PDQ 42

[Tom and Maje]

I've searched the site and found lots of posts concerning the PDQ 36 and the 44 but nothing on the 42. Does anyone know, other than size, how much of a difference there is between a PDQ 42 and 44?

Maje

[Intentional Drifter]

Very little. The 42 came first. PDQ quickly realized that adding two feet would improve performance and load bearing and the 44 was born. Not many 42's were made. Otherwise, they are just about identical, except for boat-to-boat changes made over time in production. The extra two feet are in the transoms.

Both are very nice boats.

ID

[Tom and Maje]

Do you know anything about their performance?

Maje

[Intentional Drifter]

Pretty decent, actually. Although they are very big boats, the hull/beam ratio is pretty good (relatively narrow hulls, which is why they did the transom extensions, considering the overall weight of the boats). They are luxury cruisers, with an emphasis on the luxury, but will put in good daily averages.

We know one of the skipper/instructors of "PDQ U", the training course PDQ used to do for new owners. She really liked them. Putting them in relation to other, similar sized cats, they would be close to the Lagoon 440 and 410 (two of the better performing Lagoons). Not as fast as a St Francis 44 or an Outremer 42.

I was on one only once, but it wasn't a great sailing day due to light winds. That is one of the issues I had with it; it takes 10 knots of wind to get them moving. After that, though, all is good. Personally, I didn't care for all that freeboard, but it does mean a high bridgedeck. (As a St. Francis owner, I opted for the other side of that compromise; I'll take a few more wave slaps in order to get better windward performance. It's a decision you have to make one way or the other, depending on your personal preference.)

Well made. Not cheap.

Hope this helps.

ID