Design and Construction
The Outremer 42 combines a high nacelle, a fluid superstructure, and a streamlined rig, giving it a comfortable yet purposeful character. Earlier Outremers demanded disciplined load management, but the 42 was designed to tolerate more load and provide more volume—a meaningful change for a couple or family preparing for ocean passages.
The hulls remain narrow, a purist’s choice that preserves the light-displacement ethos. At roughly 15,653 pounds, the 42 is explicitly a light-displacement boat. Outremer Yachting also designed the tooling to suit infusion technology, a forward-looking production detail for its era, although the yard’s full transition to vacuum infusion is associated with later models.
Rig and Handling
The Outremer 42 carries a fractional sloop rig, with the mast standing about 58.4 feet above the waterline. Its sail plan is generous for the boat’s length: a 753-square-foot mainsail, a 323-square-foot genoa, and reaching sails of either 1,076 square feet for the gennaker or 1,507 square feet for the spinnaker.
Steering is by tiller—that emblem of the light-displacement boat—rather than wheel. Multihulls World credited the cockpit, boat handling, and steering with pleasant and efficient ergonomics. Together, the narrow hulls, low weight, and streamlined rig give the 42 a direct, responsive feel that rewards an engaged helm.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
Below deck, the Outremer 42 has three double cabins, a layout that suits two couples or a family looking for private quarters. A 440-liter water tank and twin 130-liter fuel tanks support extended, independent cruising without frequent resupply.
Reviewers characterized the boat as light, spacious, and easy to maintain. That description fits a long-distance cruiser intended to be lived aboard for weeks at a time rather than a weekend coastal racer.
Propulsion and Specifications
Twin 28-horsepower diesel engines provide redundant propulsion and good control in marinas and confined waters. The beam is 7 meters, or about 22.97 feet. Together with the 42.98-meter overall length, it defines a stable, roomy platform.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 25.9 and a capsize screening value of 3.67, the figures describe a catamaran tuned for passage-making rather than absolute minimalist racing.
Verdict
The Outremer 42 is a thoughtfully evolved Danson catamaran. It trades some of the austerity of earlier models for greater volume and load tolerance while retaining narrow hulls, tiller steering, and a light-displacement character. For a cruiser seeking an engaging helm and transoceanic range in a 42-foot footprint, it remains a coherent, well-considered design.
Pros
- More tolerant of loads, with more volume than earlier Outremer models
- Narrow hulls and light displacement preserve performance and handling feel
- Three double cabins, a 440 L water tank, and twin 130 L fuel tanks for long-distance cruising
- Twin 28 hp diesels provide redundant, maneuverable propulsion
Cons
- Tiller steering may not suit buyers expecting a wheelhouse-style helm
- The high nacelle and narrow hulls reflect a purist brief rather than a focus on maximum interior beam
