Niagara 42
Description
The Niagara 42 is a premium Canadian bluewater cruiser designed by Mark Ellis (known for his comfortable, seaworthy designs like the Nonsuch cat-rigged series). It was built by Hinterhoeller Yachts Ltd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, from approximately 1984 to the late 1980s (with production in limited numbers—likely in the low dozens based on hull numbers referenced in owner groups and listings, as it was the flagship model of the Hinterhoeller lineup). Featuring solid fiberglass (GRP) construction with a fin keel and spade rudder for balanced performance and good tracking, a cutter rig (often sailed as sloop/cutter with inner forestay for versatility in heavy weather), and exceptional build quality emphasizing offshore capability, comfort, and simplicity. It offers a spacious, well-finished teak interior (typically 2 cabins with 6–7 berths, generous galley, heads, nav station, and ample tankage/storage for extended/liveaboard cruising), proven seaworthiness (many examples have cruised widely with strong stability and motion), and a reputation as a robust, comfortable passagemaker—simple, strong, and highly regarded among owners for aesthetics, handling, and bluewater credentials.
Construction Details
| Designer | Mark Ellis |
|---|---|
| Builder | Hinterhoeller Yachts Ltd. |
| Length | 42.000 ft |
| LOA | 42.000 ft |
| LWL | 32.500 ft |
| Beam | 12.750 ft |
| Displacement | 19800 lb |
| Ballast | 8500 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.670 ft |
| Year Built | 1984 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 53 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 19 ft |
| p | 46 ft |
| e | 15 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft | 19 ft | 46 ft | 15 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Niagara 42 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 46 ft - (14021 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.73 ft - (14548 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.99 ° |
| Diagonal | * 47.88 ft - (14594 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 344.64 ft² |
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Niagara 42 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 45.04 ft - (13728 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.69 ft - (7830 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.36 ft - (11692 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 21.85 ft - (6660 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 492.06 ft² |
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Niagara 42 - GENOA
| Luff | * 53.49 ft - (16304 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 31.13 ft - (9488 mm) |
| Leech | * 49.9 ft - (15210 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 28.5 ft - (8687 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 762.17 ft² |
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Niagara 42 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 53.49 ft - (16304 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 34.2 ft - (10424 mm) |
| Foot | * 34.2 ft - (10424 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1554.95 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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