When it comes to the quest for the “perfect fit” in a boat, it’s rare to find an owner who is 100 percent satisfied with his or her final decision. In the case of Jack McCarthy, however, this is exactly the situation in which he finds himself—perfectly satisfied.
The owner of multiple vessels, McCarthy has boating experience that covers the spectrum of defined usefulness. But only his HCB 42 Lujo checks every box at once. He spends winters boating off Jupiter and summers on Long Island Sound. Along with his wife, Lisa, he also enjoys entertaining friends on the water. For boaters who divide their time equally between fishing and luxury cruising, the HCB 42 merges the two lifestyles seamlessly. On a recent outing where the fishing wasn’t especially hot, the McCarthys and their guests enjoyed a picnic lunch and some adult beverages. Comfortable onboard, the wait time between bites was a lot more enjoyable.
The expression viva de lujo (life of luxury) seems fitting to attach to the 42-foot model in HCB Yachts’ lineup. Two rows of seating behind the helm share abundant shade beneath a large hardtop. Additional plush upholstered seating covers the boat from stem to stern. A sofa-style cockpit seat is perched atop a large live bait well and faces the combination wet bar/tackle rigging center.
In the bow, a double-wide sun pad lounger ahead of the console faces wraparound forward seating, which can be converted into an additional sun pad or a dining venue by adjusting the center section’s platform table height. Three ladder-back teak helm seats and other varnished teak trim around the helm area add a further element of style to the overall luxury aesthetic.
Already an exceptionally soft ride, adding a Seakeeper 3 gyro stabilizer to the mix eliminates 90 percent of felt rolling offshore. For power, McCarthy chose quadruple Yamaha 425-hp XTOs. A trio of Garmin MFD units frame the view through a three-sided glass enclosure at the helm, while rod holders lining the gunwales, carbon outriggers, and abundant storage are all ideal features for anglers.
McCarthy’s faith in a brand model could not be more evident: He already has an order in for a newer version of the 42 Lujo, with a few upgrades to make what he already considers the best just a little bit better.
Power File
Length: 41 feet, 7 inches
Beam: 12 feet, 2 inches
Draft: 34 inches
Deadrise: 23 degrees
Fuel: 614 gallons
Max HP: Currently offered with up to 1,800
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