Running up a near-empty Tampa Bay on a Friday morning aboard the Cruisers 42 Cantius felt a bit odd given the yacht’s Euro styling and big-boat sensibilities. The Florida waterway, with its winding, shallow channels, is mainly the province of bay boats and center consoles. This latest addition to the Cruisers five-model Cantius line, which ranges in size from 42 to 60 feet length overall, would almost look more at home in St. Tropez or Miami.
Once I got her into the bay, with her bow pointed toward downtown St. Petersburg, the Cantius looked positively majestic.
“Our goal was to create a boat with a balance of European curves and American ergonomics,” says Patrizio Facheris, whose eponymous studio designed the Cantius line. “We wanted to supersize the volume of the salon without making the boat look fat, while also maximizing internal light by using lots of glass across the hardtop and in the hull.”
The salon is the 42’s focal point, a prime social space with that opening hardtop. Surrounded by glass, the forward section not only makes for a good driving platform but also offers exceptional views of the water. My test 42 had an Amtico synthetic walnut sole with satin-finish walnut cabinets and furniture. Headroom was 6 feet 9 inches to the top of the sunroof, making the open-plan salon feel even more spacious. The vessel’s rear glass door slides and drops into the sole, providing a 64-inch-wide opening between the aft galley and cockpit.
The 42 handles nicely too. After navigating channels that had shifted during Hurricane Irma, I found open water and let the twin 370 hp Volvo Penta IPS500s run flat-out. In a 2-foot chop, the 42 reached a 30.1-knot top-end at 3,620 rpm. Plus the vessel turned with precision, holding her track as she crossed the waves. Dual 12-inch Raymarine displays (the boat had radar, a chart plotter and a depth sounder) made navigation a breeze.
Belowdecks, the two-stateroom (both about equally sized) layout makes the 42 a solid weekend cruiser. The full-beam stateroom aft has an en suite head with stall shower, Dometic toilet and Ronbow sink, along with a separate entrance so it can be used as the day-head. The forepeak stateroom has an en suite head with shower as well.
With admirable speed, and a combination of European styling and American craftsmanship, the Cruisers 42 Cantius is poised to reach waters far beyond Tampa Bay, making the world her playground.
Take the next step by visiting Cruisers Yachts.
