Nimbus SC42 (Sport Coupe 42)

Nimbus SC42 Boat Overview

The Nimbus SC42 is a 12.4-metre sport coupé built to do two jobs well: get you somewhere fast and in comfort, and open right up the moment the weather turns kind. Slide back the side doors, the aft door and the roof hatches, and the saloon fills with air and light. Close it down again and you’re sheltered through rain, spray and a cold crossing, whether that’s a daily run to the marina or a fortnight away with the family.

It’s a boat built on decades of Scandinavian boatbuilding know-how, sharpened with modern hull technology and thinking that puts genuine flexibility ahead of a single fixed layout.

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Nimbus SC42 Video Walkthrough

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The SC42 shares its hull DNA with the Nimbus Sport Tender 42, so it inherits the same sure-footed handling and seaworthiness. Cruising sits comfortably between 20 and 40 knots, with 45+ knots available on the larger engine options, and it holds that pace over distance rather than just on paper. Range runs to 205 nautical miles on outboard power and 285 on inboard.

Underneath, it’s an air-lubricated, twin-stepped hull with a low planing threshold, so it gets up on the plane early and stays settled once there. A sharp bow section cuts through the waves rather than fighting them, with added flare to keep spray away from the boat rather than over it. As conditions build, the twin steps and air lubrication keep the ride steady rather than jarring, which matters more the longer the passage gets. Hull and deck are vacuum-infused for a strong, consistent laminate throughout.

Nimbus SC42 for Sale UK

See our available stock of the Nimbus Sport Cruiser 42. Remember – if you want something specific, we can help you customise it or place bespoke orders with the factory!

Nimbus SC42 for Sale

Two Mercury Verado V8 300s come as standard, with a Volvo Penta D4 DPI inboard available for owners who want that option.

Wherever the SC42 ends up – the Norwegian coast, the Mediterranean, or right here in the UK – the demands on a boat rarely stay the same from the passage to the anchorage. A boat that can do more than one job earns its keep.

Up to nine people can travel forward-facing, fast and properly protected, whatever the weather’s doing outside. At the centre of it all is a saloon that’s genuinely light and adaptable rather than fixed to one purpose.

Nine seats face forward for a fast passage. Fold the layout round and you’ve a dinette for lunch, or a large U-sofa for the evening. Both sofas move on simple handles, and the table itself raises, lowers, rotates and folds – one space quietly doing the work of three. Storage is worked in close to hand throughout, and the panoramic glazing gives a near-360° view without leaving your seat.

Systems & Comfort

New on the 42 series, the galley has moved up to deck level, so cooking happens in daylight with everyone still part of the conversation rather than shut away below. The saloon sofa converts to a berth for a late night, and blackout curtains close things down for sleep or shade.

Open the doors and hatches and the whole saloon becomes an open boat – the ceiling height and the daylight do most of the work themselves.

At the helm, two seats sit close with storage within reach, and you can drive standing or seated. The dash takes twin 12-inch plotters, the new Nimbus helm seats are shaped for lateral support on a long run, and joystick steering is available for those who want it.

Like the Sport Tender 42, the SC42 carries the award-winning walk-around layout – wide sliding doors that let two people pass each other without squeezing past, and straightforward boarding, loading and unloading at every stage.

The aft deck has been redesigned for this generation, with more usable space, a folding backrest on the aft sofa, and new side cushions. It doubles as a load surface with a folding bench, fender holders, and a 2,500-litre stowage space for gear and luggage that’s actually easy to get to. A second helm with plotter and joystick is available on the starboard aft deck for close-quarters work.

The swim platform is new too – extended, double-moulded and structurally integrated with the hull rather than bolted on. Outboard boats can be specified with an optional hydraulic platform that lowers to the waterline and doubles as a passerelle alongside. A new aft deck shower takes care of the saltwater rinse-off. New 40mm stainless steel railing and the polished chrome Nimbus hull logo finish the deck.

Engine Options

• Mercury Verado V8 2 x 300 hp
• Mercury Verado V10 2 x 425 hp
• Volvo Penta D4 DPI 2 x 320 hp

Forward, there’s room for a divan and sun bed, a large cargo hatch through to the forward cabin, and gunwales wide enough to become a seating area in their own right.

Below deck, two separate cabins sleep two couples or a family of four, and the head has proper standing room alongside a toilet and shower. Improved sound insulation and ventilation keep things fresh at anchor, and the vacuum-infused Divinycell hull holds its temperature well enough that the inverter-powered air conditioning has an easy job of it overnight.

The SC42 is pre-wired and prepared for a diesel generator, gyroscopic stabilisation, joystick steering, roof racks and solar panels, so the options list doesn’t have to be decided on day one.

Standard Equipment

Volvo Penta inboard, if you want it

Specified with the Volvo Penta D4 DPI twin inboard, the SC42 gains a set of systems built around one idea: make boating easier, not more complicated.

Dynamic Positioning System holds the boat’s heading and position automatically – useful when you’re prepping fenders and lines before docking, waiting on a bridge or lock, or simply need a moment to think without drifting off line. A tap of the joystick lets you nudge or rotate the boat slightly while still in DPS mode, which helps when wind or current are working against you. One button engages it; moving the throttles or pressing the button again hands control straight back.

Joystick Docking turns docking into something closer to a simple prompt-and-response. Push or rotate the joystick and the boat follows – forward, reverse, sideways, or spinning on the spot. Behind it, the Electronic Vessel Control system is translating that movement into steering angle, gearshift and throttle in real time.

Low-Speed Mode hands the driver more control and more time at reduced speed, which takes the stress out of tight manoeuvring, and comes in handy for fishing or working through inland waterways too.

Who the SC42 suits

The Nimbus SC42 is built for owners who want one boat to cover more ground – fast, comfortable, long-distance transport when you need it, and a proper open boat when the weather’s on your side. It suits people who rate seaworthiness and considered Scandinavian design over badge value, and who’d rather the boat spoke for itself.

If you’re weighing up a Sport Coupé 42 against the rest of the range, contact Morgan Marine for pricing, availability and a look round in person.

Nimbus SC42 Specs

FAQs

Nimbus SC42 at Morgan Marine

At Morgan Marine, every Nimbus Sport Cruiser 42 can be tailored to how you actually plan to use it – whether that’s coastal cruising, watersports, or harbour-hopping along the coast. We offer a choice of engine packages, equipment upgrades, and finish options, so the boat you take delivery of is set up for you.

Finance is available, and we arrange delivery across the UK or internationally. Every boat that leaves us has been commissioned by our own marine engineers, so it arrives fully prepared and ready to go.

As a full-service dealer, we offer far more than the sale itself. Our workshop, secure boatyard, fully stocked chandlery, and marine clothing store mean we’re on hand throughout your ownership, not just at the point of purchase.