niagara 42 sailboat review

Review of Niagara 42

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

The Niagara 42 is equipped with a long keel. A full keel provide a better directional stability than a similar boat with a fin keel; on the other hand, better directional stability means also that the boat is more difficult to handle in a harbour with less space.

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.73 - 1.83 meter (5.68 - 5.98 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Niagara 42 is 1.89, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.6 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Niagara 42 is about 258 kg/cm, alternatively 1446 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 258 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1446 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 42m 2 (452 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Niagara 42 it would be a great help.

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• Sailboat Guide

Niagara 42 is a 41 ′ 11 ″ / 12.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Mark Ellis and built by Hinterhoeller Yachts Ltd. starting in 1984.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Said to be a stretched version of the AURORA 40.

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Presented by

Corbo Corbishley CPYB RCR Yachts

585-752-2530

[email protected]

1986 Hinterhoeller 42' (12.80 m) Niagara 42

Rochester, new york, united states, big surprise, the niagara 42 was the flagship vessel of the hinterhoeller lineup. this mark ellis design is a desirable sloop/cutter that has good offshore speed, comfort, and ease of handling..

• Fiberglass Hull
• EMAIL BROKER 5857522530
• TEXT MESSAGE BROKER

Description

“A Well Mannered World Class Cruising Yacht ”

Under current ownership Big Surprise has enjoyed numerous and extensive upgrades:

· New Genoa sheets – Endura Braid

· New Outhaul

· New Reefing lines

· New propane system installed – all lines, relays, and detector

· Lifelines replaced w/ all associated hardware

· Head rebuilt

· New Main halyard – Endura Braid

· Floorboards re-varnished – all

· New Harken Furling unit installed

· New Whale footpumps for manual freshwater & frig pumpout

· New cockpit drain hoses installed

· Replaced UV shield on 135% genoa

· Installed new Echomax radar reflector

· All interior lighting LED. New reading light fixtures, head overhead fixtures

· New bottom paint – Pettit SR60 ablative, 2 coats

· New masthead LED, tricolor, anchor, strobe – Misea/OGM

· New stern light LED -OGM

· Maxprop rebuilt

· New Prop Shaft, Cutlass bearing, Packing Gland,

· Bimini, connector, sail cover – Cleaned, waterproofed, new strataglass

· New Spade 55 lb anchor w/ new swivel

· New Foredeck hatch – Lewmar Ocean 70

· Portlight gaskets replaced

· New stereo system – Sony

· New sanitation system, complete, including:

     New holding tank

     New head – Raritan PHII

     All new hoses

· New water tank selection valves

· New staysail halyard – Endura Braid 12 mm

· New Genoa halyard – Warp Speed 12 mm

· Refrigeration System replaced: Frigoboat w/ keel cooler, freezer with thermostatically controlled spillover to frig

· Autopilot replaced: B&G

· VHF cable in mast replaced: RG8

· Bottom paint 2 coats Pettit Ultima SR60

· New cockpit cushions

· New bow pulpit

· New LED nav lights on bow

· Harken Furling unit for staysail installed

· New 2nd jib halyard, Endura Braid

· New staysail halyard, Endura Braid

· Outboard hoist installed – Kato marine

· New radar – B&G 4G 36 mi

· Second MFD/chartplotter installed at chart table

· New Force 10 stove installed

· Dimmable LED lights, salon

· New domestic water pump

2019 – 2020

• New Yanmar 4JH 57 hp diesel  installed

· Throttle/shift cables replaced

· Max prop factory reconditioned to new equivalent

· New start battery AGM

· New Sterling DC/DC start battery charger

· New Groco raw water filter

· New muffler and exhaust

· New aux fuel tank

· New diesel fuel supply and return lines

· Remote oil filter

· New Reverso oil change pump

· New vhf cable mast base to radio

· New upholstery, Ultraleather, “Silver Pearl”

· New Sony stereo radio, MEX-M72BT, w/Bluetooth and Sirius Receiver

· Bottom paint renewed

Specifications

LOA: 42' (12.80 Meters)

Type: Sail- Used

Fuel Type: Diesel

Hull Material: Fiberglass

Photos click to view all

Full Details

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com

RCR Rochester is located in the heart of the waterfront district in the area’s premier facility, Shumway Marine, with direct access to the Genesee River and Lake Ontario. Corbo Corbishley and Brendan Harris are the brokers on site.

Corbo Corbishley CPYB

Sales & brokerage.

A native of northern New Jersey, Corbo was introduced to sailing shortly after graduating Ithaca College and became obsessed with sailing. Crewing whenever opportunity arose he also bought and campaigned several one-design sailboats. While still sailboat racing whenever time allows on his J-70 “Late Life Crisis” he enjoys cruising with his wife Donna. They recently stumbled over to the “Dark Side”, trading in their Beneteau 37 for a Back Cove 37.

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I bought a Niagara 26 last summer and really enjoyed sailing it on Lake Ontario. I have been able to find more out about the other Hinterhoeller designed Niagaras such as the 31, 35 and 42 than the 26. I''d love to hear from anyone who has owned one or is familiar with them.  

I sailed a Hinterhoeller shark for 8 years and was completely impressed by the quality that went into building the boat. We are presently looking to purchase a Niagara 35. We want to use it extensively on lake ontario but have the ability to take it south in a few years. Enjoy your Niagara 26  

I now own a Niagara 35 Classic interior and previously had a Niagara 31. They are both excellent boats but more different than they might seem and different from the Shark and 26. The latter were designed by George Hinterhoeller I think and have considerable similarities in design concept. The 31 was designed by Frers and performs extremely well particularly in light air (I am also on Lake Ontario and this is a plus in july/august). It carries a lot of sail and must be reefed early. The interior has good and bad points.Having a nav station on a boat that size is great but I am not a fan of dinettes, so ... The 35 and 42 are designed by Mark Ellis who also designed the Nonsuches. They sail well and are very comfortable. Construction seems very good for a large production builder. Don''t know the 42 other than by reputation but I can recommend the 35 although they are hard to find at a reasonable price/quality level.I finally found one in Nova Scotia that was not cheap but was little used and had had some money spent on it (eg new engine and electronics). Another boat you might consideris the Aloha 32 which has is also Ellis designed and has the same interior arrangement as the 35 Classic. Not as well-built and smaller but should be much cheaper.  

Thanks for the response, I''m kind of amazed to hear from two Niagara 35 owners on Lake Ontario. I think the 35 is very well suited to the kind of conditions we get from time to time--particularly last summer. I plan to continue sailing out of Bluffer''s Park with an eye on moving up to that size range in a few years or less. I hope when the time comes there''ll still be a few around that are in reasonable shape and not too pricey.  

My two cents worth.... Several years ago I fell in love with a Niagra 35 and took it to survey. The 35 has a balsa cored hull and the surveyor found some moisture around the chain plates inside the hull. When I was pressed to finalize the deal, I contacted the surveyor for his thoughts... he said, "I would never buy a boat with a cored hull." I didn''t.  

I''d get another surveyor. I wouldn''t get a boat that did not have a core. Did your surveyor explain to you that fatigue results from flexure in a fiberglass laminate? Did he explain to you that uncored (or unframed hulls) felx more than cored hulls? Dis he explain that the only way to produce a hull that is uncored hulls and unframed but does not flex to the point of inducing fatigue is to produce a hull of sufficient weight that it increases stress on all other parts of the boat and reduces stability? Dis he explain to you that Niagara 35''s are very venerable cruisers that have survived tremendous abuse in real life circumstances? Or did he simply fire off an unthinking comment that kept you from buying an otherwise highly regarded boat?  

Since there are a lot of cored hulls around we have to deal with them. I looked at a C&C 38 and did not know what would be found later. (I rejected the boat as the draft was too deep for me). It was discovered that the C&C 38 had a HULL CORE full of water. The Niagra 35 is a nice looking boat and a fair sailor in a breeze. If I wanted one I would not pay a lot and get one with small repairable defects. I like solid hull boats. But cored hulls are faster, stiffer and don''t sweat in cold water. Lot''s of popular boats made today are solid hulls below the waterline like Catalina.  

Another two cents worth.... I agree that all things being equal, a balsa cored hull is stronger pound for pound than an uncored hull.. as long as there has been no water intrusion. If there is any area that water may be allowed to enter and come in contact with the balsa that area will be prone to wood rot and subsequent weakening, delamination, or in the extreme, hull failure. Flexing of a solid glass hull can be reduced or eliminated through proper design of structural members that support the hull (bulkheads, stringers, etc.). My surveyor reminded me of what I already knew. The disadvantages and potential for significant structual problems of a balsa cored hull far outweigh the advantages of strength and insulation. The issue of having a core of synthetic material may be another issue worthy of discussion, however.  

Here''s a link to info regarding balsa and a successful method to repair failed cores: http://www.geocities.com/duke_of_ur1/Lenox/balsa_core_rep.html Duke  

I also have a Hinterhoeller Niagara 26. Ours is hull 002 built in 1979. There is not much available on the net about this model ... especially inside pics. There is the start of a web site at www.niagara26.org. The creator of this site has his email address on the page and belongs to a club that has an active class of 10+ Niagara 26 boats. It seems to be a good boat but I guess you can only say that if you owned one for about 5 or more years. Good luck, Mike  

I purchased a Niagara 26 in Wilson, NY 3 years ago and really enjoy it. We race the boat regularly and have been very successful. I''ve put some work into the boat (replaced windows, installed an 8:1 outhaul in the boom etc.) but, I think I enjoy that part to. Very happy with the boat and would consider a larger Niagara in the future.  

What year is your Niagara 26? Is it Hinterhoeller, Goman or Halman? Please send email regarding what you feel to be strengths and weaknesses of this boat. I just purchased 79 Niagara 26 by Hinterhoeller last fall and I am looking for any input I can get. I am curious about cockpit floor (how well has yours held up and what did you do about it); outboard arrangement (how awkward is it?). Backstay - How well is it anchored? as well as anything else I should know.... [email protected]  

Niagara 26 website Niagara 26 owners, present and past please check out this webiste niagarasailboatownerspage : Niagara Sail Boat Owners Page - The Home of Niagara Sail Boat Owners It is a free website for Niagara 26 owners. The only thing you need to do to join is post a picture of your boat. Hope to see you on board. Doug Webmaster  

If you are the first owner of a boat with a synthetic, cored hull, and if you take excellent care of it - they are great boats... I would tend to agree with the surveyor though, when it comes to an older boat with a balsa core and unknown provenance. There are too many unknowns, and determining whether or not the core is wet is a more detailed proce$$ than the survey of a solid hull.  

Gavrock- Generally, it is considered poor net etiquette to revive old threads. This thread would qualify as it was dormant for over six years before you came along. It would probably be far more useful for you and others interested for you to start a new thread announcing that there is a Niagara website. Sailormann- Did you check the dates on the posts on this thread.. its a dead thread... over six years old.  

For more information on Niagara 26s check out their site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/niagarasailboatownerspage/ Doug  

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• By Jayne Finn
• Updated: May 3, 2006

Traditional looks combined with modern features draw frequent compliments for the Niagara 35, which was designed by Mark Ellis and built from 1978 to 1990 by Hinterhoeller Yachts in St. Catherines, Ontario.

Under way, the boat is stable and stiff, and we’ve had the rail of our Niagara 35, Phantasia II, in the water only once, when beating down Lake Huron in 20 knots of wind. On that same trip we hooted and hollered downwind at over 8 knots on a day on which virtually no one else was out. While the boat tracks and maneuvers well, sail trim and the right sail combinations really make or break progress upwind or in light air.

A sudden encounter with a rock in poorly charted Georgian Bay assured us that Hinterhoeller built a tough boat. No water came in, and the only visible damage was mangled lead on the leading edge of the keel.

Below the waterline, a semibalanced spade rudder complements a longish rather than deep keel that’s massively faired into the hull with a substantial sump. The hull is semicored and needs to be monitored, but Niagara 35s aren’t known to have blister problems.

On deck, a short bowsprit extends the foretriangle and supports double anchor rollers. Later models came rigged with an inner forestay on the large and secure foredeck, and many older ones have been similarly retrofitted, once duly reinforced. The keel-stepped, single-spreader rig is staunchly supported with double lowers, and the chainplates tie into accessible interior knees heavily bonded to the hull. Jibs can be sheeted to an aluminum toerail on the bulwark or to an inner track on the wide side decks. On older boats, the balsa-cored decks should be checked for water saturation around fittings.

The cockpit seats have high backs for comfort and are long enough for stretching out; beneath are deep lockers. A drained and vented propane locker aft holds two 20-pound tanks. A bridge-deck keeps the companionway secure.

The interior of our Niagara 35 was one of two configurations. It’s an unusual but intelligent design for extended coastal cruising for a couple.

The companionway leads to the aft cabin, which has a smallish double berth to port and a quarter berth to starboard with a stand-up nav station on top of a large dresser at its head.

Doors lead from the aft cabin to the head and to the galley. Another door opens to the head from the saloon, which is largely forward of the mast. Sitting in the saloon with these doors open, you have a view of the entire length of the boat, which–with over 6 feet of headroom and lit by four fixed windows, four opening ports, and four hatches–has a sense of openness that belies its size. When fitted with lee cloths, the saloon settees either side of the drop-leaf table make excellent sea berths.

A hanging locker to starboard and drawers and lockers to port separate the saloon from the forward cabin, which on our boat is given over to sail stowage, bins, lockers, and a workbench complete with vise. A deep chain box low in the bow can be divided for chain and rode.

The engine, behind the companionway stairs, is more accessible than on many boats this size.

Some Niagara 35s have had lavish upgrades, which can be reflected in their prices, but early boats in basic condition are listed as low as $50,000. Prices for the later Encore version, which has a conventional V-berth forward, tend to be higher.

Jayne Finn and her partner, Mike Evans, will take Phantasia II from Cobourg, Ontario, this summer to Gaspé and the Bras d’Or lakes.

LOA 35′ 1″ (10.69 m.) LWL 26′ 8″ (8.13 m.) Beam 11′ 5″ (3.48 m.) Draft 5′ 2″ (1.58 m.) Sail Area 598 sq. ft. (55.6 sq. m.) Ballast (fin keel) 5,500 lb. (2,495 kg.) Displacement 15,000 lb. (6,804 kg.) Ballast/D .37 D/L 353 SA/D 15.7 Water 80 gal. (303 l.) Fuel 20 gal. (76 l.) Engine Westerbeke 29-hp. diesel Designer Mark Ellis

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