Hardy Commodore 42, DREAMER

Broker’s Comments

The Hardy 42 hull is one of the best shapes we have ever driven through broken water – sporting a completely rounded hull shape with a sharp forefoot, fine stem, deep moulded keel to protect her underwater gear. Driving these boats into a heavy head-sea is a thrilling experience, with the flared bows powering the spray aside and cleaving the seas with that high, sharp bow profile. Andrew Wolstenholme has a knack for designing capable hulls, and the proof of the pudding with this one is that the RNLI have a brace of Hardy 42s which it uses for in-house helm training.

With a masterfully-executed layout, this particular 42 has three cabins (one single side cabin forward to port, and a forward vee–twin cabin (both with access to the forward heads) with the aft cabin stretching across the full beam of the yacht, housing a centreline double berth, and vast volumes of hanging and lockered stowage. The lower helm sits raised to the port side at the forward end of the saloon – with de-misters for her screens, twin KAB shock-dampening seats and easy access to the decks from wheelhouse doors on both sides, this is a superb driving environment.

Having visited the Norfolk yard where the 42 has been built, it is evident that this is traditional British boatbuilding at its best. Hardy are not heavily mechanized, build their own interiors (DREAMER’s varnished teak is in great condition – with the evident care of her previous Owners), with hulls being fitted-out labour-intensively by a long-term team of skilled craftsmen. That this hull is still in build by Cockwells of Mylor Bridge as the newly built Hardy 45 speaks volumes about how soft-riding and how capable this semi-displacement hull really is – well over 20 years after the moulds were first used. As a sea-boat – the design is very hard to fault – combining powerful offshore performance with easily-worked decks, and reliably indestructible interiors that are traditional, yet very liveable with.

We note that DREAMER has benefitted from a diligently-managed and professionally schedule of refit and refurbishment in late 2021, with works including – but not limited to: –

• Both engines removed, overhauled, reconditioned and refitted – 2021.
• New Vetus gear/throttle controls at both helms.
• Soft furnishings remodelled and re-designed/replaced as necessary – to include fabrics, carpets, lighting and blinds.
• Deck courtesy lighting upgrade.
• Upgrade to an induction hob, combi-microwave and addition of under-counter refrigerator.
• Installation of Corian counter tops and integrated sink.
• Master cabin heads upgraded to electric operation.
• Revision of complete navigational suite to integrated Simrad system.
• Fusion Marine stereo system installed, and A/V system renewed & upgraded.
• Simulated teak decking laid to ring deck, foredeck, aft deck and flybridge.
• KAB helm and co-pilot seats to lower helm.

The Hardy Commodore 42 is a true testament to British boatbuilding at its best. There are very few properly-built aft cabin cruising motor-yachts that fit so much in – with so little compromise, and thus the Hardy 42 has very much ploughed its own furrow.

Press Comments

As PowerBoat & RIB succinctly put it:

The Hardy 42 is a boat with a timeless design, which, like its siblings, never seems to lack in popularity – possibly due to the ever-changing British weather. It does, of course, have many capable rivals, but few boats offer such a degree of comfort, practicality and performance in such a capable seagoing boat.

Owner’s Comments

DREAMER is a solidly built semi-displacement vessel which provides the reassurance of complete sea worthiness, no matter what weather conditions are faced. Comforting for all passengers no matter the experience level of each individual. The inclusion of bow and stern thrusters provide added reassurance by allowing flexible and stress-free manoeuvring in crowded spaces as well as docking.

Finally and as equally important as the crafts sailing ability is the style and comfort of the spacious interior living quarters, especially the luxury master bedroom and en-suite heads.