| Main features | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
Model | First 42 | First 42 |
Version | Shoal draft | S / Deep draft |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Offshore cruiser-racer sailboat | Offshore cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Bénéteau | Bénéteau |
Sailboat designer | ||
Sailboat range | ||
Country | France | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich balsa fiberglass polyester |
First built hull | 1981 | 1981 |
Last built hull | 1985 | 1985 |
Appendages | Keel : fin without bulb | Keel : fin without bulb |
Helm | Single helm wheel | Single helm wheel |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No |
Former French navigation category | 1 | 1 |
| Main dimensions | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
Overall length | 43’ 4”13.2 m | 43’ 4”13.2 m |
Hull length | 41’ 11”12.77 m | 41’ 11”12.77 m |
Waterline length | 36’ 2”11.04 m | 36’ 2”11.04 m |
Beam (width) | 13’ 1”4 m | 13’ 1”4 m |
Waterline beam (width) | 11’ 2”3.4 m | 11’ 2”3.4 m |
Draft | 5’ 7”1.72 m | 7’ 1”2.15 m |
Mast height from DWL | 57’ 4”17.45 m | 57’ 4”17.45 m |
Fore freeboard | 4’ 1”1.25 m | 4’ 1”1.25 m |
Mid-ship freeboard | 3’ 6”1.06 m | 3’ 6”1.06 m |
Light displacement (MLC) | 20944 lb9500 kg | 20944 lb9500 kg |
Maximum displacement (MLDC) | 22377 lb10150 kg | 22377 lb10150 kg |
Ballast weight | 7937 lb3600 kg | 7937 lb3600 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron | Cast iron |
French customs tonnage | 16.14 Tx | 16.14 Tx |
| Rig and sails | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
Upwind sail area | 1057 ft²98.2 m² | 1109 ft²103 m² |
Downwind sail area | 1886 ft²175.2 m² | 1970 ft²183 m² |
Mainsail area | 379 ft²35.2 m² | 398 ft²37 m² |
Genoa area | 678 ft²63 m² | 710 ft²66 m² |
Solent area | 484 ft²45 m² | 484 ft²45 m² |
Jib area | 353 ft²32.8 m² | 353 ft²32.8 m² |
Stormjib area | 154 ft²14.3 m² | 154 ft²14.3 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 1507 ft²140 m² | 1572 ft²146 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 52’ 10”16.1 m | 55’ 5”16.9 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 16’ 8”5.1 m | 16’ 8”5.1 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 46’ 7”14.2 m | 49’ 2”15 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 14’ 7”4.45 m | 14’ 7”4.45 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead |
Mast configuration | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 2 | 2 |
Spreaders angle | Swept-back | Swept-back |
Running backstays | 1 set(s) | 1 set(s) |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
| Performances | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
IOR rating iIOR, or International Offshore Rule, was a measurement rule system used internationally for ocean racing. It allows boats of different sizes and designs to race each other fairly. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats. | 32.7 | 32.7 |
HN (French rating) iHN or "Handicap Nationale" is an empirical rating system used in France allowing various monohulls, of different sizes and designs, to race each other fairly. It is particularly suitable for cruiser and cruiser-racer. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats. | 23.5 | 25.5 |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 236 ft²/T21.89 m²/T | 247 ft²/T22.96 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 420 ft²/T39.06 m²/T | 439 ft²/T40.8 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 200 | 200 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 38 % | 38 % |
Wetted area | 375 ft²34.8 m² | 375 ft²34.8 m² |
Maximum transverse section | 21 ft²1.95 m² | 21 ft²1.95 m² |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 8.06 knots | 8.06 knots |
| Auxiliary engine | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Engine(s) power | 50 HP | 50 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 39.6 gal150 liters | 39.6 gal150 liters |
| Accommodations and layout | First 42 Shoal draft | First 42 S / Deep draft |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) (min./max.) | 2 / 3 | 2 / 3 |
Berth(s) (min./max.) | 6 / 8 | 6 / 8 |
Head(s) (min./max.) | 1 / 2 | 1 / 2 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 105.7 gal400 liters | 105.7 gal400 liters |
Boiler capacity | 11.1 gal42 liters | 11.1 gal42 liters |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 4”1.92 m | 6’ 4”1.92 m |