Whitby 42 Buyer's Guide
The Whitby 42 is a Ted Brewer-designed ketch built from 1972 through 1988, with about 300 hulls produced by Whitby Boat Works of Ontario, Canada and later Ft. Meyers Yacht and Shipbuilding under license. For a shopper on the brokerage market, the boat presents as a long-keeled, 23,000-pound coastal-and-offshore liveaboard with a 67 HP Ford Lehman diesel, a 200+ gallon fuel tank, and a reputation as one of the most livable production boats in its size range. Knowing the documented construction methods and known weak points is essential before committing to a survey.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used Whitby 42s follow a consistent accommodation plan centered on good sized staterooms forward and aft, both with large adjoining heads with showers. A large saloon and comfortable navigation station sit amid a spacious U-shaped galley that is positioned to keep the cook clear of crew movement. A work bench lines the passageway between the navigation station and after stateroom, and the engine room beneath the cockpit deck is large enough to accommodate a small auxiliary generator along the port side, with a removable cockpit sole for major overhaul. Some boats were built or later retrofitted with an optional bow sprit, which reportedly improved balance and weatherly performance.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, Whitby 42s commonly carry solar, chartplotter, dinghy davits, radar, lithium batteries, autopilot, and EPIRB as fitted equipment. Air conditioning, inverter, freezer, hot water, dodger, heating, bimini, and short handed setup are often seen, while a watermaker or cockpit shower is a less common owner upgrade. The 67 HP Ford Lehman diesel and 200+ gallon fuel tank are original-design elements, and the ketch rig with mizzen staysail or spinnaker additions remains a frequent light-air refinement rather than a factory standard.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues should anchor any pre-purchase inspection. The pop-riveted fastenings, which are prone to work loose, deserve close attention across structural components and the deck-to-hull joint on most boats. Compression failures under the mizzen mast step that result from the use of balsa wood core and inadequate structural support are a specific structural check, and the forward water tank seems to develop persistent leaks around the lid. For any offshore intent, note that the Whitby 42 lacks good sea berths for offshore passages and that extra hand-holds are strongly advised if you plan to sail offshore.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical brokerage availability concentrates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. The Whitby 42 remains a very popular choice for liveaboard cruisers of moderate means, and a used-boat checklist should confirm: through-bolted versus pop-rivet deck joint, mizzen step compression, forward tank lid sealing, pop-rivet tightness throughout, and presence of offshore hand-holds if passage use is intended.
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 · 12 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 | $ 68,326 | +24.5% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $ 47,900 | -29.9% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $ 98,000 | +104.6% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $ 39,999 | -59.2% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $ 75,000 | +87.5% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $ 60,222 | -19.7% |
Where they're listed
Whitby 42 listings appear across 5 countries. United States has the most listings with 12 (57.1%), followed by Canada and Mexico.
Country view
21 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 47,200 | 12 | 1 | 57.1% |
| Canada | $ 85,000 | 3 | 2 | 14.3% |
| Mexico | $ 98,000 | 3 | 0 | 14.3% |
| Malaysia | $ 70,000 | 2 | 1 | 9.5% |
| Netherlands | $ 68,326 | 1 | 0 | 4.8% |
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' | $ 44,900 | 27 | 12 |
| Whitby Yachts 42You are here | — | $ 60,157 | 22 | 4 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 64,062 | 14 | 2 |
| Westsail 42 | 42.92' | $ 44,000 | 11 | 5 |