I have been thinking of purchasing a larger boat and have made an offer on a Hunter 42 passage with the center cockpit. I have been sailing a 30 footer for 5 yerrs and it is basicly me doing all the work and the family watching me sweet.I would appreciate some advice on the confort level and sailing ability of this boat. We do not do a lot of overnights since we live next to a marina. I would appreciate any advise that anyone has to offer.
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Passage 42
The Passage 42 is a great boat. And I'm by now you now all the positives. Here the only problems I have (keep in mind, I have looked for a better boat and after 7 years, I still have not found one, even for more money) 1) Boom too high. Makes mailsail flaking a nightmare if you are singlehanded, or if you and your crew are short. (I am 6'2" and I still have problems. I installed a Stac Pac last year, and it is better. I would have gone with a mainsail furling system, but they want too much money. 2) Hard to find a comfortable place to sit in the cockpit for long cruises. I installed a helm chair behind the wheel. 2002-2003 I cruised the east coast....3500 miles, couldn't live without it. 3) Single line mainsail reefing is hard. I am redesigning the system as we speak. 4) Primary winches are not close enough to the wheel, If you are sailing by yourself, an auto-pilot is a must. 5) Going from a 30 footer to a 42 requires a little change, on a 30 footer your can man-handle most lines on the boat up untill it gets really nasty, on a 42 foot boat, you need to use the winches a lot sooner. I always figured it was too much boat for one person.....that is until I forced myself to stop thinking that I was sailing dingy....it's a big boat, but if you set it properly.....you can do it and enjoy it. 6) Yard and dockage bills are bigger. I live on my Passage 42 and I am intimate with the boat, and I couldn't see myself on anything else except maybe an Oyster...
I've included a link, click on Second Chance to read about my trip, and to see pictures etc. etc.
The Passage 42 is a great boat. And I'm by now you now all the positives. Here the only problems I have (keep in mind, I have looked for a better boat and after 7 years, I still have not found one, even for more money) 1) Boom too high. Makes mailsail flaking a nightmare if you are singlehanded, or if you and your crew are short. (I am 6'2" and I still have problems. I installed a Stac Pac last year, and it is better. I would have gone with a mainsail furling system, but they want too much money. 2) Hard to find a comfortable place to sit in the cockpit for long cruises. I installed a helm chair behind the wheel. 2002-2003 I cruised the east coast....3500 miles, couldn't live without it. 3) Single line mainsail reefing is hard. I am redesigning the system as we speak. 4) Primary winches are not close enough to the wheel, If you are sailing by yourself, an auto-pilot is a must. 5) Going from a 30 footer to a 42 requires a little change, on a 30 footer your can man-handle most lines on the boat up untill it gets really nasty, on a 42 foot boat, you need to use the winches a lot sooner. I always figured it was too much boat for one person.....that is until I forced myself to stop thinking that I was sailing dingy....it's a big boat, but if you set it properly.....you can do it and enjoy it. 6) Yard and dockage bills are bigger. I live on my Passage 42 and I am intimate with the boat, and I couldn't see myself on anything else except maybe an Oyster...
I've included a link, click on Second Chance to read about my trip, and to see pictures etc. etc.
Al, we've had our P42 going on five years...
and do not live aboard. Over these five years we've put over 3,000 miles, 80% of which have been solo in all kinds of weather. Wonderful boat, one of Hunter Marine's best models. Easy to handle, stiff, fast and very comfortable. Of Andy's comments, ditto 3, 5, and 6 (comes with the territory). Ours came equipped with all the standard stuff plus an Autohelm 7000, Onan 8kw Genset, three blade fixed prop, all leather uphosltery and heat pumps for the main (16K BTU) and aft cabins (9K BTU). I've added a Garmin 178C (wonderful gizmo) and in the process of installing a Wallas 40D diesel furnace to extend the cruising season while on the hook. Our model year did not come with midship cleats, an important addition for this size boat to aid in solo docking IMHO. I bought them from Hunter Marine and installed both myself. Two seasons ago we cruised the PNW waters for five weeks and this past season seven weeks. This coming season we plan on eight plus weeks. No regrets on our decision. My admiral was sold on the boat once she stepped into the aft cabin. Rather than install a captains chair inside the cockpit as others have done I use a low profile camp chair that I sit in on top of the sun deck. Most of the time we're under sail and to me a permanent chair would get in the way. Terry
and do not live aboard. Over these five years we've put over 3,000 miles, 80% of which have been solo in all kinds of weather. Wonderful boat, one of Hunter Marine's best models. Easy to handle, stiff, fast and very comfortable. Of Andy's comments, ditto 3, 5, and 6 (comes with the territory). Ours came equipped with all the standard stuff plus an Autohelm 7000, Onan 8kw Genset, three blade fixed prop, all leather uphosltery and heat pumps for the main (16K BTU) and aft cabins (9K BTU). I've added a Garmin 178C (wonderful gizmo) and in the process of installing a Wallas 40D diesel furnace to extend the cruising season while on the hook. Our model year did not come with midship cleats, an important addition for this size boat to aid in solo docking IMHO. I bought them from Hunter Marine and installed both myself. Two seasons ago we cruised the PNW waters for five weeks and this past season seven weeks. This coming season we plan on eight plus weeks. No regrets on our decision. My admiral was sold on the boat once she stepped into the aft cabin. Rather than install a captains chair inside the cockpit as others have done I use a low profile camp chair that I sit in on top of the sun deck. Most of the time we're under sail and to me a permanent chair would get in the way. Terry
very nice boat for me
I have had my 01 420 for a year now and could not be more happy...see link below for owner reviews on this site... I was offered 20k more for mine than I paid and turned it down as I could not think of any boat I would rather have. Pros very, very spacious inside & out sails well powers well with mast furming main & jib, VERY easy to handle... small jib makes tacking easy enough that my 10 year old daughter can do it aft master stateroom is reason enough to buy the boat Cons some components are not top grade not the most beautiful lines on the water Great boat, get one and don't look back. If you have any specific questions, e-mail me. Cheers!
I have had my 01 420 for a year now and could not be more happy...see link below for owner reviews on this site... I was offered 20k more for mine than I paid and turned it down as I could not think of any boat I would rather have. Pros very, very spacious inside & out sails well powers well with mast furming main & jib, VERY easy to handle... small jib makes tacking easy enough that my 10 year old daughter can do it aft master stateroom is reason enough to buy the boat Cons some components are not top grade not the most beautiful lines on the water Great boat, get one and don't look back. If you have any specific questions, e-mail me. Cheers!
Al, it's a great boat...
but if you live next door to the marina and don't do many overnights, is a cc really the boat you want? There are lots of trade-offs with the wonderful aft cabin being the major gain. Seems that's going to be wasted in your case. Seems that one of the newer designed 41's or similar would be the boat for you. Just my 2 cents....
but if you live next door to the marina and don't do many overnights, is a cc really the boat you want? There are lots of trade-offs with the wonderful aft cabin being the major gain. Seems that's going to be wasted in your case. Seems that one of the newer designed 41's or similar would be the boat for you. Just my 2 cents....
Andy, what plans do you have to redesign...
the reefing system on your P42 to make it easier to use? As you pointed out reefing on your boat, like ours, is very hard. My plan was to tear into it, thinking that the reefing block inside the boom needed cleaning and/or lubricating, or perhaps the lines were twisted, or go to one size smaller reef line. Terry
the reefing system on your P42 to make it easier to use? As you pointed out reefing on your boat, like ours, is very hard. My plan was to tear into it, thinking that the reefing block inside the boom needed cleaning and/or lubricating, or perhaps the lines were twisted, or go to one size smaller reef line. Terry
I Think The P42 Is Hard To Beat
We go to the Annapolis boat show about every other fall and have done so for many years. All through the 90's we would visit the Hunter display, get on the 42, and go away saying, "Someday we will have one of those." In all of those years the only other boat that we were more interested in having was the Hylas 54. $500,000 then, more now - not possible. We went in 2001 and did not like the new model quite a well as the old 42 so we went home and started looking. We found a fresh water boat in Kentucky and owned it 3 weeks later. I agree with most of the comments. The boom is too high, the cockpit seats are too narrow, the in-boom furling system sucks, and there is enough windage to sail without putting up the sails. However, when the seas get up to 6 and 8 feet on Lake Erie and everyone else is scurrying for cover, we just keep on going. I cannot foresee changing boats. This one is big enough, strong enough, roomy enough, comfortable enough, and powerful enough to satisfy me. It would take hitting the lottery and being able to afford the Hylas to make me change. I guess that is a recommendation.
We go to the Annapolis boat show about every other fall and have done so for many years. All through the 90's we would visit the Hunter display, get on the 42, and go away saying, "Someday we will have one of those." In all of those years the only other boat that we were more interested in having was the Hylas 54. $500,000 then, more now - not possible. We went in 2001 and did not like the new model quite a well as the old 42 so we went home and started looking. We found a fresh water boat in Kentucky and owned it 3 weeks later. I agree with most of the comments. The boom is too high, the cockpit seats are too narrow, the in-boom furling system sucks, and there is enough windage to sail without putting up the sails. However, when the seas get up to 6 and 8 feet on Lake Erie and everyone else is scurrying for cover, we just keep on going. I cannot foresee changing boats. This one is big enough, strong enough, roomy enough, comfortable enough, and powerful enough to satisfy me. It would take hitting the lottery and being able to afford the Hylas to make me change. I guess that is a recommendation.
Well Al..
didn't mean to rain on your parade. I basically live-aboard and would dearly LOVE to have a P42. Buy yours and I'll make you a great trade on my 37.5 - greatest boat going... Let us know what you come up with.
didn't mean to rain on your parade. I basically live-aboard and would dearly LOVE to have a P42. Buy yours and I'll make you a great trade on my 37.5 - greatest boat going...
Let us know what you come up with.Comments
Al, Pretty much agree with all of the above. The P42 is a great boat however, if it's just going to be you doing all the work, I might be tempted to look at one of the newer aft cockpit models. (That is unless you're married to the cenetr cockpit layout.) With improved (Selden)in mast furling, smaller jib and cockpit mounted aft jib winches it might be easier to handle. In addition, if you do a lot of docking the reduced windage of an aft cockpit can cause a bit less consternation. Good Luck either way.
Al, Pretty much agree with all of the above. The P42 is a great boat however, if it's just going to be you doing all the work, I might be tempted to look at one of the newer aft cockpit models. (That is unless you're married to the cenetr cockpit layout.) With improved (Selden)in mast furling, smaller jib and cockpit mounted aft jib winches it might be easier to handle. In addition, if you do a lot of docking the reduced windage of an aft cockpit can cause a bit less consternation. Good Luck either way.
Walked away
Thanks for all yopur comments . I left the 42 passage at the alter and the search continues!!!
Thanks for all yopur comments . I left the 42 passage at the alter and the search continues!!!
looking
There is a sailor leaving the US selling a 44-2004 with little hours and insignificant use. If interested I can help u contact him
There is a sailor leaving the US selling a 44-2004 with little hours and insignificant use. If interested I can help u contact him
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