JJ30

I have many hours on a 42, driving, maintenance, rigging, etc. These are great boats! Very large for the size and the cockpit is very deep. I'm sure your AT is nice but the 42 is in a different class all together, no comparison. There hasn't been a time when we were out in rough weather and had any doubts, the 42 is a true offshore powerboat. Trust me the boat will handle more than you can. The cabin is very accommodating for a performance boat and the cockpit fits 6 people very comfortably. The drivability is great, you can cruise around anywhere from 45 to 90mph! Something to be said when you can do a poker run and cruise 80 to 90mph and still plenty left to climb to 110mph plus. There's a reason why the 42 was the second most popular model, 1st being the 37. Stay away from the triple engine 42 due to the maintenance aspect. The size of the bilge on the 42 and the engines being staggered makes working on the engines enjoyable. We've been on many poker runs with all brands of boats and they try to keep up but just can't. The efficiency of the hull is phenomenal. Good luck with your purchase!

Faster Daddy

Drock78

iTrader: (2)

Not just because I have owned 3, but I fee that AT is likely the best offshore boat built dollar for dollar. Awesome, usable cabin with every amenity, deep cockpit, great ride and balance and power for power runs with almost every boat in its class. I'd own another in a heartbeat. That being said, I've always wanted a 42 Legacy or 43 Nortech. From a maintenance aspect, I have a different opinion and have went round and round with guys about it. Aside from changing oil, filters, plugs, etc., the maintenance on a 1075/#6 boat will likely be far more expensive. Top ends, rebuilds, drive rebuilds, props are triple the money per side. Top ends and rebuild intervals are half the time as 525's. I can afford the boat but can't afford to maintain and run a 1075 boat when we average 50hrs a year. Also, as Tom mentioned when we were talking, the 42 is also a different animal when it comes to trailering, launching, retrieving, docking and cleaning. The 37 is much easier. Although, I wouldn't mind seeing stealin' thunder, Mike's, Kevin's or Tom's come up for sale since they make up a short list of the ones I'd be in the market for.

frickstyle

Did they have wood in the transom/core and were "glass", then changed in 2004 to epoxy? Are the pre-2004/epoxy boats better for Great Lakes/rough running?

Also, looking at interior pics, does that horseshoe bench fold down to lend access to the v-berth for overnighting / comfortable sleep for two? I too have a 42 on a short list, moving up from a Top Gun. This boat seems to do about everything well, and seems light years more efficient than a non-step Gun. Plus, full cabin which is not offered in a twin step Cig.

F-2 Speedy

iTrader: (6)

I haven't head anything good about the NXT tranny, might want to steer clear of that, to bad its paired with the awesome 700

jriggs

Would a 46 unlimited be an option? I am not familiar with either the 42 or the 46, but the 46 Unlimited replaced the 42 and is a newer boat and is not that far away in price.

endeavour32

iTrader: (4)

I'm in no means an OL expert, but I think the 46 is a bustled 42. So yes, it is basically a 42. OL experts, would you agree with this?

302Sport

If you are going with a 42, look for one with 700's!!! Maintenance isn't much difference than a 525 boat with top ends at 250 hours and you're still going to be running 105-110. When you step up into a 1075 boat, you will gain an extra 10mph but have to do valve lash every 20 hours, top ends at 80 (if they make it there), and they are NOT fresh water cooled, which to me makes a huge difference because I boat in salt. The newer models that you could go with 700's would be the SL41 and SL44, but they didnt make many with 700's. If you get into a 46, you will need to go with the 1075's because I dont think they made them with 700's. To me the utimate setup would be a 46 with 6's and some turned up 700's.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

1) Nothing wrong with 700s after you swap to BAM's transmissions.

2) And look closely at the 43 NorTech's. I'm not posting this to throw rocks at them, but I was surprised by the low freeboard on the earlier ones. I was on one of Jassman's boats and went to lean on the gunwale, and it was below my waist. I damn near fell over backwards out of the boat. Later, they lowered the floor in the cockpit, increasing freeboard; which also drops the occupants much further out of the wind when operating. You don't realize how much wind fatigues you until you spend a day in a boat with less wind protection than you are used to. Headsets can help, but it's not a cure.

This is Jeff's boat that surprised me with the low freeboard. Then they got deeper.

F-2 Speedy

iTrader: (6)

The engines have to move forward to put any other tranny in its place. so that means exhaust and who knows what else needs to change. theres a reason mercury designed it that way.