SEAWARD 42
2016 PRICE: £650,000
Built on the Isle of Wight, Seaward has a rich history of commercial pilot boats and harbour launches, boats that have to put to sea irrespective of conditions. The leisure range spans from a 19ft launch through to this 42ft bruiser, all built with the same singleminded pursuit of offshore reach, come what may.
In a time where leisure boats get ever taller and fatter in order to squeeze in ever larger interior volume, the Seaward 42 is decidedly old school, giving the distinct impression that the company simply built the best hull and deck it could create, and then
INTERIOR
fitted out the interior space once it was finished. But that said, the inside of this boat is far from an afterthought. Custom built to owner requirements, there are seven layout alternatives, this one featuring a vee-berth forward and a large converting dinette aft of it on the lower deck opposite a generous galley. The main deck is dominated by a pair of massive shock-mitigating helm seats port and starboard ahead of a saloon.
LOA:
Beam: Displacement: Engines:
The commercial roots show through in areas like the wide side decks, inner pilot rail and deep sided cockpit. This is a boat designed to be safe and easy to handle in all conditions and all circumstances. An M4 black rubber D section fender encircles the gunwale.
EXTERIOR
Standard engines are a pair of Yanmar 8LVS rated at 370hp. Options include
PERFORMANCE
Draught: Fuel capacity: the Yanmar 6LY-CRS, rated at 440hp, and the Cummins QSB 6.7’s rated at 425hp. This boat has the latter, which gave it 25.5 knots when we tested it.
A long deep keel dips to a depth of four feet beneath the waterline, protecting the sterngear and providing excellent directional stability. Part of the legendary Nelson hull design and backed up by an RCD Category A rating, it makes for a boat that lead our test to conclude: “…and then there are boats like the Seaward 42, which truly can venture forth any time in any weather. The 42 is the real Mccoy”.
SEAKEEPING
43ft 8in (13.3m) 13ft 0in (4.0m) 4ft 0in (1.22m) 14 tonnes 2,000 litres Twin Cummins QSB 6.7 425hp
Seaward Boats www.seawardboat.com