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Morris 42
Designer: Chuck Paine & Associates  ·  Builder: Morris Yachts  ·  First built: 1997
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About the Morris 42

Designed by Chuck Paine & Associates and built by the renowned Morris Yachts beginning in 1997, this 42-footer represents the Maine builder's commitment to crafting elegant cruising sailboats with exceptional build quality. The fiberglass construction showcases Morris's attention to detail and traditional craftsmanship that has made the yard a respected name among serious sailors. With a moderate displacement of 19,400 pounds and substantial ballast of 8,815 pounds, the Morris 42 strikes an appealing balance between performance and stability. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides responsive handling while maintaining directional stability, particularly valuable for offshore passages. Her masthead sloop rig with 758 square feet of sail area offers versatility across varying wind conditions. The boat's comfort ratio of 28.72 indicates excellent motion characteristics in seaway conditions, while the capsize screening formula of 1.87 suggests good stability for coastal and offshore cruising. These characteristics, combined with Morris's reputation for robust construction and thoughtful design details, make this model well-suited for serious coastal cruising and extended offshore passages. The Morris 42 appeals to sailors seeking a vessel that combines performance with the security and craftsmanship expected from one of America's premier boatbuilders.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.50 ft / 10.21 m
Beam 12.52 ft / 3.82 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 19,400.00 lb / 8,800 kg
Ballast 8,815.00 lb / 3,998 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 758.00 ft² / 70.42 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Chuck Paine & Associates
Builder Morris Yachts
First Built 1997
Related Sailboats ["Rustler 42" · "Hinckley 42 Competition" · "Valiant 42" · "Swan 42" · "Tartan 42"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 86
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.86
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 45.44
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 230.37
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 28.72
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.87
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.76 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,498.63 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 50 gals / 189 L
Water Capacity 130 gals / 492 L
How It Compares

vs. Hinckley 42 Competition, Swan 42, Valiant 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Morris 42 ★
42.0 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
42.0 ft
Swan 42
42.0 ft
Valiant 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Morris 42 ★
33.5 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
32.0 ft
Swan 42
33.8 ft
Valiant 42
34.5 ft
Beam
Morris 42 ★
12.5 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
12.2 ft
Swan 42
13.0 ft
Valiant 42
12.8 ft
Displacement
Morris 42 ★
19 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
21 lbs
Swan 42
22 lbs
Valiant 42
24 lbs
Ballast
Morris 42 ★
8 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Swan 42
9 lbs
Valiant 42
9 lbs
Sail Area
Morris 42 ★
758 sq ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
921 sq ft
Swan 42
802 sq ft
Valiant 42
849 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Morris 42 ★
86 s/nm
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Swan 42
78 s/nm
Valiant 42
138 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Morris 42 ★
16.9
Hinckley 42 Competition
19.1
Swan 42
16.4
Valiant 42
16.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Morris 42 ★
45.4 %
Hinckley 42 Competition
—
Swan 42
41.8 %
Valiant 42
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Morris 42 ★
28.7
Hinckley 42 Competition
33.9
Swan 42
30.9
Valiant 42
34.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Morris 42 ★
1.87
Hinckley 42 Competition
1.76
Swan 42
1.85
Valiant 42
1.76
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Morris 42 ★
230
Hinckley 42 Competition
292
Swan 42
253
Valiant 42
—
Hull Speed
Morris 42 ★
7.8 kts
Hinckley 42 Competition
7.6 kts
Swan 42
7.8 kts
Valiant 42
7.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Morris 42 ★
—
Hinckley 42 Competition
2.0
Swan 42
2.1
Valiant 42
1.9
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