De Antonio D42 (2025-)

• Flexteek® teak deck
• Soft top
• Two retractable deck tables
• Swim ladder
• Retractable aluminum cleats
• Deck galley w/refrigerator, sink, cooktop, microwave
• Fusion audio system w/4 speakers
• Simrad 12” nav system
• Simrad RS20 VHF w/antenna
• Deck shower
• Head w/electric toilet
• AC shore power cable, battery charger
• 3 x 300-hp V8 Mercury Verado outboard engines
• Anchor support, chain rode, electric winch

• Mercury Verado outboard engine options including 3 x 350-hp V10, 3 x 400-hp V10, both w/ electrohydraulic steering
• Mercury joystick piloting system available for base engine package and 350-, and 400-hp motors
• Hard top
• Electric canvas awning for stern sundeck
• Canvas awning extension for bow
• XL swim platform w/ or w/o hydraulic system
• Electric stern gangplank not compatible w/xl platform hydraulic system
• High windshield compatible w/hard top
• Manual crane for tender garage, 6’6” tender w/3-hp electric motor
• Stern doors
• 3.5-kW WhisperPower generator
• Second 12” Simrad nav screen
• Simrad autopilot
• Bow thruster
• Zipwake® system
• Seakeeper gyro not compatible w/xl hydraulic platform

As with her eight other sisterships in the model lineup, one step aboard the De Antonio D42 Open and it is quite evident as to where all the layout planning was centered around. The uncluttered, walk-around deck results in a space more than suitable for gathering and entertaining. In addition, with a pair of staterooms, one forward and the other amidships, she will provide excellent travel opportunities.

Bow

Everything about the De Antonio D42 says useful space and that is quite evident here on the bow.

Helm & Cockpit

Surely the center piece of boats of her ilk, the helm and cockpit areas are of special focus aboard the De Antonio D42 Open and designed to make these areas conducive to gathering and entertaining.

Aft

With its characteristic use of the aft section, the De Antonio D42 offers a large sunpad measuring 99” x 99”/251.46cm x 251.46cm, with plenty of room for several guests to utilize. But, in true De Antonio fashion, there’s more.

Living Accommodations

Traveling aboard the De Antonio D42 Open is an opportunity waiting to happen courtesy of a pair of sleeping quarters and a head. With more than sufficient storage space, spending extended weekends away is dictated only by your personal calendar.

Our test boat was equipped with triple Mercury V10 400-hp outboards. Our test day saw an air temperature of 75ºF, mild wind at 5 knots, and a relative humidity of 75%. Our dry weight was approximately 17,636 lbs/7,999 kg. Spooling up the triple Mercury outboards to 6400 rpm, we recorded a WOT speed of 48.9 mph. When we knocked her down to 4000 rpm, our De Antonio D42 Open purred along at 28.0 mph and a range of 224.8 statute miles with a 10% reserve of the boat’s total fuel capacity of 343 gallons. She planed-out between 3800 and 4000 rpm. Out of the hole shots saw us reach 40 mph in 16 seconds.

During all maneuvers, including tight S and circle turns, and straight runs, she proved effectively responsive to the helm, and always under control. Putting it all together, our time on the De Antonio D42 Open during our test runs was quite positive, especially with those triple 400-hp Mercury engines supplying the power.

The De Antonio D42 Open combines luxury, performance, and design and engineering all in one, seamless package. She can easily provide opportunities for coastal cruising, overnight or extended time away, and be an exciting day boat, delivering fun water sport activities for all.

Gunkholing or finding that special anchorage with the ability to have a special dining experience, as well as spending a day out for a leisurely cruise with family and friends, enjoying the large sunpads fore and aft, spacious layout and wide walkways all around, makes the De Antonio D42 Open a boat for all the right reasons. Set up your own visit and sea trial and find out what all the buzz is about.

Remember, life is better on a boat!

Brand Background

De Antonio has origins in Spain but is now built in Poland at what the captains described as a fairly large shipyard.

Test Framing

The captains structured the review around 10 distinguishing features of the D42, to be revealed at the end of the review.

Specifications (Test Boat)

• Length overall: 41 feet, 5 inches
• Beam: 13 feet, 1 inch
• Empty weight: 17,636 pounds
• Test engines: triple 400-horsepower Mercury V10s

Performance Numbers

• Top speed: 48.9 mph at 6,400 RPM
• Best cruise: 28 mph at 4,000 RPM, burning 38.5 gallons per hour, achieving 0.7 miles per gallon
• Range at best cruise: 220.8 statute miles, holding a 10% reserve of the boat's 343-gallon total fuel capacity
• Plane threshold: between 3,800–4,000 RPM, 20 mph
• Hole shot 0–10 mph: 4.5 seconds
• 0–20 mph: 7.5 seconds
• 0–30 mph: 11 seconds
• 0–40 mph: 16 seconds

Handling — Turns

Captain Eric Brandon narrated turning tests: "On a couple of these S-turns, you can see again how the boat's so responsive." During a full-circle turn to starboard: "Not much loss of speed on that turn... about three boat lengths... it's a nice tight turn." On tightening the circle further: "I've got no loss in the rear end. She feels tight and secured."

Captain Shelly separately noted a minor observation during S-turn maneuvering: "She lost just a little bit of speed, and so just kind of something to be aware of — you just wanna kick it up just a couple hundred extra RPM when you're doing some maneuvering, but that's kind of to be expected."

Close-Quarters Maneuvering

Captain Eric Brandon's assessment: "The responsiveness of just the dual throttles and then the bow thruster, it was very easy to maneuver in the docking area." He also praised the sightlines from the standing platform position: "You can see over the top of that windshield," while noting the seated position provides a helpful wind break in cooler conditions.

Helm Layout

Captain Eric Brandon's first impression: "The simplicity of this entire design — nice flat panel. I can read these twin Simrad 12-inches very, very easily." Additional features noted: fuel gauges, JL Audio receiver, a small cubby, and a carbon fiber inlay providing a "flashy look."

Windshield: Half windshield on the test boat, with a full windshield available as an option.

Helm seats: Deep and comfortable, with flip-up bolsters; one seat is mounted on a slider for fore/aft adjustment. Both captains noted a minor ergonomic issue: a roughly 5-inch step up at the helm that caught their toes — Captain Eric Brandon: "Watch your big toe, 'cause you might nail it. Also, when you're walking down, be careful, grab the handrail just to be safe."

Bow

Walkway width: 18 inches at its widest.

Gunwale height: 24 inches at its minimum.

Forward seating includes underneath storage. The anchor locker (all the way forward) includes a stainless steel anchor, electric windlass, pop-up cleats on both sides, and an extended bow roller protecting the plumb bow.

Bow seating configuration: Forward- and aft-facing seating, which Captain Shelly noted creates "a more conducive social zone." The sun pad features a diamond-cut stitching pattern.

Freeboard: 68 inches off the water to the top of the gunwale — Captain Shelly called this "a phenomenal number," noting: "You look over the edge, it looks like the water is way, way down. So you're in this boat, you're safe off the water, waves aren't touching you, and it really is a big, big number."

Additional bow features: Removable/attachable front sunshade poles ("silver caps"), large speakers, fender clips, and courtesy lighting throughout.

Galley (Midship)

Starboard side: Pull-out fridge with an ice tray option, induction cooktop, freshwater washdown for hands, a flip-around cutting board, and storage below for flatware/cookware.

Seating: U-shaped, with bi-fold tables allowing entry/exit without needing to scoot fully around — Captain Shelly specifically praised this. Storage is located beneath the seating.

Shade: A deployable shade covers a good portion of the sun pad when extended.

Aft Sun Pad

Dimensions: 99 inches by 99 inches — easily seats five people.

Features: Pop-up lights for evening ambiance; a large storage compartment beneath the headrest (suited to water toys, SUPs, etc.), accessed via a ladder; dedicated pole storage for the front sunshade.

Additional stern-area utilities: Fuel fill (starboard) and water fill (port), a shore power receptacle, and a hot/cold stern shower.

Hidden Outboard Engine Bay

Captain Shelly identified this as a signature De Antonio design feature: "De Antonio focuses on their hidden outboards as one of their main selling features, and I can see why — on any other outboard boat right now, I'd be standing in the water or sitting on a cowling."

Design mechanism: A pontoon-style extension off the back of the hull supports a large swim platform.

Swim platform dimensions: approximately 170 inches wide, approximately 40 inches deep.

Functional benefits (per Captain Shelly): Cleaner aesthetic (no exposed engines hanging off the back); a boarding ladder with handles positioned well away from the propellers, reducing injury risk.

Engine access: Easy access to all three 400 V10 engines — the highest engine package De Antonio offers for this model — including easy access to oil fills. Captain Shelly: "All in all, I think this is a really cool design."

Mechanical Space (Below Decks)

Captain Shelly noted the hatch is small and access is initially tricky, landing directly atop the fuel tank, but described the space as manageable once inside.

Contents: Battery system/management and electrical components (port side); freshwater washdown hose; water tanks on both port and starboard; a 3.5 kW Whisper Power generator, positioned along the centerline; bilge pumps and through-hulls, all easily accessible.

Build quality notes: Everything labeled well; double hose clamps used in most places. Captain Shelly's summary: "All in all, it's a pretty well laid out mechanical space. Just a little tricky to get into." A separate access panel provides generator access.

Cabin — Atrium Space

Reached via five fairly steep steps down.

Port side: Corian countertop with power (suited to a coffee maker or blender), storage behind, plus access to the full electrical panel and generator controls. Below: refrigeration and storage, with additional storage on this side.

Headroom: 6 feet, 4 inches in this space.

Forward Berth

Headroom: 5 feet, 8 inches.

Features: Hanging lockers on both sides (room for roughly 3–4 hangers), with storage below; a large drawer underneath the berth; two gooseneck reading lights; storage behind an upholstered fiddle rail; power outlets on both sides; opening port lights for ventilation.

Head (Starboard)

Headroom: 6 feet, 1 inch.

Features: Electric flush toilet, pedestal sink, storage below, and a separate walk-in shower with a wand handle.

Cabin Living Space ("Living Room")

Captain Eric Brandon described this area: "We've got a lot of room in here, and it's a nice place to duck outta the weather... it's very intimate and very cozy."

Headroom: 4 feet, 9 inches.

Features: Cushioned seating areas on both sides; an AC vent for cooling; acrylic glass panels admitting natural sunlight; opening window ports on both port and starboard sides for ventilation; on/off switches for lighting.

Design / Aesthetic Assessment

Captain Eric Brandon's overall styling assessment: "This boat has such a unique profile to it that you're gonna turn heads, whether you're out here in the bay or you're cruising up the Miami River for dinner." Captain Shelly added: "She fits in. She fits in really well here."

The Ten Distinguishing Features (Revealed)

1. Hidden engine compartment — dramatically reduces wasted space and lost utility compared to a conventional outboard boat.
2. Lightweight construction — lighter than 90% of comparable boats checked in class, at 17,636 pounds dry, approximately 20,000 pounds as tested.
3. Four bucket seats at the helm deck — uncommon in class; noted as a family-friendly feature.
4. Freeboard of 5 feet, 7 inches — comparable to what's typically found on some 55-footers.
5. Amidships storage space — noted by the captains as an expected/spotted feature.
6. Sponsons providing tremendous stern buoyancy — support the roughly 2,000 pounds of engine weight on the transom and contribute to minimal bow rise coming onto plane, allowing the boat to run level.
7. Stepped bottom at the bow — described as unique in class, and something visible only via De Antonio's website rather than in person.
8. Futuristic exterior design — plumb bow and slab sides.
9. Beam waterline nearly identical to beam at the cap rail — providing more volume below and greater stability, contrasted with most boats that reduce waterline beam to minimize wetted surface.
10. Price — cited as a distinguishing feature, with viewers directed to check current pricing.