Displacement, safe and spacious, in its own way not unlike the Grand Banks 42, and yet still inspired by the evergreen trawlers, Hatteras launched, in 1976, its first Long Range Cruiser, the Hatteras 42 LRC, progenitor of a very successful range. At 12.8 meters long and capable of remarkable ranges, this will be an extremely long-lived design, a cult of the shipyard and an unquestionable Classic Cruising Boat.
Hatteras 42 LRC
In the 1970s and 1980s Hatteras was a brand associated with quality, equivalent then to Mercedes Benz in the automotive world, a brand whose build quality was hardly questioned. An assumption that helps to best understand the success of the Hatteras 42, happy both in its first version, retrospectively called the Mark I (1976-1978), and even more so in its later reboot, the Mark II, repurposed to 1980 to 1985 with minor changes, mainly related to technical and engine components, as well as cabin structure and internal layouts.
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Exterior
In terms of exteriors, both versions of the 42 LRC are based on the hull designed by Jack B. Hargrave, a solid, marine hull capable of making the boat as comfortable and usable under sail as it is at anchor. The volumes are markedly children of their time, still strong in a particularly classic design, with a wide, uncluttered cockpit particularly high to provide ample space below deck. Different here are the designs of the two versions, with a barely pronounced aft deckhouse in the first version, replaced by a flush solution in the second.
The cabin structure, in both versions, engages a full third of the hull length, high and protected, providing a secure helm station where visibility is privileged. There is, of course, no shortage of fly above this one, consisting of an outdoor wheelhouse and furniture to create a small convivial area. In the Mk ii version, the volumes are slightly larger, providing more space for the interior, but without limiting the passages on deck. In the bow, a newly elevated deckhouse provides both volume to the interior and an excellent sunbathing area. The standards are obviously different from modern ones, and so sofas and sundecks are missing, offering a much more spartan design than we are used to today.
Hatteras 42 LRC – Interior
The strength of the Hatteras was also undoubtedly the interior spaces, already strong in the large salon with galley present in the cabin, where the covered wheelhouse occupies only a very small portion of the starboard bow area. Accessing the bow, a double cabin with V berth occupies the entire forward area, strong with a private bathroom and abundant storage space.
Instead, aft options offered a full-beam double master cabin solution, contrasted by an optional twin-bed cabin. In keeping with tradition, the dinette sofa can accommodate two people once converted into a bed for the night.
Propulsion and performance
In terms of motorization, the Hatteras 42 LRC was designed to, virtually, be able to stay with engine running for 24 hours a day and for days, precisely because of its intended use as a long range cruiser. This involves the use of GM engines of 112 horsepower each, a proven solution of quality and reliability, installed in a particularly accessible engine room developed to facilitate all types of maintenance. To minimize risk, the entire system was assembled on structures intended to reduce vibration distribution by isolating both the hull and the cabins, thus reducing any noise or disturbance.
In terms of seaworthiness, however, the qualities of the hull made it a safe and pleasant boat, although capable of unimpressive speeds today-just 9 knots at full throttle, with 7 knots listed as the cruising speed.
Hatteras 42 LRC – Data Sheet
| Length Over All (LOA) | 12.8 m (42 ft 6 inch) |
| Baglio Massimo | 4.4 m (14 ft 6 inch) |
| Dive | 1.16 m (3 ft 10 inch) |
| Displacement | 12.9 t |
| Original Motorization | 2x GM 4-53N diesel 112 hp |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 2850 lt. |
| Fresh Water Tank Capacity | 890 lt. |
| Beds | 4 / 6 |
| Production start year MKI | 1976 |
| Year of start of production MKII | 1980 |
| Project | Jack B. Hargrave |
| Construction site | Hatteras |
Discover Classic Boats from previous articles
At this link you can find all the other great Classic Boats, and if you have one and want to tell us about it, here are the instructions for uploading it to our dedicated section so you can celebrate it with us and all the enthusiasts
- Here is one of the last articles in the series:
Storebro Royal Cruiser 31 (9.30 m), la Classic Boat scandinava (quasi) indistruttibile
