42 Classic 1974 vs 1986

[Luke2202]

My wife and I have been in the market for 42 classic for a while now and have been mostly looking at mid 80's simply because it's the newest we can afford. But I'm curious about the differences if we were to go 10 years older. I know that any boat this old will need thorough inspecting, but I'm trying to get information on changes in design, layout, and common problems.

PS. Regardless of which we end up buying, we know that new fuel tanks and replacing the teak decks with fiberglass are a must.

 

[fgarriso]

You are getting into the age range that those items may have been done. Replacing fuel tanks on a GB42 is no small job. I have seen where they cut out the hull sides to get access.

 

[Nick F]

I bought my 1974 a couple of years ago. New teak decks. Years in covered moorage. Tanks still holding up. I thought it was excellent value, but I am a DIYer.

 

[Fleming]

I don't think you'll find much difference between them. 40 years old vs 50 years old, they'll share the same set of problems. Leaks, old engines, old electrical systems, old equipment...and the tanks/decks issues you mentioned already. The 70's boats are less likely to have blisters than the 80's boats.

IMO the real improvements in boat building happened around the turn of the century and the 5-10 years after that. We had enough time with the old boats that we figured out ferrous steel tanks don't last, aluminum tanks shouldn't be encapsulated, holding tanks should be non-metallic, use the right grades of stainless, crevice corrosion is a real issue, wood cored stringers don't last forever, glue teak down instead of screwing it, etc.

 

[Luke2202]

You are getting into the age range that those items may have been done. Replacing fuel tanks on a GB42 is no small job. I have seen where they cut out the hull sides to get access.

Yeah I've read about this and we've almost exclusively been looking at ones with the tanks already done and definitely not by cutting a whole in the hull.

 

[tiltrider1]

I can’t remember anymore, when did Grand Banks switch from wood to fiberglass?

 

[Luke2202]

Ok, thats good to know. Why do you think the 80's hulls are more prone to blisters?

 

[Luke2202]

I can’t remember anymore, when did Grand Banks switch from wood to fiberglass?

I believe 73 was the last year they made a woody. But there were a couple years that they made both.

 

[Nick F]

I can’t remember anymore, when did Grand Banks switch from wood to fiberglass?

Sept 1973. Hull #386.

 

[Mambo42]

Indeed, check that the tanks have been changed, you don't want to have the old steel tanks, that is just a huge bill waiting to come your way.
Also, check all the wiring. Electricity cables under normal circumstances last about 20 - 30 years. Mine did look ok, but as I found out (after I bought the boat), many just crumbled when handled a bit. As long as you did not touch them they were fine, but the moment you started moving them they fell apart. That was a 30.000 USD bill.
As for the strength of the hull ?
I was told, and I don't know if that is true or not, that back in the 60's and 70's they did not really know how strong GRP was, so they just over engineered the boats. Hull were sometimes even 2 inches thick. Once they figured out that the hulls could be thinner they started to reduce the thickness of the hulls. Does that make them weaker ? Not sure, but I prefer the heavier, thicker, stronger built hulls. When I cut a hole in my hull to mount the stabilizers I measured 1.2 inches in thickness, that gives you confidence in how the boat was build.

 

[Blissboat]

From the 1970s to the 1980s, with each new model year American Marine introduced some nice if minor refinements to things like galley equipage, optional salon layouts or stern compartment berthing arrangements, etc. I like the newer 42s for those features. But, as others have noted, when considering boats beyond a few years old, what really matters is how well its owner(s) cared for it, rather than how it was built. That's especially true for Grand Banks, whose original build quality was excellent, as good if not better than any production motor cruisers of that vintage. Unless a GB has been faithfully maintained and its critical systems like wiring updated along the way, it has probably aged poorly. Look for a boat that's been continually maintained with the single most important tool to carry on board, an open checkbook.

 

[JackConnick]

Around 1989 they redesigned the 36 to be wider and installed twin Cummins. Although there are lots of Leymans out there, they are harder to find parts for and don't have as much power, IMHO. Not sure about the 42s, but I know newer models have a centered queen bed instead of a double or single or some other arrangement.

 

[Figment]

I think the change to the 42 with the centered queen (and the step/seat at the aft end of the cabin) is pretty compelling. If you're looking at 80s boats with the tanks and decks already done you're probably near the price range of a 90's boat.

 

[Luke2202]

I think the change to the 42 with the centered queen (and the step/seat at the aft end of the cabin) is pretty compelling. If you're looking at 80s boats with the tanks and decks already done you're probably near the price range of a 90's boat.

Well we want the split birth. We've realized that on boat, we get better sleep if we have our own beds.

 

[Luke2202]

We just looked at an '86 and a '74 in the same day. My overall impression is that the '86 had a better build quality when it came to the details like cabinets and hardware. But the biggest difference was design. Although the layouts were identical, the '86 used the space more efficiently. Things like added storage under steps, more space for instruments at the lower helm, etc.

 

[Figment]

The foredeck of the 86 has the washdown and shore power under the windlass, yes?
Another feature I've come to wish that my '80 had.

 

[Captain DJ]

I had the grand daddy of all 42 classic's built by American Marine Ltd., for 15 years I was the proud caretaker of Hull 125, a 1969 model built for Robert & Mildred Newton. It was the only 42 Classic built in the same yard as the Grand Alaskans that Art DeFever designed. It also had larger fuel tanks (800 gallons + a 40 gallon/40" high day tank that I added) and it had a wonderful pair of Detroit 4-53's that thrummed like a pair of classic Triumph motorcycles.
Her name was "Whittler's Dream" and I kept it the same after buying her from a quasi-famous relief carver that traveled the SE USA coast and Bahamas for 25+ years with various girlfriends. She was a woodie and I invested more than $250k in maintaining and improving her to get back pennies on the dollar when we had to let another person take on the responsibility of stewardship of the best 42 Classic ever built.
Many great lessons learned and priceless memories and friendship remain from what may go down as the best years of my life. I now have one thing I will agree with, the year model on FG is way less important when compared to the previous owner(s) reinvestment of maintenance and improvement of critical systems and cosmetic issues. Keep looking until you find THE ONE. Then get in line early because she will have many suitors.
Good Luck and Enjoy the Pursuit of Happiness.

 

[Luke2202]

The foredeck of the 86 has the washdown and shore power under the windlass, yes?
Another feature I've come to wish that my '80 had.

Yes that was a big difference that I noticed.

 

[Luke2202]

I had the grand daddy of all 42 classic's built by American Marine Ltd., for 15 years I was the proud caretaker of Hull 125, a 1969 model built for Robert & Mildred Newton. It was the only 42 Classic built in the same yard as the Grand Alaskans that Art DeFever designed. It also had larger fuel tanks (800 gallons + a 40 gallon/40" high day tank that I added) and it had a wonderful pair of Detroit 4-53's that thrummed like a pair of classic Triumph motorcycles.
Her name was "Whittler's Dream" and I kept it the same after buying her from a quasi-famous relief carver that traveled the SE USA coast and Bahamas for 25+ years with various girlfriends. She was a woodie and I invested more than $250k in maintaining and improving her to get back pennies on the dollar when we had to let another person take on the responsibility of stewardship of the best 42 Classic ever built.
Many great lessons learned and priceless memories and friendship remain from what may go down as the best years of my life. I now have one thing I will agree with, the year model on FG is way less important when compared to the previous owner(s) reinvestment of maintenance and improvement of critical systems and cosmetic issues. Keep looking until you find THE ONE. Then get in line early because she will have many suitors.
Good Luck and Enjoy the Pursuit of Happiness.

It's hard to be patient but we will. Thank you

 

[redline]

In addition to tanks and decks like mentioned earlier, I'd also decide which engines you are looking for. The FL 120's could be considered underpowered depending on how & where you plan to use the boat. In the 80's the 42's got a few more options including Cummins, Perkins, and CAT 3208s. Also, I believe in mid-'89 the 42 got ~ 6" of extra beam and length which facilitated a few different layout options, more room in the forward head, etc. From what I have seen on the market, '89+ boats seem to command a bit of a premium over say an '85-87. The next big jump in price seems to be around '95 ish - of course all predicated on condition, hours, etc.