Morgan 42-2 Buyer's Guide
The Morgan 42-2 on the brokerage market is a Charles Morgan-designed 42-foot cruiser-racer built by Morgan Yachts from 1969, a solid fiberglass masthead sloop with lead-ballast fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. She carries a Universal-Atomic Atomic 4 gasoline engine of 30 horsepower, 70 gallons water, and 30 gallons fuel. Any example today is a half-century from production start, so condition and owner care outweigh the original specification.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 42-2 is a masthead sloop with 30.5-foot waterline and 11.5-foot beam, configured as a fin-keel cruiser-racer rather than a center-cockpit or pilothouse variant. No alternative factory layouts are described for this model, so a buyer should expect the standard aft-cockpit racer-cruiser arrangement with the original berthing and saloon as built. The 6-foot draft and skeg-hung rudder suit a conventional aft-cockpit layout.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A spinnaker appears as a less common owner addition, while autopilot and chartplotter are occasional upgrades, not factory standard. Most boats will lack modern navigation or self-steering unless an owner fitted them, and the presence of a spinnaker likely signals a seller with club-racing interest. Beyond those items, the brief names no other equipment tiers, so assume period-correct systems unless surveyed. The original 30-horsepower gasoline Atomic 4 is the baseline power plant.
What to Inspect
No model-specific structural or mechanical defects are known for the 42-2. A surveyor should still confirm the Atomic 4 gasoline installation is sound or converted, check the solid fiberglass hull for impact or osmotic issues by sound and moisture reading, and verify the skeg-hung rudder and fin keel attachment anchor. No unique failure modes target beyond universal age checks on a 50-year-old hull.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These yachts are found in the United States market. For a shopper, the practical steps are few but firm:
- Survey the solid fiberglass hull for age-related defects.
- Verify Atomic 4 engine condition or diesel conversion.
- Check rudder and keel attachment integrity.
- Confirm whether autopilot or chartplotter have been added.
- Inspect for any owner-fitted spinnaker gear.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Morgan 42-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $19,999 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $19,999 | 0.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $23,000 | +15.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $23,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $60,000 | +160.9% |
Where they're listed
Morgan 42-2 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 6.
Country view
6 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $23,000 | 6 | 3 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42.2 | 41.99' | $ 79,239 | 25 | 3 |
| First First 42 | 42.92' | $ 49,500 | 24 | 7 |
| Morgan Yachts Morgan 44 | 44' | $ 95,000 | 23 | 1 |
| Sabre 42 | 41.75' | $ 89,000 | 21 | 7 |
| Palmer Johnson J/42 | 42' | $ 151,950 | 18 | 4 |
| C&C 40-2 | 39.58' | $ 25,000 | 11 | 6 |
| Morgan 42-2You are here | — | $ 23,000 | 7 | 4 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 201,593 | 7 | 2 |
| Baltic 42 | 42.43' | $ 77,623 | 6 | 1 |