At 43 feet overall, with a 12ft 10in beam and a displacement of roughly 19,600lb, this is a substantial, comfortable boat with a clear liveaboard-first approach. Its high-volume hull and high counter stern provide useful living and locker space.
Design and Construction
Production began with a new, high-volume hull that provides plenty of space on deck and below without pretending to be shaped for racing. Beneteau planned to build around 80 boats a year, and Yachting Monthly tested the 42 CC for a July 2002 report, before the production run had settled in.
The centre cockpit has a conventional layout, but it’s surprisingly deep. A hard windscreen covers the companionway, while small bulwarks offer more security when moving around the deck than a low-freeboard alternative.
The high counter stern could easily be mistaken for a retro styling exercise, but it earns its place through the extra locker space it provides. Deep side lockers on the aft deck add still more useful stowage.
Rig, Steering, and Performance
The twin-spreader cutter rig is set well forward, matching the forward-shifted centre cockpit and helping keep the boat manageable for a small crew. In a steady 10-knot breeze, test sailors found her easy to handle on every point of sail. Her best speed was around 6.5 knots on a shy reach, while she made a shade over 5 knots to windward—reasonable rather than exceptional given her relative heaviness.
The standard Volvo D2-55, rated at 53hp, pushed the boat to 8.8 knots at 3,000 rpm. At just over 2,000 rpm, it delivered quiet cruising below decks.
Writing in Yachting World, testers found the hydraulic steering lifeless and imprecise at lower speeds. Cable steering wasn’t offered because routing the lines to the quadrant would have been too complex. Reviewers also found the bulkhead-mounted wheel and forward helm position unusual. The arrangement frees cockpit space, but trades traditional sightlines for that extra room.
Accommodation
Below, Beneteau described the interior as bright, functional, and luscious. Reviewers saw the saloon more critically: a small, square space with good headroom that serves more as a passage between the cabins than as a true lounge.
The test boat had two large cabins. Aft, the principal stateroom included a spacious berth, cupboard stowage, a dressing table, and an ensuite head to starboard. The forward cabin was offset to starboard and compact overall, though its berth was a good size.
The forward head sits on the centreline in the bows, with brace points on either side—a sensible detail when the boat is heeled. On the port side of the saloon, a forward-facing chart table benefits from light through a long hull port. The cockpit moulding accommodates a competent longitudinal galley with family-scale stowage.
Good storage and a decent galley reinforce the boat’s practical cruising priorities. Above, the large aft deck has enough room for a couple of sunbathers.
Deck and Boarding
The central section of the aft deck slides back to reveal steps. A remote handset connected to a hydraulic powerpack then folds the transom down to form a bathing platform. Yachting Monthly also highlighted this fold-down boarding arrangement as a notable deck feature.
Together, the hard windscreen, deep cockpit, and bulwarks create a deck plan aimed at safe, comfortable coastal and offshore living rather than race-oriented sail handling and adjustment.
Engine Access and Owner-Fitted Equipment
A large panel at the rear of the engine compartment opens from the aft cabin. Entry requires crawling in on all fours, but once inside there’s crouching headroom and nearly enough space to swing a cat.
Reviewers noted room for almost any conceivable add-on. A watermaker, generator, and air-conditioning equipment could all fit without trouble, making the 42 CC unusually friendly for owner-fit systems on a boat of this size.
The Verdict
The Oceanis 42 CC is a spacious centre-cockpit cruiser that works well as a comfortable, practical home for a couple or small family. It’s easy for a small crew to handle, and its notably generous engine compartment leaves plenty of scope for additional equipment.
Sailing performance is competent rather than sparkling, and not outstanding for the boat’s displacement and rig. The lifeless low-speed steering feel and unconventional bulkhead-mounted wheel are also likely to divide sailors with more traditional preferences.
Pros
- High-volume hull, deep aft-deck lockers, and a large aft deck for lounging
- Spacious aft cabin with an ensuite head
- Centreline forward head with useful brace points
- Exceptional engine-compartment access for a 42-footer, with room for a generator, watermaker, or air-conditioning equipment
- Easily handled cutter rig
- Quiet, competent performance under power from the standard Volvo
Cons
- Hydraulic steering felt lifeless and imprecise at low speeds, with no cable-steering option
- Saloon feels more like a small square and passageway than a true living space
- Sailing performance is unexceptional for the boat’s displacement and rig
