Design and Construction
Chuck Paine created the Able 42 in the late 1980s. Since 1989, the American yard Able Marine has built her with a solid fiberglass hull and lead ballast.
The boat displaces 21,678 pounds on a 32.67-foot waterline and has a beam of 12.67 feet, placing her among the heavier cruising designs of her size. Her 4,980 pounds of lead ballast represents about a 23 percent ballast ratio, while a displacement-to-length figure of 277 puts her firmly among heavy cruisers. Although 42 percent of comparable designs weigh more, that mass gives context to her Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.9: by that measure, she is steadier than 58 percent of similar sailboats.
A fin keel with a substantial bulb is paired with a large, skeg-hung rudder, a combination that supports directional stability. The fin keel has a draft near 5.2 feet, allowing access to most marinas. Elsewhere, the source figures vary from about 5.2 to 5.5 feet, a difference that may matter when choosing berths or cruising grounds.
The Able 42 has a capsize screening value of 1.82. By that formula alone, she would qualify for ocean racing—a telling index for a boat intended as a comfortable voyager.
Rig, Sailplan, and Handling
The Able 42 carries a masthead sloop rig. Her anodized aluminum mast is finished in Awlgrip, stepped on the keel, and fitted with double spreaders and stainless steel Navtec rod rigging. A removable inner forestay with a Hyfield lever allows a staysail.
A Harken headsail-furling system and LeisureFurl boom ease short-handed handling. The control suite also includes an electric mainsail-halyard winch on the coach roof and hydraulic backstays with Navtec adjusters in the cockpit.
The sailplan is optimized for light air, and the boat can tack through 95 degrees even when the wind drops. Reported sail area is near 801 square feet. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.5, rising to 19.7 with a 135 percent genoa, making her quicker than 34 percent of similar designs in light wind.
Reviewers writing in yachtdatabase.com noted that her rig exceeds every comparable sailboat in the database. By that measure, she is significantly overrigged, which helps explain her easy light-air manners but also implies higher rig loads.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The T-shaped aft cockpit has dual helm stations, allowing the boat to be handled from the raised salon or from the well-balanced helms in the cockpit.
Below, the raised salon has forward-facing windows at eye level. They give a clear view from the large starboard navigation station, which has forward-facing seating. To port, the main salon has a raised U-shaped settee and dinette. Varnished cherry woodwork and Ultrasuede upholstery create a quiet, finished feel.
The galley is forward of the main salon. It includes Formica counters, a tile backsplash, a large stainless steel sink with a Seagull IV purifier, a Force 10 propane stove with oven, and an engine-driven Seafrost refrigerator/freezer.
Forward, the V-berth cabin has standing headroom, a bureau, cedar lockers, and an ensuite head with shower. The aft cabin contains a double berth, opening ports, and a cedar hanging locker. USB plugs and cabin fans in both cabins suit a layout intended for extended living aboard.
Navigation, Electrical Systems, and Refit History
The custom navigation station carries radar, a chartplotter, and Autohelm. Additional equipment includes a Raytheon GPS chartplotter with radar, Raymarine instruments, and a Ritchie compass.
The electrical installation comprises a 120-volt AC panel with 30-amp shore power and a 12-volt DC system with one starting battery and two house batteries. It also includes a MagnaSine charger and a galvanic isolator.
The standing rigging received a complete overhaul in 2015, providing a useful reference point for an owner tracking its remaining service life.
The Verdict
The Able 42 is a thoughtfully engineered Paine design that combines heavy-cruiser stability with a light-air sailplan. Her raised salon is arranged for comfortable passage-making, while the bulb fin keel, masthead rig, Maine-built fiberglass hull, and lead ballast reflect traditional bluewater priorities.
Her unusually large rig contributes to good light-air performance, though it also brings higher rig loads. Buyers should also note that published draft figures vary from about 5.2 to 5.5 feet, which may affect access to some marinas.
Pros
- Heavy displacement and a comfort ratio above most similar designs
- Ability to tack through 95 degrees in light air
- Raised salon with eye-level forward windows and a forward-facing navigation station
- Complete standing-rigging overhaul recorded in 2015
Cons
- Rig exceeds all comparable boats in the yachtdatabase.com database, implying higher rig loads
- Draft varies by source from about 5.2 to 5.5 feet, potentially affecting marina access
