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Rainbow 42
Designer: Frans Harter  ·  Builder: Farsø Glasfiber  ·  First built: 1986
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About the Rainbow 42

Bearing the Rainbow name, the 42 is a cruising sailboat that reflects the broader Rainbow lineup's focus on practical, comfortable sailing for bluewater and coastal passages alike. While detailed specifications for this model are limited, boats in the 42-foot range from this builder are generally well-regarded among sailors seeking a capable and seaworthy cruiser that balances performance with liveability. At this size, the Rainbow 42 would be well suited to extended coastal cruising and offshore passages, offering enough volume for comfortable accommodations while remaining manageable for a small crew or experienced couple. Boats in this class typically feature a solid construction philosophy with an emphasis on stability and dependable handling across a range of wind and sea conditions. For those researching this model, tracking down owner forums, original builder documentation, or archived boat show reviews would be worthwhile steps toward filling in the gaps. As with any used cruising sailboat in this category, a thorough survey is essential. The Rainbow 42 represents an interesting option for sailors prioritizing blue-water readiness and cruising comfort over outright racing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 41.96 ft / 12.79 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 36.42 ft / 11.10 m
Beam 12.30 ft / 3.75 m
Max Draft 7.87 ft / 2.40 m
Displacement 8,377.00 lb / 3,800 kg
Ballast 3,108.00 lb / 1,410 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 808.00 ft² / 75.07 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Frans Harter
Builder Farsø Glasfiber
First Built 1986
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
31.44
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
12.02
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
2.43
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. 8.09
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
7.03
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.11
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.84
P (Mainsail Luff) 51.71
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.11
ISP (Spinnaker Luff) 49.57
SPL/TPS 14.11
SA Fore 339.84
SA Main 468.23
How It Compares

vs. Hinckley 42 Competition, Swan 42, Tartan 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Rainbow 42 ★
42.0 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
42.0 ft
Swan 42
42.0 ft
Tartan 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Rainbow 42 ★
36.4 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
32.0 ft
Swan 42
33.8 ft
Tartan 42
32.0 ft
Beam
Rainbow 42 ★
12.3 ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
12.2 ft
Swan 42
13.0 ft
Tartan 42
12.3 ft
Displacement
Rainbow 42 ★
8 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
21 lbs
Swan 42
22 lbs
Tartan 42
22 lbs
Ballast
Rainbow 42 ★
3 lbs
Hinckley 42 Competition
Swan 42
9 lbs
Tartan 42
9 lbs
Sail Area
Rainbow 42 ★
808 sq ft
Hinckley 42 Competition
921 sq ft
Swan 42
802 sq ft
Tartan 42
758 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Rainbow 42 ★
Hinckley 42 Competition
Swan 42
78 s/nm
Tartan 42
114 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Rainbow 42 ★
31.4
Hinckley 42 Competition
19.1
Swan 42
16.4
Tartan 42
15.5
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Rainbow 42 ★
12.0
Hinckley 42 Competition
33.9
Swan 42
30.9
Tartan 42
34.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Rainbow 42 ★
2.43
Hinckley 42 Competition
1.76
Swan 42
1.85
Tartan 42
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Rainbow 42 ★
Hinckley 42 Competition
292
Swan 42
253
Tartan 42
Hull Speed
Rainbow 42 ★
8.1 kts
Hinckley 42 Competition
7.6 kts
Swan 42
7.8 kts
Tartan 42
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Rainbow 42 ★
7.0
Hinckley 42 Competition
2.0
Swan 42
2.1
Tartan 42
1.6
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