Sessa Marine C42 Review (2016 Edition) by Aquaholic

On Deck

Stepping aboard the Sessa C42, you’re straight onto a high-load bathing platform, so it’ll happily take the weight of a small rib, and there’s useful storage tucked away beneath it for deck gear and odds and ends.

Right at the stern there’s also a wet bar so you don’t have to traipse inside for quick alfresco cooking. From there the cockpit spreads out as a proper social hub. A big U-shaped seating area wraps around the aft section, served by a clever table that’s shown here in coffee-table size but folds out to double. Once extended, it’s a dining space for the whole crew.

Shade is taken care of by a retractable awning that extends aft when you want cover and slides away when you don’t. It’s coupe style of course, with no flybridge, just a low sporty profile.

Walk forward and you’ll find easy side deck access with rails where you want them. On the bow there’s room for sunbathing, plus that forward hatch we’ll see again in the owner’s cabin. An electric windlass is built into the foredeck, with foot controls for simple anchoring.

A few neat touches crop up here too - fender lockers that hinge down, Fusion speakers and even a Fusion head unit mounted forward so the music doesn’t stop when you move up to the bow. Up above, the radar, searchlight and aerials are all tucked neatly into the roof structure, with the opening hardtop section clearly visible from outside.

Through the sliding saloon doors, the C42 feels surprisingly fresh for a 2016 boat. They’ve put in new carpets and fresh upholstery, so the first impression is very inviting. The design itself is classic Italian: pale woods with darker accents and that slightly different twist of running the saloon decking across rather than fore and aft.  

The table in here is height adjustable and folds out to twice the size, so it can work as a coffee table, a dining table, or drop down to make up an extra berth with an infill cushion. Storage is dotted around, including a fridge neatly built in, and one locker conceals the distribution panel and light controls.

There’s a Fusion stereo, and somebody’s clearly enjoyed their music because the system has been extended with speakers up in the trailing edge of the roof and even a subwoofer down by the seating. A pop-up TV hides away when not in use, deployed at the press of a button.

The helm has a single driving position, naturally, because this is a coupe, and it has a bit of character about it; brown and gold tones across the dash that give it a slightly funky look. The seat has a lift bolster, and there’s a big opening roof section overhead. Slide that whole panel back and the fresh air pours in, with a drop window by the helm too if you just want a bit more breeze.

Controls are laid out as you’d expect on an IPS boat with throttles and joystick on the right, trim tabs and bow thruster to hand, and a multifunction display front and centre alongside autopilot and engine instruments.  

Drop down a level and you find the galley. This is where you see hardwood flooring, running through and giving the space a crisp, practical finish. The galley is compact, equipped with fridge and freezer, sink, electric hob, bin, and lockers overhead and under. 

It feels nicely linked to the saloon above, so you’re not cut off while cooking, but it still keeps the main deck clear and open. Small boat maybe, but all the right pieces are here, and you could cater quite comfortably for family or guests.

Owner's Cabin

In the bow is the owner’s cabin, and it’s a nice size for a 42-footer. You’ve got a proper central double bed with storage underneath, shelving along the sides, and lockers overhead. There’s a full hanging locker to one side, and a deck hatch above that links straight up onto the foredeck. Hull windows with opening sections keep it light and give you a bit of airflow.

It feels cosy, but in a good way - snug without being cramped. The finishes carry on the light and bright theme from the rest of the boat, and you get a sense that every inch has been made to work.

The en suite has a separate shower stall and sink to the side. That separation means you can shower, step out into the dry section, and sort yourself out without soaking the whole cabin. On a 12.8m boat that’s a very decent arrangement.

Guest Cabins

Just aft of the owner's cabin, you’ve got the guest spaces. First up is the day heads, which doubles as en suite to the second cabin via an extra door.

Step into the cabin itself and you find two decent single berths, with good space at the entrance for getting changed before you drop down into bed. Headroom does tail off as you move aft as the cabin is under the helm position here, but that’s fine because the usable standing space is at the doorway, and then you just slide into bed.  

There’s a hanging rail, AV kit, and storage, so it works as a proper guest cabin rather than an afterthought. And if you’ve got extra people aboard, the saloon table drops down with an infill cushion to give you another berth, so in total you can sleep six.

Access is straight through the cockpit hatch, dropping you into a compact but well-laid-out engine space. Sitting here are a pair of Volvo Penta IPS 500s, each producing 370hp. They’ll push the C42 on to over 30 knots flat out, with an easy cruising band around 22 to 25 knots. At those sorts of speeds you’re looking at a range of about 250 nautical miles.

There’s a generator in here as well, and a bit of space for storage and access to ancillary kit. It’s tighter than the machinery spaces you’d find on 50 or 60 footers, but this is a smaller boat and everything you need is still in place. 

We’re dealing with a 2016 Sessa C42 so immediately you’re stepping below the multi-million-pound league into something decidedly more approachable. It’s a sharply styled, coupe sportscruiser, good as a cost-conscious up-grade for a third or fourth boat, but without feeling like a big rollback. That “entry-level” tag doesn’t quite do it justice; it’s better seen as good compromise in size, value, and fun factor.

Because it’s powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS-500 pods, you’re getting real-world efficiency gains you wouldn’t always expect with 370hp apiece. In comparative tests against shaft-driven setups, the IPS system cuts fuel consumption at 30 knots cruising by over 30%, and Volvo quotes a 20% higher top speed, 40% longer cruising range, plus 50% less perceived noise. That means lower fuel spend and fewer engine hours per nautical mile, which is bang-on for owner-operators who don’t want a bottomless pit of maintenance or running cost surprises. Maintenance for the IPS pods are largely modular, with easy access and fewer running alignments than a conventional shaft system. 

You’re buying into a fun, compact cruiser with sensible speed, real-world range, and a layout that doesn’t ask too much from your wallet in upkeep. It looks like a good place to land if you want all the joys of motoryachting without tipping into multi-six-figure territory in bills and hassle.

The Sessa C42 feels like a reminder that you don’t always need a huge yachtto get a complete boating experience. At 42ft it balances manageability with capability, offering a cockpit that’s very social, a saloon that adapts from coffee mornings to evening meals plus two cabins that both enjoy ensuite access. For an owner-operator who wants to step into something comfortable, flexible, and quick without straying into the financial or operational demands of bigger yachts, the C42 is a good option