Design and Construction
Danson’s 42-foot catamaran presents a high nacelle, a fluid superstructure, and a streamlined rig that together assert a comfortable yet purposeful character. Where earlier Outremers demanded disciplined load management, the 42 was conceived to be more tolerant to loads and to carry more volume, a meaningful shift for a couple or family loading for ocean passages. The hulls remain narrow — a purist’s choice that preserves the light-displacement ethos — and the boat is explicitly a light displacement boat at roughly 15,653 pounds. Outremer Yachting built the tooling so that it would be suited to infusion technology, a forward-looking production detail for its era even as the yard’s full vacuum infusion transition is associated with later models.
Rig and Handling
Above the deck, the Outremer 42 flies a fractional sloop rig with a mast standing about 58.4 feet above the waterline. The sail plan is generous for the length: a 753-square-foot mainsail, a 323-square-foot genoa, and reaching sails of 1,076 square feet on a gennaker or 1,507 square feet on a spinnaker. Steering is by tiller — that emblem of the light displacement boat — rather than wheel, and Multihulls World credited the cockpit, boat handling, and steering with pleasant and efficient ergonomics. The combination of narrow hulls, light weight, and a streamlined rig gives the 42 a direct, responsive feel that rewards an engaged helm.
Accommodations
Below, the Outremer 42 is laid out with three double cabins, a configuration that suits two couples or a family with private quarters. The 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, a description that fits a long-distance cruiser meant to be lived aboard for weeks at a time rather than a weekend coastal racer.
Propulsion and Specifications
The drivetrain is twin 28-horsepower diesel engines, giving redundant propulsion and good control in marinas and confined waters. The beam measures 7 meters, or about 22.97 feet, which together with the 42.98-meter overall length defines a stable, roomy platform. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 25.9 and a capsize screening value of 3.67, the numbers describe a catamaran tuned for passage-making rather than absolute minimalist racing.
The Verdict
The Outremer 42 is a thoughtfully evolved Danson catamaran that trades some of the earlier models’ austerity for volume and load tolerance while keeping narrow hulls and a tiller-driven, light-displacement spirit. For the cruiser who wants an engaging helm and transoceanic range in a 42-foot footprint, it remains a coherent, well-considered design.
Pros
- More tolerant to loads and more volume than earlier Outremer models
- Narrow hulls and light displacement preserve performance and handling feel
- Three double cabins with 440 L water and twin 130 L fuel capacity for long-distance cruising
- Twin 28 hp diesels for redundant, maneuverable propulsion
Cons
- Tiller steering may not suit all buyers expecting a wheelhouse-style helm
- High nacelle and narrow hulls reflect a purist brief rather than maximum interior beam
