Passport 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Passport 42 means looking at a Taiwanese-built, Stan Huntingford–designed heavy-displacement cutter that saw about 50 hulls produced between 1981 and 1988 across three yards. These are serious bluewater boats with a canoe stern and a beam carried aft for interior volume, and the used fleet reflects both private and ex-charter histories. Knowing where the design is strong and where it bites will narrow a shortlist quickly.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The standard plan offsets the companionway to starboard for a portside aft double with a small hatch and two portlights, sets a starboard quarter berth and large nav station, and runs a U-shaped secure galley forward with a centerline sink and huge fridge-freezer. A roomy dinette faces a settee that doubles as a single, and the head to port can hold a tub or, on some boats, a dedicated shower stall. A forward cabin with a port double and starboard seat completes the picture, with headroom enough for a tall owner.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, boats commonly carry an inverter, autopilot, air conditioning, bow thruster, electric winches, hot water, radar, AIS, life raft, and chartplotter—a cluster that means a buyer can expect modern navigation and docking assist without immediate outlay. A frequent owner upgrade group runs to watermaker, heating, solar, spinnaker, freezer, swim platform, dinghy davits, and completed transatlantic passage rigging; these speak to boats already sorted for extended offshore use, with solar and watermaker the items that matter most for independent cruising. The original cutter rig and Perkins 4-108 remain, so rig and propulsion are known quantities rather than variables.
What to Inspect
The teak decks and cabintop are period-standard but carry a real defect: the caulking over the teak bungs deteriorates and lets water migrate down the deck screws into the core, risking rot and a tender, spongy feel as you walk the deck. Stainless chainplates were set in glass by the builder, which conceals crevice corrosion and blocks inspection without cutting them out; many owners have dug them out and replaced them, so ask what was done. Tankage needs close look: sisterships have leaky tanks, the stainless freshwater tanks under the sole can pinhole, and cracks have appeared in the fiberglass blackwater tank. The engine sits low near the sinks, raising waterlock risk and requiring cabinetry removal for full access.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for these boats is the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is straightforward: confirm chainplate status and any glassed-in remnants, sound the deck for core softness around fasteners, pressure-test or pull inspection plates on all tanks, and verify engine access before committing. A well-kept Passport 42 with renewed chainplates and dry decks is a steady, roomy offshore cutter; one with original glassed plates and weeping tankage is a project.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Passport 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 2 | $79,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $139,000 | +75.9% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $67,800 | -51.2% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $139,000 | +105.0% |
Where they're listed
Passport 42 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $139,000 | 5 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tayana Vancouver 42 | 41.75' | $ 119,948 | 50 | 12 |
| Valiant 42 | 42' | $ 299,999 | 18 | 3 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 62,022 | 12 | 1 |
| Vagabond 42 | 42' | $ 42,500 | 10 | 3 |
| Rustler 42 | 42' | $ 474,934 | 9 | 3 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 201,450 | 7 | 2 |
| Passport 42You are here | — | $ 139,000 | 5 | 1 |