It’s always interesting to see a new cruising boat that actually looks – and behaves – like a real blue-water cruising boat. Take a look, for example, at the Seaward 42, built in Cowes on the Isle of Wight by a company that’s been making pilot boats and patrol boats for the past 40 years.
The Seaward 42 is built to go to sea, even rough seas. Its semi-displacement hull, low profile, and sturdy build all say that this is a serious boat. With standard twin 370-hp Yanmar diesels, it can cruise up to 20 knots, and still be fuel-efficient at trawler speeds.
It’s built on the Nelson hull shape used by pilot boats for years, with a knife-like entry, rounded bilges in the midsections, and fairly flat sections aft. A deep keel provides directional stability while protecting the running gear. The ride is soft and comfortable, and the boat maintains a relatively flat attitude throughout the speed range.
The 42, the flagship of the Seaward fleet, can be customized, but the basic boat has one cabin and one head, with the galley down and a no-nonsense salon/wheelhouse. The helm station is on the port side; a single seat is mounted there on a locker base for storage. The navigator is to starboard, in a similar seat, facing a nav table. An L-shape sofa and a table are to starboard; a built-in bar and space for a TV are to port.
Below, the U-shaped galley is to port, with enough storage space to support a week-long cruise. The dinette is to starboard. Not surprisingly, all the countertops have high fiddles. The master cabin is forward with a V-berth or a double bed, with storage under, and a hanging locker. The head with shower is accessible from that cabin or from the dinette.
The cockpit aft has two L-shaped seats, a table, and a large lazarette storage area. The side decks are wide for safety, and the foredeck is uncluttered. The side rails are high and sturdy.
Specs.: LOA: 43’8”; Beam: 13’0”; Draft: 4’1”; Disp.: 28,000 lbs.; Fuel: 528 gals.; Water: 184 gals.; Power: 2×370-hp Yanmar diesels. Read more:
