Martin 242 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Designed by Don Martin and introduced in the early 1980s, the Martin 242 is a quintessential Pacific Northwest "pocket rocket" that successfully bridged the gap between a high-performance sportboat and a manageable one-design keelboat. Built by Martin Yachts Ltd. in Vancouver, Canada, the vessel was conceived to offer a spirited sailing experience without the complexity or cost of larger grand-prix racers. The design reflects Don Martin’s architectural background, featuring clean lines, a moderate beam for its era, and a high-aspect fractional rig. While primarily known as a formidable one-design racer, the Martin 242 was part of a developmental lineage that included the Martin 241, a more cruising-oriented sibling with enhanced interior amenities, and the later Martin 243, which pushed the performance envelope further with a lighter displacement and refined foil shapes.