1974 Challenger 42 MotorSailor — Fortuna

The Challenger Anacapa 42 Pilothouse Motorsailer is a rare and capable cruising yacht that successfully blends sailing performance, long-range motoring capability, and exceptional liveaboard comfort. Extensively refit over a ten-year period by a knowledgeable owner, she has benefited from significant upgrades to her mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and navigation systems. Designed for comfortable coastal cruising, offshore passages, and life aboard, her spacious pilothouse and generous interior make her stand out among traditional motorsailers.

Highlights Include:

• 2004 Nissan SD-33 100 HP diesel engine with approximately 2,005 hours

• Dual helm stations with hydraulic steering

• Extensive refit including rewiring, replumbing, and replacement tankage

• New 400W bifacial solar panel and Victron MPPT controller (2025)

• New Furuno radar, AIS transponder, VHF, and Orca Navigation system (2024)

• CPT autopilot (2024)

• Fresh topside paint (2026) and KiwiGrip deck coating (2024)

• Spacious pilothouse with excellent visibility and inside helm station

• California king aft owner’s berth with abundant storage throughout

• Air conditioning, hot water system, and full-sized bathtub with shower

• North Sails inventory including mainsail, mizzen, and headsail

• New canvas, Strataglass dodger, bimini frame, and cockpit enclosures

• Rocna and Bruce anchors with chain rode and manual windlass

• Proven cruising history throughout the U.S. East Coast, Bahamas, and Caribbean

Well-maintained and thoughtfully upgraded, this Challenger Anacapa 42 offers a unique opportunity to acquire a comfortable and capable motorsailer ready for her next adventure.

Full details

Accommodation

The Challenger Anacapa 42 Pilothouse Motorsailer offers a spacious, liveaboard-friendly layout with a raised pilothouse featuring an inside helm station and excellent visibility. Below decks, she features a large saloon, functional galley, forward V-berth, private aft owner’s cabin, and an enclosed head with a shower and full-sized bathtub. Generous storage throughout and a comfortable pilothouse design make her exceptionally well suited for extended cruising and full-time living aboard.

Interior Comforts and Amenities

• Refrigeration
• Force 10 3-burner stove with oven
• Propane shut-off valve
• Fume detector
• (2) exterior-mounted propane tanks
• Built-in microwave oven
• Air conditioning
• Under-sink drinking water filter
• California King-sized aft berth
• Sunbrella cushion covers (3 years old)
• Main salon slipcovers included
• Salon and pilothouse curtains for shade and privacy
• Cedar-lined closets
• Hatches equipped with retractable screens and blinds
• Stainless steel screened portlights
• Raritan toilet with Whale Gulper discharge pump
• Whale Gulper shower sump pump
• Full-sized fiberglass bathtub with shower
• Pedestal stainless steel sink with pressurized hot and cold water and additional foot pump
• Double stainless steel galley sinks
• Corian countertops
• Large drawer storage for cookware, dishes, glassware, and cutlery

Electronics and Navigation

• CPT Autopilot (2024)
• Furuno DRS4W wireless radar (2024)
• Orca Navigation system (2024)
• Raymarine Wireless TackTick depth sounder and speed log
• Raymarine Wireless TackTick wind indicator (wind speed function not working)
• SSB radio (receive only)
• Standard Horizon VHF radio (2024)
• Digital Yacht AIS transponder (2024)
• (2) compasses, one at each helm station
• Television
• Spreader lights

Electrical Systems

• GC house battery bank, 470Ah
• Optima starting battery
• Recent wiring upgrades using marine-grade tinned copper wire and terminals
• 400W bifacial solar panel (2025)
• Victron MPPT 100/50 solar controller (2025)
• Freedom inverter/charger
• 12-gallon SuperStor water heater powered by shore power or engine
• Shore power cord

Deck and Hull Equipment

• Topsides painted (2026)
• KiwiGrip non-skid deck coating (2024)
• (2) anchors on bow rollers
• Rocna primary anchor
• Bruce secondary anchor
• 150 ft anchor chain
• Sea Tiger double-action two-speed lever windlass
• Dodger with Strataglass (2024)
• Bimini with new frame (2024)
• Side curtains (2025)
• Full cockpit shade curtains
• Fenders and dock lines
• Heavy-duty bow pulpit on bowsprit
• Full lifelines
• Boarding ladder
• Dinghy davits
• Navigation lights
• Anchor light
• Spreader lights
• Aqua Jet washdown system with fore and aft outlets

Sails and Rigging

• North mainsail
• North mizzen sail
• North headsail
• Sail covers
• New mainsail lazy jacks (2025)
• Whisker pole
• New mainsail and mizzen halyards (2025)
• Barient self-tailing winches

Mechanical Equipment

• Nissan SD33 100HP diesel engine
• Approximately 2,005 engine hours
• Dual Racor 500 fuel filters
• Whale manual bilge pump in pilothouse
• Teleflex hydraulic steering with recently replaced hoses and fittings
• Dual helm stations, cockpit and pilothouse
• Emergency high-capacity bilge pump
• Automatic bilge pump
• Current fire extinguishers
• Emergency tiller
• Whale MK sanitation pump
• Reconditioned Sherwood G7B raw water pump
• Aqualine Marine regulator model 150
• Teleflex steering seals
• Gusher galley pump service kit
• Block manifold hose
• Jabsco Pumpgard model 46400-9500
• 10615K impeller kit
• P/N 7741 hose
• Crosspipe to manifold hose
• Engine zincs
• Various gaskets
• Thermostat
• Temperature sensor
• Spare starter
• Spare injectors
• Topside paint
• KiwiGrip deck coating
• Filters
• Battery servicing kit
• Drive saver
• Exhaust flapper valve
• (2) transmission coolers
• (2) washdown deck fittings
• Crankshaft main bearing
• Intake and exhaust valves
• (6) spare belts
• Output shaft seal

Safety Equipment

• Life Sling
• Emergency tiller
• Fire extinguisher

Engine Info

• 2004 Nissan SD33 100HP diesel engine
• Approximately 2,005 hours
• Hydraulic steering
• Bronze three-blade propeller
• Fuel shut-off
• Oil change system

Tankage

• Water: (3) plastic freshwater tanks = 150 gallons total
• Wirsbo PEX plumbing (approximately 3 years old)
• Fuel: stainless steel fuel tank = 150 gallons total
• Holding: 50-gallon holding tank

Dinghy

• Highfield CL260 2024 SOLD SEPARATELY $3500 USD

Owners Comments and Boat History

The previous owner purchased the vessel and completed an extensive ten-year refit. Major improvements included repowering with a Nissan 100HP diesel engine, complete rewiring, replumbing, interior refurbishment, and replacement of the water tanks. An inspection of the vessel clearly demonstrates the quality of workmanship, attention to detail, and materials used throughout the project. During their ownership, the vessel cruised extensively along the U.S. East Coast and throughout the Bahamas.

Following our purchase, we sailed her from Chesapeake Bay to Luperón.

When searching for a motorsailer, we were impressed by the Anacapa 42 because she is fundamentally a capable sailing yacht that also offers the power and range expected of a motorsailer. Unlike many motorsailers, she feels like a true sailboat first.

The boat is exceptionally stable and comfortable in rough conditions. Visibility from the pilothouse and main saloon is more comparable to a catamaran than a traditional monohull, creating a bright and enjoyable living space both underway and at anchor.

Underway, she inspires confidence with her oversized rigging and solid construction. During the two years we lived aboard, it became apparent that every system had been carefully considered during the refit. The boat remains straightforward, practical, and highly functional.

Engine access is excellent through the large hatches located in the saloon sole.

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com

Listing data via Yachtr.com MLS, as published by the broker.

Listed by BVI Yacht Sales; specs and price as published by the broker — on the market here since August 2026. Confirm details with the broker directly.