Design and Construction
Solaris Yachts built the ONE 42 using a vacuum-infused hull and deck of E-fiberglass over a PVC Airex core, a composite sandwich laid up in negative moulds with vinylester resin to resist osmosis. The main bulkheads are bonded to hull and deck, and a substantial structural GRP grid underpins the hull, while the keel-stepped mast lands on a steel base bedded on a GRP support tied into the longitudinals and bolted through. Keel bolts are oversize, and the deep lead bulbed keel gives a strong ballast ratio. The builder cites a five-month build time for each hull. At 8.8 tonnes displacement with 3,000 kg of lead ballast and a 2.25 or 2.5 m draft, the 12.36 m hull carries a 3.99 m beam that testers described as relatively modest for the genre.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig is keel-stepped to the alloy Sparcraft painted mast, with a Furlex 300 roller reefer carrying a high-spec North 3Di genoa and a self-tacking track for a small headsail. A solid vang controls the boom, all lines run underdeck to Spinlock XTS jammers, and the German mainsheet emerges from a chromed recess at the right angle for the winch, with main track jammers reachable by either a dedicated trimmer or the steerer. Hidden halyards and a Y-shaped backstay without an adjuster complete the picture; testers noted the omission of the backstay adjuster as a surprise. The steering runs through Jefa linkages to a balanced GRP foam-cored spade rudder, with carbon Jefa wheels on alloy binnacles glassed into the hull. Designer Acebal penned a minimized wetted area, and on the water the sistership Unica carries an IRC rating of 1.095 TCC; the test boat made 6.7 knots on a beam reach in 7.6 knots of breeze under gennaker.
Accommodations
Below, the three-cabin layout places the en suite owner's cabin forward with an island bed surrounded by overhead and tall lockers, while two twins or a single berth sit aft. The saloon holds a U-shaped couch with a lounge opposite to port, and finishes run to matching grain oak in semi-gloss. The L-shaped galley is fitted with a three-burner stove and oven, chest and front-opening fridges, and dual sinks. A wet locker with drainage lives in the port cabin, and the en suite uses an upgraded electric head with a perspex divider limiting shower splash. On deck the high lip to the main hatch with traditional wooden washboards was praised as a seaworthy finish.
Deck and Equipment
Teak cladding covers the deck, with a squared toerail and folding cleats all round including midships. A hydraulic teak swim platform drops nearly to sea level, and the anchor setup pairs a vertical Lewmar windlass with a deep chain locker and chromed roller housing the anchor. Solimar hatches and a sturdy gas-strut hatch round out the details. In the cockpit, B&G Triton T7 plotters sit in the combings with wind instruments and compass across the companionway, while Harken 46.2 winches handle foresails and gennaker and an electric Harken 40.2 on the coachroof starboard corner supplements a manual opposite.
Known Issues
Testers flagged a fuel cut-off switch prone to inadvertent use and a lack of window blinds in the accommodation. The Y-shaped backstay carries no adjuster, limiting tuning options under way.
The Verdict
The Solaris ONE 42 is a thoughtfully engineered crossover that borrows racing precision from ORC-driven hull geometry and pairs it with a bonded, infusion-built structure and a genuinely livable three-cabin interior. She rewards a knowledgeable owner who can work around a few minor ergonomic omissions.
Pros
- Vacuum-infused sandwich hull with bonded bulkheads and oversize keel bolts
- Minimized wetted area and strong ballast ratio from deep lead bulbed keel
- Well-considered cockpit with underdeck lines, German mainsheet, and integrated B&G electronics
- Roomy three-cabin layout with proper owner's en suite and wet locker drainage
Cons
- Fuel cut-off switch easily knocked off unintentionally
- No window blinds supplied as standard
- Y-shaped backstay lacks an adjuster for mast tuning
