Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS

It was a dark and stormy night.

Well, not really, but it was a thickly overcast morning with sporadic downpours and a wind honking from the west as a strong front rolled across Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The weather was dictating the day, as well as my schedule for the sea trial on the new Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS. As it was, it actually turned out for the better.

My early morning run was supposed to leave time for Matt VanGrunsven, marketing director at KCS International, the parent company of Cruisers Yachts, to get this yacht and the 38 GLS sistership down to Miami for a photo shoot. But the weather delay pushed my needs back into their window. So what to do? Simple — take a ride to Miami with Matt and crew to get some real sea time on the 42 GLS.

Hit the seas

I make that point for several reasons. One, the aforementioned wind was 20-plus knots (more plus than 20) and the ocean report was for 8-foot seas. Not my type of sea trial. But the west wind was blowing offshore, so we planned to run in the lee of the land southbound out of Port Everglades to Miami’s Government Cut inlet. Secondly, this would give me more opportunity to experience the ride, handling, speed, comfort and function of the 42 GLS. It was a good call.

Pushing the 42 GLS were triple, gleaming white Mercury Verado outboard engines, sporting 400 hp each. This package offers a brisk top-speed of 52 mph, burning 100 gph, so you know you have the ponies and resources to beat it back to a safe harbor if needed. Although running in the lee of the land, we still experienced a 2- to 4-foot chop, but our 42 GLS was eating ‘em up, cranking out a steady 35-38 mph with little effort. Per the charts, 38 mph yields a burn of 40 gph and an estimated range of 330 nm. For improved range, dial back to just under 10 mph and sip the fuel at 7.5 gph, going for 450 nm.

What allowed us to have an impressive run in the slop was not due to just the powerplants, but also the hull configuration. The designers at Cruisers found the sweet spot between a sharp hull entry for cutting the waves and having a broad hull for maximum interior space without forsaking performance or stability. Lifting strakes and wide chines get the boat out of the water, and a flattened V aft adds more lift while giving the extended center outdrive clean water to bite.

Also designed into the hull is generous freeboard. Built to keep the seas at bay, it also keeps the passengers dry as this is an open bow boat.

Magic time

There’s more magic happening above the waterline. Designed as a dayboat or weekender, the 42 GLS has a form that allows for great function. Boarding is easy from the dock as the aft platform wraps around the outboards and across the transom. And it’s deep at 30 inches so there’s no tripping over the feet of those relaxing on the aft-facing bench seats. Storage under these seats is perfect for fenders and lines.

To accentuate on the function of a family/entertaining/relaxing boat, the 42 GLS is equipped with port and starboard beach doors. I’m not a big fan of side wings — until now. When deployed, they are a great addition to either your waterborne activities or for a bit more on-deck social room. Cruisers also built them solid. I stepped all the way out to the edge of the port wing, waiting for a few creaks and groans under my generous proportions, but there was no noise and barely a rocking of the boat. This feature may also be useful when there’s a mutiny and someone has to walk the plank.

Where’s the party?

The party’s on the main deck. To starboard there’s a large U-shaped settee with center fold-out teak table, protected by the hardtop. The aft seat is combined with the aft transom bench, and each can be used simultaneously and not as a conversion unit. A plus is that the backrest can rotate 90 degrees, offering sideways seating and lounging. A nice idea!

To port is the galley unit with recessed sink and electric grill. Both have custom covers, so when they’re not in use this is a large counter area. Below is a Vitrifrigo drawer-style fridge with a basket (good spot for sandwiches) and storage. Built into the back of the counter are cup holders and a mount for the 30-inch pedestal TV fixture. Twin fixed barstools are located at the forward edge of the galley, with well-padded combing for your backside when seated forward. Large forward and 30-inch-high side windows along with 6 feet, 10 inches of headroom gives the main deck a cavernous feel.

From the doublewide bolstered helm seat with armrest, there’s great visibility all around the boat. The low-profile console houses twin 12-inch Simrad multifunction displays, a Seakeeper display, if installed, (we had a Seakeeper 6) and room for other electronics. A bank of soft-touch buttons handles ancillary functions, such as lights, sunroof, bilge pumps, windlass and more. On the right console are the Mercury joystick with Skyhook, electronic throttles and trim tab controller.

Through the port door is access to the bow area — another inviting area to chill for the day. Here, U-shaped seating accommodates several passengers, or lounge back when it’s just a few. Cup holders, stereo speakers, grabrails and a teak table fill it out. Base mounts for the foredeck shade can be included, and a partial filler cushion over the table extends the sunpad area.

What, a cabin?

Another surprise is the lower cabin. That’s right, on a bowrider. With a deep hull and high freeboard offering 6 feet, 7 inches of headroom, Cruisers Yachts is able to add in accommodations for protection as well as staying onboard. And it’s not too shabby.

There’s a center U-shaped dinette with a teak table. This unit converts into a 6-foot berth, thanks to a few filler cushions stored in their own forward compartment. A second berth is located under the deck. This one is great for kids or gear storage. Included is a microwave oven and Vitrifrigo fridge/freezer. There’s also room for a 30-inch pedestal TV.
Generously sized is the wet head with a large basin sink, deep cabinet, Dometic electric toilet, shower curtain and handheld shower faucet. This is a nice feature to have onboard when changing from a day on the water to dining at a restaurant.

A few additional items worth noting are the diesel generator (diesel for safety purposes), aft deck Makefast extendable shade (built into the hardtop), main deck AC/heat, gray SeaDek flooring and boarding ladder.

Designed for outboards or Mercury 430-hp I/Os, there is an engine room, which is really a machine room when outboards are used. With ample space for batteries, a generator, a Seakeeper and more, it’s a dry area that’s very workable.

It doesn’t always have to be sunny to gather family and friends, take a cruise, drop the anchor, deploy the beach doors and enjoy the boating life on a well-designed platform. Make sure it’s on the Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS.