Baltic 42 DP Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Baltic 42 DP means chasing a small cohort: only 30 were built between 1981 and 1985, and Doug Peterson's first production design for the yard now surfaces mostly in two regions — the United States and Australia. These are scarce boats, so a buyer weighs each available example against the design's known traits rather than a deep field of comparables.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard 42 DP carries an aft owner's suite with guest or crew quarters forward, separated by a large saloon containing a serious galley and an ocean-going chart table. A very few centre-cockpit versions were built, so most boats on the market follow the aft-cockpit, aft-owner plan. Right-angled bulkheads maximize interior volume, and the finish leans on soft vinyl linings and deep cushioning for a Scandinavian feel. Expect the low, narrow coachroof with small windows that the original review noted makes the cabin somewhat dark — a layout constant, not a refit omission.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, chartplotter, radar, AIS, and autopilot are commonly fitted, forming the core navigation suite a buyer can rely on. Heating, a gennaker, electric winches, hot water, and a dodger are often seen and speak to cold-weather and short-handed comfort. Less common but worth noting as owner additions are solar, lithium batteries, and asymmetric spinnakers. For a boat of this draft and performance intent, the electric winches and autopilot clusters matter most for manageable sail handling, while the heating and dodger cluster defines liveaboard range.
What to Inspect
The one layout caveat is the 8-foot draft, which the review identified as restrictive in some areas — confirm the keel and rudder for grounding scars if the boat has cruised shallow water anchor. The dark interior from the small windows is inherent, not damage. A standard hull and systems survey suffices; the teak deck should be checked for age-related wear as with any 1980s teak-sheathed yacht.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts typically appear in the United States and Australia. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm aft-cockpit versus rare centre-cockpit layout, verify draft-related keel/rudder condition, assess teak deck wear, and confirm the navigation cluster (chartplotter, radar, AIS, autopilot) is operational. The 42 DP rewards the search with Peterson's first Baltic production design and a roomy, ocean-capable interior few comparable 1980s racers can match.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Baltic 42 DP. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 2 | $119,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $99,900 | -16.1% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $81,457 | -18.5% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $99,900 | +22.6% |
| May 26 | 1 | $99,900 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Baltic 42 DP listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 7 (87.5%), followed by Australia.
Country view
8 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $99,900 | 7 | 0 | 87.5% |
| Australia | $63,915 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First First 42 | 42.92' | $ 49,500 | 24 | 7 |
| Palmer Johnson J/42 | 42' | $ 151,950 | 18 | 4 |
| Bavaria Match 42 | 41.18' | $ 93,244 | 13 | 3 |
| Tartan 42 | 42' | $ 89,000 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortina 42 | 42.19' | $ 196,979 | 11 | 4 |
| Baltic 38 DP | 38.08' | $ 108,000 | 9 | 3 |
| Baltic 39 | 38.76' | $ 75,938 | 9 | 0 |
| Baltic 42 DPYou are here | — | $ 99,900 | 8 | 0 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 201,641 | 7 | 2 |
| Baltic 42 | 42.43' | $ 77,628 | 6 | 1 |