Shortly after its launch, Cruising World’s Boat of the Year panel named the M42 Best Special-Purpose Cruiser. The design is a daysailer in name only: sleek, finished like a piece of furniture, and quietly capable of short cruises.
Tom Morris founded the Maine yard in 1972. Its M-Series partnership with Sparkman & Stephens began with the M36 in 2004; the M42 continues that modern-classic line with more waterline and more volume.
Design and Construction
The M42 has the graceful overhangs drawn by Sparkman & Stephens and retains the distinctive classic look for which the builder is known. Morris also added the M42 ST, a short-trunk variant created in response to demand for the M36’s deck profile combined with the larger boat’s headroom.
The hull is a cored vinylester composite with Carbon-Epoxy and Kevlar reinforcement. Wide, uncluttered teak decks surround a cockpit that comes standard with a teak sole. Hull number one notably had an optional teak deck and an all-wood exterior cockpit bulkhead.
That first boat was delivered without a pulpit, lifelines, or pushpit. The resulting open perimeter suits sheltered coastal use better than offshore work. A moderate-draft bulb keel draws about 5 feet 8 inches, and a deeper version is available. A high-aspect rudder paired with a 44-inch wheel gives the helm authority in close quarters.
Rig and Handling
The M42 retains the smaller M36’s ease-of-handling features. Sail handling was thoroughly engineered for simplicity, reliability, and ease of use.
A painted Hall Spars carbon-fiber fractional rig carries a self-tacking jib. Its Schaefer roller furler has a drum recessed below deck, while two Lewmar 50 self-tailing electric winches sit near the helm. All control lines, sheets, and halyards run below deck to control and winch pods within easy reach of the helmsman, keeping the deck uncluttered.
The extra 30-foot waterline length over the smaller model gives the M42 better speed potential than its sister. The builder describes the boat as one of the most seaworthy in the world, combining performance, comfort, and safety.
Accommodations
Three steps down from the cockpit, the cabin is functional and airy, with excellent visibility. Its open plan makes the most of the available space, and the classic Herreshoff-style finish pairs antique-white bulkheads with gloss-varnished cherry joinery.
The saloon has 6-foot-3-inch headroom, and the M42’s greater interior volume provides more luxurious accommodations than the M36. A U-shaped galley includes a two-burner gimbaled stove, Corian counters, and refrigeration. There’s also a queen berth beneath a large overhead hatch for stargazing. The head has a wall shower and sits behind a fold-out enclosure.
Forward, the settees are suitable for a nap, and a drop-leaf table sits beneath a butterfly skylight. A large V-berth is separated from the bow by a watertight bulkhead. The anchor locker is reached through a hatch that conceals a Lewmar windlass and fold-out bow roller.
Equipment and Power
The standard Yanmar 3JH5E saildrive produces 39 horsepower at 3,000 RPM and turns a two-bladed Flex-O-Fold propeller. The builder quotes capacities of 40 gallons for fuel and 50 gallons for water. Review specifications also list a 39-horsepower Yanmar with saildrive.
Every hatch has an integrated blackout shade and bug screen. The cockpit table includes concealed storage for bottles and silverware. Together, these details give the M42 the comforts of a weekend cruiser rather than the austerity of a bare daysailer, without sacrificing its clean deck layout.
Verdict
The Morris M42 is a refined coastal cruiser that trades the minimalism of a pure daysailer for genuine comfort below. It combines a Sparkman & Stephens hull, modern composite construction, and a self-tacking, electrically assisted rig.
Given its open deck perimeter and moderate ballast, it’s best understood as a stylish weekender for sheltered waters rather than a bluewater voyager. Sources differ on displacement: the builder quotes 16,279 lbs, while a review gives 14,362 lbs. Sources also differ on fuel capacity, with the builder listing 40 gal and the review listing 25 gal.
Pros
- Open Herreshoff-style interior with 6-foot-3-inch headroom and a queen berth
- Self-tacking jib, recessed furler, and electric winches for easier short-handed sailing
- Carbon-fiber rig and composite Kevlar hull from a respected Maine builder
Cons
- Delivered without a pulpit, lifelines, or pushpit
- Conflicting published displacement and tankage figures in builder and review specifications
- Coastal-cruiser focus limits its offshore ambition despite the builder’s seaworthiness claim
