Olympic 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for an Olympic 42 means chasing a comparatively rare Ted Brewer ketch built by Olympic Yachts in Greece from the mid-1970s onward. Known also as the Olympic Adventure 42, she was produced in limited numbers as a heavy-displacement bluewater cruiser, so the buyer is looking at a small population of boats scattered across a few regional markets rather than a steady stream of listings.
Layouts on the Used Market
The boat's ketch rig is the configuration most often seen and the one that defines the model's character: two masts split the canvas for easier handling and balanced performance on long passages. Below, the mahogany interior reflects the period's cruising norm and supports the spacious accommodation brief these boats were built around. With a beam over twelve and a half feet and a draft near five feet depending on load, the hull enters most marinas while still carrying the wetted surface and stability of a serious offshore design.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Solar power is commonly fitted on examples offered today, a practical nod to the systems a cruiser of this era can absorb. Beyond that, the most consequential buyer items are the propulsion choices recorded for the design: Volvo Penta or Perkins engines, each with a shaft drive. A survey should confirm which motor sits behind the companionway and whether the calculated 7.5- or 7.3-knot maximum under power still reflects reality. Rig-wise, the standard ketch sail set — main, jib, genoa, mizzen, and storm jib — is what defines the boat.
What to Inspect
The deck is a fiberglass sandwich, and any osmotic or delamination evidence in that core should be weighed against the claim that the sandwich improves the indoor climate anchor. The hull and deck are fiberglass, and the stated immersion rate of about 1,494 pounds per inch means load history matters: a heavily provisioned or modified example will sit deeper and strain rig and steering accordingly.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Olympic 42 are Croatia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Because production was limited, patience is the buyer's chief tool. When an example appears, confirm the engine make and shaft-drive condition, check the sandwich deck for moisture, verify the ketch rig and sail inventory, and assess load against the stated immersion rate.
- Confirm Volvo Penta or Perkins with shaft drive and service history
- Survey sandwich deck for delamination or osmosis
- Verify ketch rig and standard sail set completeness
- Compare loaded draft and trim to 1,494 lb/inch immersion rate
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Olympic 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $104,527 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $39,256 | -62.4% |
Where they're listed
Olympic 42 listings appear across 2 countries. Australia has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by United Kingdom.
Country view
2 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $104,527 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| United Kingdom | $39,256 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitby Yachts 42 | 42' | $ 63,130 | 18 | 0 |
| Valiant 42 | 42' | $ 299,999 | 18 | 3 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 61,809 | 12 | 1 |
| Bavaria Yachts 42 Ocean | 43.96' | $ 105,000 | 12 | 0 |
| Baltic 42 | 42.43' | $ 77,300 | 6 | 1 |
| Olympic 42You are here | — | $ 71,892 | 2 | 0 |