Design and Construction
The 42 DS is built in solid fiberglass requiring minimal seasonal maintenance, a hull material that keeps upkeep low. The yard's use of a solid laminate rather than a cored hull places the boat in the conventional Austrian GRP tradition that followed the company's switch away from wooden clinker construction decades earlier. With a length-to-beam ratio of 2.91, the design is beamier than 90 percent of comparable sailboats, giving it unusual interior volume for its length, while a displacement-length ratio of 176 classifies it among "light racers" — 82 percent of similar designs are heavier. The immersion rate of about 371 kg per centimeter (2,080 lbs per inch) tells the owner that loading a tonne of gear sinks the hull roughly 2.7 cm, a useful figure when provisioning for the extended voyages the boat is certified for.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop, the 42 DS carries running rigging to match its 1,062-square-foot sail plan. The jib and genoa sheets are both specified at 12.8 meters with 14 mm diameter; the mainsheet runs 32.0 meters at the same diameter, and a spinnaker sheet is 28.2 meters. These are estimated lengths, but they indicate a cockpit laid out for manageable control loads. The spade rudder and bulb keel, paired with the 31.74 percent ballast-displacement ratio, give the 27,778-pound hull a documented capsize screening value of 1.91 — a figure low enough that, by that formula alone, the boat could be accepted to participate in ocean races. The theoretical maximum hull speed is 8.6 knots.
Accommodations and Ocean Capability
The 42 DS is equipped with four berths and carries 570 liters (150 US gallons) of fresh water. Its CE Class A ocean certification means it is designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 and significant wave heights of 4 meters and above. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 29.3 places it more comfortable than 46 percent of similar sailboat designs — not the softest ride in its class, but consistent with the light-racer displacement profile and the beamy hull that trades some motion damping for volume.
The Verdict
The Sunbeam 42 DS is a beamy, lightly loaded 42-foot ocean-certified sloop from the Schöchl/J&J collaboration, built in modest numbers and aimed at long passages rather than dock-side comfort. Its solid fiberglass hull keeps maintenance low, and its stability numbers support serious offshore use, though its comfort ratio is mid-pack.
Pros
- CE Class A (Ocean) certification for extended voyages in winds above force 8 and 4 m seas
- Beamier than 90% of similar designs for superior interior space
- Solid fiberglass hull needing minimal seasonal maintenance
- Capsize screening value of 1.91 supports ocean-race eligibility
Cons
- Motion Comfort Ratio better than only 46% of similar designs
- Displacement-length ratio of 176 puts it in "light racer" category, not a heavy offshore cruiser
- Only 29 built, limiting future parts and community support
