Design and Construction
The Endeavour 42 is a walk-through, center-cockpit monohull measuring 42'3" overall, 33'4" on the waterline, and 13'0" in beam. It displaces roughly 25,000 pounds, including 9,000 pounds of internal lead ballast locked inside an integrally molded fin keel.
Above the waterline, the hull uses a sandwich construction with a one-inch end-grain balsa core between layers of polyester resin, fiberglass woven roving, and multidirectional chopped-strand fiber. There is no core below the static waterline. The deck and cockpit form a single molded unit in the same composite, with plywood coring in the cabin top, deck, and cockpit sole for stiffness.
Inside, a teak-and-holly floor is bonded over a plywood sole screwed to floor timbers, which are themselves bonded in with woven roving. The rudder is a solid, high-density foam blade with an integrally molded stainless-steel post. A pedestal steering system operates it through stainless-steel cables and a radial quadrant.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Power
The keel-stepped mast passes through the cabin roof, and all spars are extruded 6061-T6 aluminum. Valentijn gave the 42 a tall rig and moved the chainplates inboard. Along with the balsa-cored topsides, these changes were deliberate attempts to improve performance.
Practical Sailor’s test sailors found the boat able to beat to windward with a bit of authority. She balances well in 12 knots or less, but weather helm develops beyond roughly 15 degrees of heel. On one passage, tacking angles were 45 degrees or worse.
Her preferred point of sail is just aft of the beam. There, test sailors recorded 7.4 knots in 17-knot trade winds. Sailing conservatively from Sarasota to Havana in winds of 8 to 17 knots, she averaged 6.3 knots. Reefed at night, she still maintained 5.5 to 6 knots.
Power comes from a 62-horsepower Perkins 4-154, or a Yanmar 4JH on later boats. The engine turns a 1.25-inch stainless-steel shaft and a 17 x 16 bronze three-blade propeller. With willing use of the engine, the boat makes 6.5 knots while burning 1.5 to 2 gallons per hour. The 75-gallon fuel tank limits powered range to about 300 miles.
Accommodations and Systems Access
The walk-through layout allows the crew to reach the aft cabin without going on deck. The engine sits directly beneath the cockpit and can be reached through doors from both the galley and aft head, providing unusually good service access.
Forward, the spacious V-berth cabin has a five-foot hanging locker and three drawers. The guest head is to port and has two doors. In the saloon, the starboard settee converts into a double berth, while a circular dinette occupies the port side. A small navigation station sits in the starboard aft corner.
The galley runs along the port passageway and includes a large top-loading icebox and freezer, a gimbaled stove, and a double sink, though storage is somewhat tight. The standard freezer is oversized, and its insulation is only builder’s grade.
The aft stateroom has an island queen berth, its own head, two hanging lockers, and six drawers, completing the three-cabin layout. Multiple Bomar ports and Atkins and Hoyle hatches provide very good ventilation, making the layout well suited to tropical conditions.
Known Issues
At the forward end of the boat, two door assemblies—the guest-head doors and the forward-cabin door—tend to jam as rigging and mast loads transfer through the structure. Leaks around the mast partners and shroud chainplates are also common complaints.
The marine-grade aluminum fuel tank sits in the keel cavity beneath the engine, where it is exposed to condensation and trapped water. Replacing the tank requires removing the engine.
Verdict
The Endeavour 42 is a pure cruiser, with a displacement-to-length ratio above 300, rather than a bluewater racer. Even so, Valentijn’s taller rig and inboard shrouds gave it respectable windward manners for its type.
Its walk-through layout provides standout engine access as well as roomy, well-ventilated three-cabin accommodations. The balsa-cored topsides and integrated keel reflect a considered late-Eighties build.
Pros
- Walk-through center cockpit with excellent engine access from both sides
- Tall rig and inboard chainplates provide respectable windward performance
- Very well-ventilated layout with an island-berth aft stateroom
Cons
- Forward-cabin and guest-head doors can jam under transferred mast loads
- Leaks at the mast partners and chainplates are common
- Servicing the aluminum fuel tank in the keel requires removing the engine
