Beneteau Oceanis 42 CC Sailboats for Sale

The design came from Groupe Finot, the same atelier behind several of Beneteau's better-regarded offshore hulls of that era. The wing keel keeps draught modest for a boat of this displacement, which opens up a wider range of anchorages and marinas — a real-world advantage that brokerage listings rarely emphasise but that owners quickly come to appreciate. The comfort ratio sits at a level that puts serious offshore miles well within reach without the motion becoming punishing.

Layouts on the Used Market

The 42 CC was built in a single principal layout arrangement that makes the most of the centre-cockpit formula. The large aft cabin — accessed via a dedicated companionway on the starboard side of the cockpit moulding — is the defining selling point: a full double berth, genuine standing headroom, built-in dressing space, and an en-suite head running along the starboard side of the cockpit structure. Forward of the main saloon a second double cabin sits offset to starboard, smaller than the aft stateroom but adequate for guests or crew, with the forward head taking the centreline position in the bow — a sensible arrangement for passage-making on a heel.

The saloon itself is compact by comparison, as is common to all centre-cockpit designs, but seats a cruising family around the table without difficulty. The longitudinal galley runs along the port side of the cockpit moulding, making good use of space that would otherwise be structural dead weight. The nav station is forward-facing on the port side of the saloon, with a useful hull port that brings in natural light — a detail the original designers got right.

The standout deck feature is the hydraulically operated bathing platform concealed beneath the high counter stern. A sliding hatch on the aft deck and a transom panel that folds down via a hydraulic ram and remote handset creates an instant swim step. It works well when maintained, and the deep lockers on either side of the counter provide stowage that separate stern platforms on other models simply cannot match.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Boats coming to market now have typically accumulated a solid base of passage-making equipment from owners who used them seriously. Autopilots and chartplotters are commonly fitted across the used fleet, and dinghy davits fitted over the stern are a frequent sight — sensible given the deep aft deck and the lack of a traditional sugar-scoop. Teak decks appear on a meaningful portion of examples, reflecting owner preference for the aesthetic and the grip, though they bring with them the usual long-term maintenance considerations. Biminis over the cockpit are widely fitted, often combined with a hard windscreen over the companionway that was standard fitment on many examples.

Radar is commonly found aboard, reflecting the offshore aspirations of original owners. Among gear fitted less universally but still seen across a broad share of the fleet: heating systems (particularly on boats that spent winters in northern Europe), bow thrusters, AIS, solar panels, hot water systems, life rafts in current certification, and cockpit showers. The large engine compartment — accessed both via the companionway steps and through a generous panel in the aft cabin — is genuinely roomy, and owners took advantage: watermakers and inverters are a frequent owner upgrade on boats that have done extended cruising. Electric winches are sometimes found on examples whose owners prioritised shorthanded handling. Code zeros and gennakers appear on a portion of the fleet where previous owners invested in off-wind performance.

What to Inspect

The hydraulic steering system warrants specific attention. The wheel is mounted on the cockpit bulkhead rather than at the aft end of the cockpit — a configuration that some reviewers found unusual and that requires careful evaluation at low speeds. Air in the hydraulic plumbing can make the boat difficult to hold in a straight line when speed drops below five or six knots, a problem that was identified on early test boats and can be cured by purging the system but that may reappear with age. Cable steering is not an option due to the routing complexity, so the hydraulic circuit — pump, ram, hoses, and connections — should be inspected carefully by a surveyor familiar with the system.

The clever bathing platform mechanism deserves equal scrutiny. The hydraulic powerpack and ram that operate the transom fold-down are an innovative feature that works well when maintained, but hydraulic seals, the remote handset connection, and the hinge points all deserve close inspection on a boat that has seen several seasons. The sliding hatch on the aft deck should be checked for smooth operation and watertight sealing.

Access to the engine compartment via the companionway steps involves rams that support the steps — these rams require care when releasing, as the hinge geometry is low and the steps can swing forcefully. The aft-cabin access panel is the better route for extended engine work. On a boat of this age, check the Volvo Penta D2-55 for typical raw-water impeller history, heat exchanger condition, and injector service records. The wing keel attachment and keel bolts should be surveyed on any example that has lived in a tidal grid or taken the ground.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 42 CC circulates most actively across Mediterranean brokerage markets, with the strongest concentration in France, Spain, Italy, and Greece — reflecting where the bulk of the fleet went after delivery in the production years. Examples also appear in Australia and South Africa, where the type suits offshore coastal cruising patterns. The model is genuinely well-distributed, and buyers prepared to look across multiple markets are unlikely to wait long for a suitable example.

A short checklist before committing:

• Sail and power the boat through low-speed manoeuvres; confirm hydraulic steering tracks cleanly and holds a straight line below five knots
• Have a marine hydraulics specialist inspect the steering ram, hoses, and powerpack for the bathing platform
• Inspect teak decks for delamination and fastener condition if fitted
• Confirm life raft and flare pack certification dates; review EPIRB registration
• Commission an engine survey including raw-water circuit, heat exchanger, and full service history review
• Check keel bolts and the wing-keel attachment point, especially on any boat with a history of tidal berths
• Assess watermaker and inverter condition if fitted — installed age and servicing can vary widely
• Verify dinghy davit through-deck fittings are sound and properly bedded
• Test the bow thruster under load if fitted