Beneteau R/C 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Beneteau R/C 42 means looking at a Frers-designed 43-foot performance cruiser built in the early-to-mid 1980s, with a solid fiberglass hull and masthead sloop rig. These boats turn up in the United States market, and a buyer should understand the hull's light-racer character before committing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The R/C 42 is a single-hull monohull with a fin keel and spade rudder, 43 feet 7 inches overall with a 13-foot 2-inch beam. Her above-average headroom and 105.7-gallon water tank speak to a cruising interior wrapped around a racing hull. The Perkins 4108 50-horsepower diesel is the standard power plant. Buyers should expect variation by individual owner history rather than factory packages.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
No specific gear can be cited as prevalent from available market context. A buyer should instead assess each boat on its own: confirm the masthead rig's running rigging — jib and genoa sheets of 43.7 feet, mainsheet of 109.2 feet, spinnaker sheet of 96.1 feet, all 5/8-inch diameter — is present and serviceable, and verify the 735-square-foot sail plan and 57-foot 3-inch mast height clear any intended berth.
What to Inspect
yachtdatabase.com shows the wetted surface at about 559 square feet, a large area to keep faired and antifouled anchor. Load-dependent draft runs 7.25 to 7.55 feet with an immersion rate of 1,662 pounds per inch, so check the hull lines for signs of heavy loading or grounding damage at the fin keel root. The solid fiberglass hull should be surveyed for osmotic or impact issues given the broad wetted surface.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The R/C 42 is found in the United States market. For a shopper, the practical checklist is:
- Confirm 7.25–7.55 ft draft suits intended marinas
- Survey the 559 sq ft wetted surface and fin keel attachment
- Verify masthead rig sheets and 735 sq ft sail area are intact
- Check Perkins 4108 and 39.6-gal fuel capacity for cruise needs
- Note above-average headroom and 105.7-gal water capacity
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 42 | 42.62' | $ 110,866 | 40 | 14 |
| First First 42 | 42.92' | $ 49,500 | 27 | 9 |
| Palmer Johnson J/42 | 42' | $ 144,900 | 19 | 4 |
| Sabre 42 | 41.75' | $ 89,000 | 19 | 8 |
| X-Yachts XC-42 | 42.03' | $ 510,312 | 16 | 5 |
| Tartan 42 | 42' | $ 89,000 | 14 | 3 |
| Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 | 41.01' | $ 87,349 | 10 | 4 |
| Comfortina 42 | 42.19' | $ 188,696 | 7 | 4 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 189,619 | 6 | 0 |
| Baltic 42 | 42.43' | $ 72,761 | 4 | 1 |