By Andy Adams

Once again, Cruisers Yachts is leading the market for day boats with their new 42 GLS model that premiered at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show at the end of October. The concept of a large day boat is now a very well-established trend made possible by the amazing new power and efficiency of the latest four stroke outboards. Buyers are looking for a different boating experience and we think that the 42 GLS nails it. Fast, handsome and versatile, the 42 GLS is designed for fun and adventure.

The idea is to have maximum comfort and convenience in a boat that is easy to handle, fast enough to cover long distances in the day and to be your floating Paradise Island when you reach your destination. The 42 GLS certainly has galley features, overnight accommodation and an elegant and spacious head compartment, but the emphasis is on outdoor entertaining with plenty of room for the whole family or a gang of friends.

The bow is very deep and comfortable, so you only need low handrails for safety. The seats include armrests, controls for the stereo and there is a handsome hi-lo table for snacks.

It's subjective, but we feel that for a boat of this size, the Cruisers Yachts designers have created a boat that is handsome and yet, one that we expect will wear the test of time very successfully. The lines and proportions are graceful and balanced. We especially liked the big sweep of dark glass in the hull sides and the blacked out sunroof treatment that reminds us of expensive European performance cars. This big boat looks sporty and graceful to my eye.

One of the most important passenger and entertaining spaces is in the bow where the 42 GLS has a very large seating area and space for six people. A removable table means you can serve snacks here if you want and the comfortable seating will make this a very popular separate living area. On hot days, you can fly an available sunshade over the area.

The helm with its tilt steering wheel, flip-up seat bolster and great layout is certainly a highlight of the 42 GLS.

Access to the bow is through a portside swing-open windshield section. That means that you can walk forward in full standing comfort, but when it gets rainy or cool, you can close off the cabin area completely and conveniently. The seating is quite elegant with Rockford Fosgate speakers and remote control for the stereo, two forward facing seats with headrests and fold-down armrests that includes two drink holders. The elegant, high-gloss teak table converts to increase the sun pad area for lounging. Stainless steel handrails offer a secure place to hang on. In the bow peak is an anchor locker and a power windlass. The anchor shank passes through a chute in the bow. This looks attractive and keeps the anchor out of the way when it's not needed.

Of course, this type of boat is designed to go into secluded anchorages and sandbars, so Cruisers Yachts’ designers paid particular attention to making the ground tackle easy to use.

Given the huge accommodations above, the cabin space below is quite impressive with the big screen TV, comfortable dining area that can convert into a berth and the lower galley as well.

The most remarkable feature of the 42 GLS is absolutely the dual beach doors. These are large sections of the hull sides which fold down electrically 90 degrees, to open up the whole back end of the boat with one expanse of flat floor – it becomes your paradise island at the touch of a button! This greatly increases the amount of cockpit deck space for people to enjoy. There's room for a whole gang to go swimming, or to spend the day wading in the water and one of the great features of the triple outboard power is that the engines can be tilted up to take you into the shallows .

With lots of space and amenities like big screen TV and air conditioning, the aft stateroom will be quite comfortable for overnight cruising.

The 42 GLS would be a perfect platform for snorkeling, or diving and there's a huge storage space under the stern seats for larger items like scuba tanks or inflatable SUPs. Cushioned SeaDeck flooring extends out to the beach doors giving secure footing that is soft and easy on the feet as well as being maintenance free.

With the beach doors down, the aft-facing bench seat becomes your front row seat to the scenery. With the beach doors up, and taking advantage of all the performance available from the triple Mercury Verado 400 engines, it's also a front row seat to pulling a tube, or perhaps towing a wakesurfer. Be sure to order the Makefast option!

The aft-facing seating is part of the U-shaped starboard side cockpit seating that forms the dinette. This features a lovely gloss finished hi-lo table for cocktails or dinner. Cruisers has fitted stainless steel handholds in the seat bases for safety in rough water and again, there is abundant storage under the seats.

Opposite is the galley that features a fiberglass inlay sink, fridge, bottle storage, an optional grill and a TV. A great feature is the raised wet bar attached to the galley with accompanying bar stools for elegant entertaining. An ice-maker can be fitted under the helm seat which lies opposite.

The view forward reveals the great cockpit entertaining area with high gloss table, outdoor galley and in the distance, the swivel bar stools at the counter. Note the ceiling treatment and the fact that the sunroof is closed in this shot.

For summer comfort, the Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS has air conditioning with outlets in the lower cabins, at the helm and in the cockpit.

The lower cabin areas feature a saloon with a U-shaped dinette. This can convert into a spacious berth and there is a lower galley complete with a fridge, microwave and optional TV.
The spacious stateroom aboard the 42 GLS features a custom sized berth, personal reading lights, plenty of storage, and an inclined backrest to watch TV comfortably. So, this expands the sleeping accommodations to four easily.

Whether you are staying onboard overnight, or are just out for the day, a comfortable head is appreciated by everyone. The 42 GLS head features a sink, toilet, and a standing shower. Storage space is hidden behind the mirror and underneath the sink for places to tuck away personal items.

This photo gives a good view of the portside beach door open and the aft-facing bench seat. The cockpit shower is especially useful when swimming in saltwater.

The helm is a special place with a double wide seat that includes an armrest, flip-up bolster for standing operation and a footrest. There is a tilt steering wheel, dual Simrad MFDs and a classic compass directly ahead of the driver where it should be. The triple Mercury Verado 400 outboards come with electro-hydraulic power steering and also include Joystick Piloting for easy docking control. The joystick and the engine control box (that allows single lever control) are both mounted on the starboard side armrest.

The Mercury Verados are available with Active Trim that automatically optimizes the engine trim setting. The boat also includes trim tabs. The triple Mercury Verado engines are pretty remarkable. They are inline 6 cylinder 2.6 litre engines that are supercharged. These supercharged Verado models have been on the market since 2004 and while it was a very sophisticated design, (and still is) the Verado has been well-proven in demanding applications. It’s really not a big engine and to produce 400 horsepower is quite a feat. At wide open throttle, the Verados can run up to 6,800 rpm and the Florida saltwater fishing maniacs actually run them that hard.

Cruisers Yachts always does a detailed performance summary of every new boat they introduce and our 42 GLS put up some great numbers. At top speed, the 42 GLS stepped just over the redline at 6,850 rpm doing 52.1 mph and getting 0.52 miles per gallon. Show a little mercy, back down to 6,400 rpm and the 42 is still doing 49.2 mph, but the fuel economy rises to 0.65 mph. At a more reasonable 5,000 rpm the 42 achieved 0.93 mpg still traveling at an exhilarating 38 mph.

This shows the triple Verado engines as well as the remarkable expanse of swimming and entertaining area with the port and starboard beach doors down and open.

It’s hard to believe that the Verados with a combined total of 1,200 horsepower can be that economical. The 42 GLS measures 42 feet length overall with a 13-foot beam and it weighs 27,000 lbs with a full load. Also remarkable is that it accelerates from rest to planning speed in just 8 seconds with tabs down.

If you are in the market for a really stunning big boat, Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS raises the bar for luxury day boats.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engines: Triple Mercury Verado 400, supercharged inline 6 cylinder 2.6 litre / 158.8 cubic inch with dual overhead cams and 4 valves per cylinder, 400 hp each.

RPM MPH
1,000 4.9
2,000 9.4
2,500 10.5
3,000 11.5
3,500 13.8
4,000 17.5
4,500 27.6
5,000 38.0
5,400 41.7
6,000 46.9
6,400 49.2
6,850 52.1 Max
Length overall: 42’ / 12.8 m
Beam: 13’ / 3.96 m
Displacement (full load): 27,000 lbs / 12,247 kg
Fuel capacity: 403 gal / 1,525.5 L
Fresh water capacity: 50 gal / 189.3 L
Holding tank capacity: 31 gal / 117.3 L
Price: [as tested, base, US dollars] $928,340 USD

Test boat and pricing provided by: Cruisers Yachts Inc., www.cruisersyachts.com