Whitby 42 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Whitby 42 means considering a Ted Brewer design that ran from 1972 to 1988 with roughly 300 built, a ketch-rigged 42-foot cruiser that has long appealed to liveaboard cruisers of moderate means. These are boats with real offshore miles, and the market offers a spread of owner-updated examples worth a careful look.
Layouts on the Used Market
The interior that defines the used boat is the standard Whitby plan: good sized staterooms fore and aft, each with a large adjoining head and shower, a spacious U-shaped galley set away from traffic, a large saloon, and a comfortable navigation station with a work bench along the passage to the aft cabin. The engine sits beneath the cockpit deck and is reached easily, with a removable cockpit sole for major work. Because the engine room is large enough for a small auxiliary generator along the port side, many boats have been fitted accordingly.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Whitby 42s commonly carry solar, chartplotter, dinghy davits, radar, lithium batteries, autopilot, EPIRB, inverter, and hot water. Power and energy systems are a strong suit on the market, with solar and lithium banks frequently paired to support liveaboard loads. Navigation and safety clusters typically include chartplotter, radar, autopilot, and EPIRB as standard cruising kit. Often-seen comfort additions include air conditioning, freezer, dodger, a short-handed sail-handling setup, heating, and bimini. Less common owner upgrades may bring a watermaker, spinnaker, swim platform, or cockpit shower.
What to Inspect
The pop-riveted fastenings are prone to work loose, so check structural joints and the deck-to-hull connection for movement pop-riveted fastenings, which are prone to work loose. Compression failures under the mizzen mast step come from the balsa core and inadequate support, and deserve close inspection at the step. The forward water tank is known to develop persistent leaks around the lid, so test the fitting and look for staining. Boats lacking good sea berths and extra hand-holds are a concern if offshore plans are contemplated.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. For a buyer, the checklist is straightforward:
- Confirm deck-to-hull joint type and pop-rivet condition
- Inspect mizzen mast step for compression damage
- Test forward water tank lid for leaks
- Verify generator and engine access are intact
- Note whether offshore hand-holds and sea berths suit your plans
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Whitby 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $20,000 | — |
| Feb 25 | 1 | $69,800 | +249.0% |
| Mar 25 | 2 | $59,450 | -14.8% |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $39,000 | -34.4% |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $55,000 | +41.0% |
| Jul 25 | 3 | $54,900 | -0.2% |
| Sep 25 | 5 | $67,047 | +22.1% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $47,900 | -28.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $98,000 | +104.6% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $39,999 | -59.2% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $75,000 | +87.5% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $62,390 | -16.8% |
| Sep 26 | 4 | $52,000 | -16.7% |
Where they're listed
Whitby 42 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 9 (56.3%), followed by Canada and Mexico.
Country view
16 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $47,900 | 9 | 3 | 56.3% |
| Canada | $77,291 | 3 | 1 | 18.8% |
| Mexico | $98,000 | 2 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Malaysia | $70,000 | 2 | 0 | 12.5% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islander Freeport 41 | 41' | $ 44,950 | 30 | 5 |
| Whitby Yachts 42You are here | — | $ 52,000 | 17 | 4 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 65,003 | 14 | 3 |
| Camper & Nicholsons 42 | 41.83' | $ 20,000 | 11 | 6 |