Morris M42 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The M42 carries the graceful overhangs drawn by Sparkman & Stephens and preserves a distinctive classic look that the builder is known for, while the M42 ST short-trunk variant was added to meet demand for the M36's deck profile with the larger boat's headroom. Construction is a cored, vinylester composite hull with Carbon-Epoxy and Kevlar reinforcement, and the cockpit comes standard with a teak sole over wide, uncluttered teak decks. Notably, hull number one showed an optional teak deck and an all-wood exterior bulkhead in the cockpit, and the boat was delivered without pulpit, lifelines, or pushpit — a deliberate open perimeter that suits sheltered coastal use more than offshore work. The moderate-draft bulb keel draws about 5 feet 8 inches, with a deeper version available, and a high-aspect rudder paired with a 44-inch wheel gives the helm authority in close quarters.

Rig and Handling

Sail handling was thoroughly engineered for simplicity, reliability, and ease of use, and the boat retains all the great ease-of-handling features of the smaller M36. A painted Hall Spars carbon-fiber fractional rig carries a self-tacking jib on a Schaefer roller furler whose drum sits recessed below the deck, and two Lewmar 50 self-tailing electric winches are mounted near the helm. All control lines, sheets, and halyards run below deck to control and winch pods within easy reach of the helmsman, leaving the deck uncluttered. The extra 30-foot waterline length over the smaller model gives the M42 better speed potential than its sister, and the builder describes it as one of the most seaworthy boats in the world while combining performance, comfort, and safety.

Accommodations

Three steps down from the cockpit lies a functional, airy cabin with fantastic visibility and an open plan that maximizes spaciousness, finished in classic Herreshoff style with antique white bulkheads and gloss-varnished cherry joinery. The proportions allow 6-foot-3-inch headroom in the saloon, and the interior volume exceeds that of the M36 for more luxurious accommodations. A U-shaped galley holds a two-burner gimbaled stove, Corian counters, and refrigeration, while a queen berth with a large overhead hatch invites stargazing and a head with a wall shower sits behind a fold-out enclosure. Forward, settees suit a nap and a drop-leaf table sits beneath a butterfly skylight, while a big V-berth is separated from the bow by a watertight bulkhead and anchor locker reached via a hatch that conceals a Lewmar windlass with fold-out bow roller.

Equipment and Power

The standard Yanmar 3JH5E saildrive unit makes 39 horsepower at 3,000 RPM and turns a two-bladed Flex-O-Fold propeller, with 40-gallon fuel and 50-gallon water capacity quoted by the builder alongside a 39-horsepower Yanmar with saildrive noted in review specs. Every hatch carries an integrated blackout shade and bug screen, and the cockpit table conceals bottle and silverware storage. The M42 thus balances a clean deck with the creature comforts of a weekend cruiser rather than a bare daysailer.

The Verdict

The Morris M42 is a refined coastal cruiser that trades the minimalism of a pure daysailer for genuine belowdecks comfort, wrapped in a Sparkman & Stephens hull with modern composite construction and a self-tacking, electrically assisted rig. It is best understood as a stylish weekender for sheltered waters rather than a bluewater voyager, given its open deck perimeter and moderate ballast. Sources differ on displacement (builder quotes 16,279 lbs, a review quotes 14,362 lbs) and fuel capacity (builder 40 gal, review 25 gal).

Pros