Chris-Craft Commander 42

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Chris-Craft Commander 42

Chris-Craft has relaunched the Commander series with a new 42-foot lobster-style cruiser built in Italy by Austin Parker. The Commanders were classic cruisers of the 1960s that represented the pinnacle of the brand. The reborn Commander 42 (which will eventually be joined by 36- and 52-foot siblings) is a new look for the 142-year-old American ship maker. The flared bow and hardtop of the downeast design along with its build quality will pit it against Maine builders like Hinckley, Morris, and Sabre, rather than mainstream U.S. cruiser brands. But the Italian curves and elegance designed into the topsides and interior puts it into a class of its own.

The Commander 42 will be powered by twin 435 hp Volvo IPS engines, which provide excellent maneuverability while opening up space for the sizable two-stateroom cabin. The interior is spacious and elegantly finished with zebra, walnut, or whitewashed wood options, a head with a separate shower (including a glass door and mosaic tiles), and a galley-up design. Two cockpits (one open on the aft end and the other near the helm under the hardtop) provide social options for different weather patterns. A large sunbed on the bow comprises a third social area. Like the interior, the teak decks and teak-and-mahogany bulwarks give the Commander 42 a traditional but well-finished nautical look. (chriscraft.com)