Design and Construction
The Clipper 42 has a solid fiberglass hull, a long keel, and an attached rudder. Its 9,000 pounds of lead ballast and 23,500-pound displacement give it a ballast-displacement ratio of 38.3.
The deck is also solid fiberglass, with a teak overlay intended to evoke the wooden yachts of the era. Bulkheads are tabbed to the hull. Timber paneling inside and out gives the 42 the appearance of a wooden boat, though the underlying structure is fiberglass. The model stands as an early pioneer in fiberglass construction.
Rig and Handling
The 42 is a ketch with timber masts and a staysail-ketch arrangement in the family tradition. The 36 carries a cutter-ketch rig with Yankee, staysail, main, and mizzen; both the 36 and 42 could also be ordered with a staysail schooner rig.
The mainsail has roller reefing rather than modern jiffy reefing. Owners writing to Practical Sailor advise forgetting about using the roller-reefing main on the 42.
The hull and sail plan belong to a sturdy cruising boat that can cross oceans and take a pounding from the sea. It won’t point into the wind very well as it tries to sail slowly, however, and one owner found it challenging to keep the helm balanced. The full-keel Clipper series also doesn’t back down well, a trait shared with the 36’s aperture-propeller layout.
Accommodations and Ventilation
Cheoy Lee offered the 42 with three interior layouts, and the boats could be customized to suit individual buyers, continuing the builder’s practice of flexible interiors. One owner noted that many people commented on the large head in his boat, suggesting that its generous size depends on the layout chosen.
The all-wood interior is nicely executed, in the vein of the 36’s lavish teak brochure description, with timber paneling inside and out. Ventilation on the 36 came from a teak-and-Plexiglas skylight, a forward hatch, five cowl vents on the 42, and two Dorades, a scheme the 42 extends with its extra cowl.
Machinery and Motoring
Owners report that the 42 was equipped with a Perkins 4-108 engine. It achieved 5.5 knots at 1400 rpm while burning about three-quarters of a gallon per hour, and provided adequate power against strong currents in estuaries or marinas.
Engine access on the 42 is almost non-existent, according to owner reports, which complicates repairs below. The stuffing box is a welcome exception: it’s easy to reach through the cockpit lockers, with enough room to work.
Known Issues
Water intrusion is the most pervasive defect on these boats. One owner reported never seeing a Cheoy Lee without water damage to its interior paneling from deck leaks, specifically noting that the chainplates and hatches leak.
Because the ceiling is timber-paneled, water can run behind it and drip out somewhere else. That makes the true path of the leak difficult to trace and allows the wood to rot out of sight.
The 42 does have an auxiliary emergency tiller. It comes up through the cockpit floor just aft of the steering binnacle, and a handle was supplied. This contrasts with some 36s that had no emergency-rudder provision.
Another limitation is the lack of anywhere to mount davits, a dinghy, solar panels, a wind generator, cockpit shade, a stern anchor, or gas bottles without harming the boat’s lines.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
Given the pattern of concealed leaks, an ownership plan must allow for rebedding the chainplates and resealing the hatches. The roller-reefing mainsail is also best replaced with a slab-reefing conversion.
The Verdict
The Clipper 42 is a handsome, heavily built Luders ketch with genuine ocean credentials and a customizable, teak-lined interior. It is also a slow, initially tender, poorly backing full-keel cruiser. Its traditional rig and sealed engine bay demand patient ownership. It also won’t point into the wind very well.
Leaks are chronic and often concealed, while the clean decks offer no satisfactory place for modern cruising gear without compromising the boat’s lines.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull, lead ballast, and an ocean-capable design
- Three interior layouts, with further customization and extensive teak
- Auxiliary emergency tiller and accessible stuffing box
- Perkins 4-108 provides adequate motoring power and economy
Cons
- Chronic leaks at the chainplates and hatches can rot concealed paneling
- Almost no engine access for routine service
- Impractical roller-reefing main, along with poor windward and backing performance
- No mounting points for a dinghy, solar panels, or safety gear without spoiling the boat’s lines
