During my tenure with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Royal Navy, I’ve savored the thrill of riding aboard an array of swift vessels, each engineered to withstand the unforgiving whims of the sea. The sense of security that these boats instill in turbulent waters is remarkable.
I had the same feeling aboard the North-Line 42 Wheelhouse. This low-slung, oceangoing cruiser—designed by Arthur Mursell of TT Boat Designs and built in Harlingen, Netherlands, on the Wadden Sea—combines classic aesthetics with the practical needs of a modern mariner.
When I boarded via her swim platform through a transom door on centerline, I immediately noted that her cockpit is encircled with a high, stainless steel railing, granting protection and a sturdy grabrail underway. L-shape settees flank the after section of the cockpit. The teak decking is a handsome touch, set off nicely against her dark blue hull.
Moving forward on the side decks, high bowrails with grabrails along the coachroof provide a feeling of security. Opening gates at amidships on either side of the vessel provide another entry point from high wharves.
I entered the salon via a set of wood and FRP doors and was greeted with a handsome oak interior, a teak-and-ash sole, and a panoramic view of the surroundings. The standard model’s portside helm is equipped with twin 15-inch multifunction displays, autopilot, and a bow and stern thruster. The boat I got aboard had digital readouts for the twin 480-hp Cummins diesels, along with Raymarine electronics; North-Line also offers packages from Simrad.
The salon’s C-shape settee is an ideal spot to enjoy the view. With the flick of a switch, the backrest on the settee’s forward section moves to face the bow, making an ideal companion seat next to the captain. Sliding windows on either side and manually operated hatches in the roof should air out the space nicely. For four-season cruising, there’s air conditioning and an Eberspächer heating system.
Handsome oak is also in the galley, which is down. It’s accessed by a companionway on centerline, with a C-shape dinette to port. Appliances include a Siemens induction cooker, Panasonic convection oven and Isotherm fridge. The master stateroom is in the bow, and the guest stateroom (with a single and double berth) is amidships, under the salon.
As a bonus, there’s a washing machine for longer stays on board. The current owners of this hull spent 28 days living aboard, a testament to the vessel’s livability.
Venturing out to sea, the 42 proved a lively performer. While we didn’t see the conditions to test her CE Category A Ocean-certification, her deep-V hull helped propel her to a top speed of 28 knots. I was pleasantly surprised by the fuel efficiency: at 17 knots, the engines burned just under 16 gallons per hour, allowing a range of 300 nautical miles. At a relaxed 8 knots, fuel burn dropped to less than 3 gph, which gives the 42 a range of 840 nm.
With her blend of comfort, style and seakeeping capabilities, the North-Line 42 Wheelhouse leaves a deep imprint. She exemplifies a culmination of Dutch precision, manifesting in every seam and every system.
NORTH-LINE 42 WHEELHOUSE
LOA: 45ft. 4in.
Beam: 13ft. 6in.
Draft: 3ft. 9in.
Displacement: 28,660 lbs.
Fuel: 555 gal.
Water: 185 gal.
Engine: 2x 480-hp Cummins QSB6.7
Info: www.north-line.nl
This article was originally published in the October 2023 issue.
