Construction and Weight Philosophy
Catana employs a resin-infused SCRIMP laminate process throughout the 42, combining carbon fiber and Airex closed-cell foam core in a cleaner, highly efficient layup that produces hulls structurally substantial without being weighty. The same foam-core construction extends into the furniture, keeping unsprung weight low throughout the boat. Twaron fiber — the same aramid material used in the 59 — reinforces the structure above and below the waterline. The result is a displacement of just 19,620 pounds for a 41-foot catamaran, a figure that translates directly into the sailing numbers. Catana has long understood that for performance-oriented clients, saving weight is not a preference but a mandate, and the 42's construction reflects that priority at every level.
Rig and Sail Handling
The 42 Carbon carries a powerful single-spreader fractional rig with Diamond rod standing rigging and Kevlar cap shrouds — a setup tuned for upwind drive and load management under heavy sail. The mainsail is a hefty square-top design that generates considerable power across a wide wind range. Headsail options are twin and versatile: a furling jib on the headstay for working conditions, and a furling screecher deployed from a prominent sprit mounted ahead of the forward crossbeam. The screecher must be furled before tacking, a minor inconvenience the designers accepted in exchange for effortless reaching without spinnaker handling. Solar panels are embedded in the sloping coach roof and hard bimini, integrating energy production without sacrificing deck utility.
All sail controls are led aft to a central pedestal at the cockpit's aft end, where a pair of Harken electric winches sit above two suites of rope clutches. Sheets, halyards, and reef lines converge at this single station, allowing one competent trimmer to manage virtually any maneuver without moving. It is a notably well-considered layout for short-handed sailing. Helms are positioned outboard and well aft on each quarter, delivering wide sight lines in every direction.
Daggerboards and Upwind Performance
Daggerboards are central to the Catana performance identity, and the 42 is no exception. The boards lower to nearly nine feet when fully deployed, providing substantial lateral resistance upwind. In light air — just six knots of true wind during a Chesapeake Bay test — the 42 still registered six knots of close-hauled boat speed. The design carries a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 26.5, a figure that promises assertive acceleration in moderate breezes and genuine speed in anything resembling a sailing breeze. Judges at the 2014 U.S. Sailboat Show were won over by the combination of workmanship quality and the boat's get-up-and-go with the sails hoisted, awarding it Cruising World's Best Midsize Multihull under 50 Feet for that year.
Accommodations and Interior Layout
The 42's interior balances the demands of a performance sailor with a genuine cruising brief. A large sliding-glass door opens the saloon to the cockpit for an integrated indoor-outdoor living zone. Inside, a forward-facing navigation station occupies the port side — a sensible placement for watch-keeping — while a dining table and settee occupy the starboard side. The galley sits aft, connected to the outdoor living areas through a sliding window, keeping the cook close to cockpit activity.
Hull accommodations follow a conventional twin-hull arrangement. The starboard hull holds forward and aft cabins separated by a storage locker and sharing a head. The port hull houses the owner's stateroom with a large double berth aft and a dedicated head forward. A four-cabin layout is also available for those who prioritize berth count over owner-cabin volume. Storage is generous throughout: a large locker under the cockpit sole, three more forward (with tanks and windlass in the center one), and wide side decks that function as promenades.
Known Strengths and Considerations
The 42's strengths are inseparable from its design priorities. Its light displacement and high sail-area-to-displacement ratio mean it rewards active, engaged sailing rather than passive downwind motoring. The twin-headsail arrangement with screecher is fast and manageable offshore but requires the screecher to be furled before each tack — a procedural habit that crews must internalize. The daggerboards, while essential to upwind performance, add complexity to boat handling in shallow anchorages and require attentive management when entering shoal water. The rig's Kevlar cap shrouds and Diamond rod rigging perform well but warrant inspection protocols appropriate to high-modulus standing gear. The cockpit winch-pedestal system is efficient for shorthanded sailing but concentrates all primary controls into one station, which calls for organized line management to avoid conflict under pressure.
The Verdict
The Catana 42 Carbon is a performance catamaran that takes its design mandate seriously. It is not attempting to be all things to all sailors. It is light, fast, well-engineered, and capable of passage-making at speeds that would have seemed implausible for a boat of its size and accommodation level a generation ago. The workmanship is meticulous, the sail-handling architecture is genuinely clever, and the interior delivers comfort without the weight penalty that undermines so many cruising cats. For sailors who want a capable bluewater passage-maker that can also leave other boats behind when the breeze fills in, the 42 Carbon makes a compelling case.
Pros
- Carbon and Airex construction keeps displacement exceptionally low for the length
- SCRIMP infusion process produces consistent, high-quality laminates throughout
- Clever centralized winch-pedestal layout enables true shorthanded sail management
- Twin-headsail arrangement (jib + screecher) covers a wide range of pointing angles and reaching modes
- Daggerboards deploy to nearly nine feet for meaningful upwind lateral resistance
- Strong sail area-to-displacement ratio rewards active sailing in light to moderate air
Cons
- Screecher must be furled to tack — adds a step in busy conditions
- Daggerboards require careful management in shoal anchorages
- High-modulus standing rigging (Kevlar, Diamond rod) demands disciplined inspection routines
- Performance-first philosophy means the 42 rewards experienced crews rather than novice handlers
