cruiser and, with a touch of tab to

lever the bow down, she clips along

very nicely in the high teens for a fast

cruise. Though there is only one helm

position, it is a very good one. There

is plenty of adjustment both in the

seats and the steering wheel so

drivers of differing dimensions can

get comfortable and with the seat

back and wheel tilted up, it’s easy

to stand and drive.

The hydraulic steering system was

in need of bleeding so it felt unusually

heavy, but once the wheel was

muscled from lock to lock, the boat

turned quite neatly with little loss of

speed in hard turns. The fast-reacting

Lenco trim tabs take the edge of a stiff

beam-on breeze, but the 42’s natural

running attitude is well balanced.

Though it is a more contemporary

offering, the 42’s key assets don’t

waiver from the boat I tested nearly

ten years ago. That doesn’t mean

it feels out of date, more that the

original design was right on the

money. The home-from-home interior

delivers domestic-sized living spaces

and the location of the cabins affords

the owner and their guests ultimate

privacy in a boat of this footprint.

Trader’s pricing policy is sensible.

The standard specification is very

high so although the headline price

seems steep, the boat comes with all

the extras most owners tick the box

for anyway – no need to add reams of

extras to get a decent on-water spec.

It may have orange cushions and

futuristic glazing, but the measured,

practical design that won so many

people over is still the 42’s finest asset.

Contact Trader Motor Yachts.

Tel: +44 (0)3332 401696.

Web: http://www.tradermotoryachts.com

49

Guests are well

looked after in

the VIP cabin

Home-from-home

comfort in the saloon

Hull windows brighten

up the master ensuite

The angled

island berth in

the aft master

This craft is so quiet that at displacement

speeds, the most intrusive sound is water

burbling past the bathing platform