Florida builder Island Packet Yachts, one of only a few sailboat builders in North America, recently added a new 42-foot motor sailer to their fleet. Designed by IPY founder Bob Johnson and the IPY design team, the new motor sailor is for cruisers who want to live aboard and explore far and wide.
With Island Packet’s traditional looks, long Full Foil keel and a salty pilot house, the 42 fits neatly into the Next Generation of boats being built by the company’s new owners Darrell and Leslie Allen.
Anticipating that owners will be motoring or motor sailing most of the time, the 42 has been equipped with a 110-horsepower, turbo-charged Yanmar diesel and 320 gallons of diesel. This will give her a comfortable and efficient cruising speed of 8 knots under power. Add sail power and fuel consumption will be even better.
The inside steering station has excellent visibility forward and a side door next to the helm provides useful access to the side decks when mooring or anchoring. The salon joins the cockpit through a large glass door and there is a wide, opening window that creates a large indoor-outdoor feeling.
But the 42 MS is a sail boat, too. It has IPY’s traditional rig with a fully battened mainsail and a self-tacking jib. For downwind sailing, a furling genoa, or Code 0 or even an asymmetrical chute on a top-down furler can be deployed from the bowsprit. All lines lead to line stoppers and winches in the cockpit.
The accommodations offer two cabins and two heads. The master cabin aft has a centerline double and a large en suite head. The smaller double guest cabin has a good-size berth and room is available for a washer-dryer.
The Island Packet family of owners are an intrepid and loyal bunch and there’s no doubt that the new 42 MS will appeal to those who are seeking the comforts of a motor sailer in a cruiser that has all of the builder’s traditional sailing qualities.
