The Hinckley Souwester 42 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

There were two versions of the Hinckley Sou'wester 42 produced: the original version and the MKII version. The original version was launched in 1982 and was available as a masthead sloop or a yawl. The MKII version was introduced in 1995 and had some modifications to the keel, rudder, transom, and interior layout. The MKII version was also offered as a cutter or a ketch. 

The Hinckley Sou'wester 42 and the Hinckley Sou'wester 43 are very similar boats, but they have some minor differences. The Hinckley Sou'wester 42 was the original version, launched in 1982 and produced until 2006. The Hinckley Sou'wester 43 was a modified version, introduced in 1995 and produced until 2002. The main differences between the two versions are:

• The Hinckley Sou'wester 43 has a slightly longer waterline length (9.75m vs 9.53m) and a slightly longer overall length (13.11m vs 13.03m);

• The Hinckley Sou'wester 43 has a modified keel, rudder, and transom, which improved the boat's performance and handling;

• The Hinckley Sou'wester 43 has a different interior layout, with more headroom, more storage, and a larger aft cabin;

• The Hinckley Sou'wester 43 was offered as a cutter or a ketch, while the Hinckley Sou'wester 42 was offered as a sloop or a yawl.

Both versions were built on a custom basis, so there may be some variations among individual boats.

Yes, the Hinckley Sou'wester 42 MkII is also known as the Hinckley Sou'wester 43. The MkII version was introduced in 1995 and had some modifications to the keel, rudder, transom, and interior layout. The MkII version also had a slightly longer waterline length and overall length than the original version. The Hinckley Sou'wester 42 and the Hinckley Sou'wester 43 are essentially the same boat, but with different names to reflect the changes.

Sailing alone on a Hinckley Sou'wester 42 is possible, but it may not be easy or comfortable. The boat is designed for cruising with a crew, and it has a large sail area, a heavy displacement, and a complex rig. It may be challenging to handle the boat in different wind and sea conditions, especially when tacking, reefing, or docking.

The exact time it takes to build a Hinckley Souwester 42 may vary depending on the level of customization, the availability of materials, and the workload of the builder. However, a rough estimate can be obtained by looking at the production history of the boat. The Hinckley Souwester 42 was built by Hinckley Yachts between 1982 and 2006, and there were 46 boats built in that period. That means an average of about two boats per year, or six months per boat. However, this is only an average, and some boats may have taken longer or shorter than others.