Design and Construction
Cartwright specified straightforward solid-fiberglass laminates for both the hull and deck, rather than cored construction. The long keel and attached rudder give the 42 the directional steadiness expected of a traditional cruiser.
Draft is 5.5 feet, or from 1.68 to 1.78 meters depending on load, which keeps a boat of this size within reach of most marina entrances. Her displacement-to-length ratio of 321 places her firmly among heavy cruisers. An immersion rate of about 235 kg/cm (1,320 lbs/inch) indicates how stubbornly she sits in the water once loaded for a long passage.
Rig and Handling
The Cartwright 42 carries a cutter rig, a sensible arrangement for a boat of this displacement. It allows a watchkeeper to shorten sail in stages without going forward in a seaway.
The standing and running gear is sized for the loads. Jib and genoa sheets are about 12.8 meters long and 14 mm in diameter. The mainsheet is a 32-meter, 14 mm line, while the spinnaker sheets are 28.2 meters long, also at 14 mm.
Below the waterline, roughly 39 square meters (419 square feet) of wetted surface contributes to the tracking and comfort of a full-bodied cruiser, though at the expense of some acceleration. The theoretical maximum hull speed is 7.6 knots. A capsize screening value of 1.65 and a comfort index of 38.3 describe a boat intended to steady her crew in rough water rather than win buoy races.
Accommodations and Cruising Character
The available design record offers a picture of volume and stability rather than a berth-by-berth tour. A 32-foot waterline and heavy-cruiser displacement support the tankage and stowage needed for extended independence. Known specifications list 90 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons of water, figures consistent with the boat’s immersion rate and load-dependent draft.
On a 23,500-pound hull, a Motion Comfort Ratio in the high 30s points to a settled offshore motion that lighter boats simply can’t match.
Verdict
The Cartwright 42 is a period-correct heavy cruiser: a mid-1970s Jerry Cartwright design with solid-fiberglass construction, a long keel, and a cutter rig. Everything about her favors passage-making over pace. Her numbers—a 1.65 capsize screening value, a 38.3 comfort ratio, and a displacement-to-length ratio of 321—describe a boat designed for steadiness, not sparkle.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck, with no core to degrade
- Heavy-cruiser proportions and a 38.3 Motion Comfort Ratio for offshore steadiness
- Cutter rig suited to short-handed sail reduction
- Moderate 5.5-foot draft allows access to most marinas
Cons
- 39 m² of wetted surface limits acceleration in light air
- A 7.6-knot hull speed caps pace under sail or power
- The long-keel, attached-rudder layout is less maneuverable than a fin-and-skeg configuration
