Baltic 42 DP
Description
The Baltic 42 DP (DP for Doug Peterson) is a high-performance racer-cruiser sailboat designed by renowned naval architect Doug Peterson in 1981, marking his first serial production collaboration with Baltic Yachts in Finland. Built from 1981 to 1985 in limited numbers (approximately 30 hulls), it draws from Peterson's successful IOR (International Offshore Rule) racing designs, such as the 1983 Admiral's Cup contender Intuition, but detuned for greater ocean-going comfort while retaining sharp club-racing capabilities. The prototype, Big Shadow, was similar to Peterson's Design #77 (Louisiana Crude/Serendipity 43). With a lightweight fin keel and spade rudder, it excels in light to moderate winds (SA/D ratio of 19.43 for quick acceleration), achieving hull speeds of 7–8 knots on reaches, and offers a balanced, responsive helm for short-handed crews of 4–6. At 42 feet, it's a versatile coastal/offshore performer with a spacious interior—featuring an owner's suite aft, forward guest cabin, huge saloon, U-galley, and nav station—though the low, narrow coachroof can make it feel dark below. A keel/centerboard version exists for shallower drafts, and very few center-cockpit models were produced.
Construction Details
| Designer | Doug Peterson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Baltic Yachts |
| Length | 41.916 ft |
| LOA | 41.916 ft |
| LWL | 34.417 ft |
| Beam | 13.330 ft |
| Displacement | 18400 lb |
| Ballast | 8346 lb |
| Max Draft | 9.916 ft |
| Year Built | 1981 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 56.25 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 17.66 ft |
| p | 50 ft |
| e | 14.40 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56.25 ft | 17.66 ft | 50 ft | 14.40 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Baltic 42 DP - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 50 ft - (15240 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.4 ft - (4389 mm) |
| Leech | * 51.14 ft - (15587 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 51.55 ft - (15712 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 367.13 ft² |
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Baltic 42 DP - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 47.17 ft - (14377 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.32 ft - (7108 mm) |
| Leech | * 41.08 ft - (12521 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.01 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.31 ft - (6190 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.01 ° |
| Area | * 478.99 ft² |
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Baltic 42 DP - GENOA
| Luff | 56.01 ft - (17072 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 28.46 ft - (8675 mm) |
| Leech | * 52.74 ft - (16075 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 26.49 ft - (8074 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.01 ° |
| Area | * 741.84 ft² |
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Baltic 42 DP - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 56.01 ft - (17072 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 31.79 ft - (9690 mm) |
| Foot | * 31.79 ft - (9690 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1513 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.