421 Continental

A very unusual design with her sloped-foredeck profile and semicircular cockpit, the Chris Craft 421 Continental was a budget-priced family cruiser for those who appreciated the company’s approach to unorthodox styling. She was built on a solid fiberglass, modified-V hull with moderate beam and prop pockets to reduce her shaft angles and draft requirements. The two-stateroom floorplan is arranged on a single level with excellent headroom and plenty of overhead lighting to compensate for the absence of cabin windows. The oversize galley may occasionally be useful, but it eats up cabin space that might otherwise be used for additional seating. If the interior is a little small for a 42-footer, the cockpit dimensions are relatively spacious, although the oval transom design still consumes a lot of cockpit space. The engine compartment (beneath the cockpit sole) is a tight fit. Additional features include a spacious flybridge, molded foredeck seating, and a big swim platform. Lasting only two years in production (thankfully), standard 300hp V-drive gas inboards cruise the Chris 421 around 14–15 knots, and optional 320hp Volvo diesels cruise around 21 knots.