Hinckley DS 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Hinckley DS 42 means looking at a fiberglass deck-saloon sloop built in the United States from 1993 through 2010, rated CE A – Ocean and carrying a modest 94-liter fuel and 113-liter water capacity against a 6,600 kg displacement. These are boats meant for coastal and offshore cruising with a raised interior, and the used fleet reflects a well-equipped modern cruiser rather than a barebones project.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every DS 42 on the used market shares the deck-saloon configuration over a 12.87-meter hull with a 3.2-meter beam and 1.21-meter draft, a fixed-keel single-masted sloop built of fiberglass/GRP in the USA. The raised saloon defines the interior experience, and the cruiser designation tells you the boat was laid out for living aboard and passage making rather than racing. Tankage is uniform at 94 liters of fuel and 113 of water, so compare boats on equipment and condition rather than on fundamental plan differences.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples commonly carry a bow thruster and electric winches, which take the strain out of close-quarters handling given the 6,600 kg displacement and shallow keel. Power and energy systems frequently include an inverter and generator-class support through a commonly fitted gennaker for light-air sailing. Navigation and safety gear commonly seen on these boats runs to radar, autopilot, chartplotter, and life raft, while canvas and comfort items such as a dodger, teak decks, cockpit shower, and hot water are standard in the used fleet.
What to Inspect
Inspection should follow normal practice for a fiberglass/GRP hull of the 1993–2010 build period. Verify the deck-saloon glazing and seals, the fixed keel attachment, and the original 94-liter fuel and 113-liter water systems for age-related degradation.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The DS 42 is typically found in the United States market. For a buyer, the checklist is straightforward: confirm the deck-saloon structure and window seals, test the commonly fitted bow thruster and electric winches, verify navigation and safety gear including life raft and autopilot, and assess the gennaker and canvas for wear. With uniform hull and tankage specs across the production run, condition and equipment tier are the levers on value.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hinckley DS 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 2 | $699,000 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $699,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $599,000 | -14.3% |
Where they're listed
Hinckley DS 42 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 4.
Country view
4 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $699,000 | 4 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts C42 | 40.62' | $ 334,517 | 144 | 22 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 42 DS | 42.42' | $ 155,000 | 93 | 19 |
| Hunter 41 DS | 40.32' | $ 129,900 | 69 | 21 |
| Sabre 42 | 41.75' | $ 89,000 | 19 | 8 |
| Palmer Johnson J/42 | 42' | $ 144,900 | 19 | 4 |
| Sunbeam 42 DS | 41.34' | $ 237,306 | 10 | 2 |
| Comfortina 42 | 42.19' | $ 188,614 | 7 | 4 |
| Dehler 41 DS | 40.85' | $ 102,564 | 6 | 4 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 189,531 | 6 | 0 |
| Hinckley DS 42You are here | — | $ 699,000 | 4 | 1 |
| Baltic 42 | 42.43' | $ 72,742 | 4 | 1 |