Design and Construction
The Privilège 42 has a 42-foot length overall and a 23-foot beam. Its length-to-beam ratio of 1.81 puts it firmly at the roomy end of its class: period comparisons ranked it as more spacious than 73% of similar sailing catamarans.
The hull is solid fiberglass. A displacement-to-length ratio of 133 places the design among what reviewers called “light racers,” with half of comparable catamaran designs weighing more. Together, the broad beam and moderate displacement give the 42 an average displacement-to-length relationship for a cruising multihull of its size.
Rig and Performance
The Privilège 42 carries a fractional sloop rig, with the mast standing 62 feet above the waterline and roughly 1,088 square feet of sail area. Its displacement-to-length ratio and sail-area-to-displacement figure of 26.85 point to a light, responsive coastal and passage cruiser rather than a heavy-displacement voyager.
The twin keels draw between 7.58 and 7.88 feet, depending on load. That draft restricts the boat to major marinas, though it suits open-water stability.
Propulsion comes from twin 54-horsepower Yanmar diesels with shaft drives, though some examples may instead carry dual 60-horsepower Volvo Penta MD2030 units.
Accommodations and Cruising Capacity
Below, the boat has four cabins and a toilet facility, a configuration that made it a plausible choice for both private and charter use. Fresh-water capacity is 132 gallons, while the diesel tanks hold 107 gallons. Those capacities supported extended independent cruising for a family or small crew.
The spaciousness noted in comparative reviews also translates into liveaboard and passage-making comfort within the boat’s 42-foot envelope.
Verdict
The Privilège 42 is a limited-production Lombard catamaran that combines an unusually broad, light-displacement hull with a practical four-cabin interior. Its short production run and pre-Série construction make it a distinct early chapter in the Privilège story rather than part of the modern infused fleet.
Pros
- Exceptionally roomy for its length among comparable catamarans
- Light-displacement, responsive sailing profile
- Four-cabin layout
- Solid fiberglass hull
Cons
- Draft limits access to shallow or minor marinas
- Only 29 were built, so finding one takes patience
