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Invincible 42 Center Cabin Boat Review

This big center console with overnight accommodations provides an array of features for the hardcore angler.
Invincible 42 Center Cabin
Length: 42’9″ | Beam: 11’7″ | Draft: 24″ | Deadrise: 22 degrees | Fuel: 565 gal. | Water: 40 gal. | Weight: 14,000 lb. | Max HP: 1,600 | Price: Price on Request | Invincible Boat Company Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

Invincible’s new 42 Center Cabin offers top performance and a smooth ride, along with ultra-durable construction, outstanding fit and finish, and a superbly designed layout for fishing — exactly what you’d expect from the reputed boatbuilder.

Read more boat reviews on Salt Water Sportsman.

For more reviews from the Invincible series: the Invincible 39 Open; the Invincible 33; the Invincible 36; and the Invincible 42 Walkaround.

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Invincible 42 Center Cabin
Twin loungers on the forward console feature arm and backrests, plus a cooler at the foot. Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

Yet the 42 Center Cabin offers even more — a softer side with amenities, such as a roomy cabin within the center console that invites you to take a nap after a hard day of fishing and gives the kids a comfy place to duck out of the weather. Powered by triple Yamaha F350 outboards, the Michael Peters-designed twin-step running surface seemed to defy gravity during our test. Bow rise was virtually nonexistent during acceleration, and while underway, the twin steps ushered a cushion of air under the hull that boosted speed and fuel efficiency.

Invincible 42 Center Cabin
The twin-stepped hull maximizes fuel efficiency and yields speeds approaching 70 mph with triple Yamaha F350s. Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

The 42 Center Cabin rode atop the waves, bridging the crests in a ride that was both comfortable and ­exhilarating. Handling proved outstanding; the boat cornered with confidence and stability at any speed. Invincible’s molded grid stringer system results in bulkheads and stringers that are one unified piece. With the deck and liner bonded using methacrylate adhesive, the 42 offers supreme durability and a hull that’s free of creaks and rattles.

A three-sided, shatterproof polycarbonate windshield extends from the console to the hardtop, shielding the bridge from spray and wind. The expansive console top offers a place to stash items such as cellphones, and a fiddle at the aft edge keeps them from sliding off. The 51-inch-wide helm panel easily accepts the pair of Garmin 15-inch multifunction displays, which allow viewing and control of the Garmin radar, fish finder and GPS/chart plotter.

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Invincible 42 Center Cabin
Three Llebroc helm seats with flip-up bolsters and armrests add to the comfort level. Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

The three-across Llebroc helm seats add to the comfort level. The chairs feature flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests. Invincible integrates a footrest into the console base. Both the footrest and the helm deck on our test boat were covered with SeaDek EVA foam nonskid to cushion your feet. With an 11-foot-7-inch beam, the stability of this 42-footer is hard to beat.

Invincible 42 Center Cabin
A giant oval-shaped 53-gallon livewell with a clear lid sits between the transom recesses. Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

At the transom, recesses in each stern quarter let you comfortably brace yourself while fishing lines astern or watching kite lines. Padded coaming bolsters (that encircle the interior) cushion your knees. When not fishing, flip-up jump seats in these two spots allow the crew to sit and rest a bit. The seats fold away when it’s time to start fishing again. A 53-gallon livewell with clear acrylic lid rests between the transom ­recesses. To augment the bait supply, there’s a 64-gallon well below the sole of the aft cockpit.

Our tester came with a covered tackle rigging station behind the helm seats, featuring a cutting board and a sink with fresh and raw water, with racks for leader spools, diagonal cutters, pliers and knives under the cover. Drawers for tackle and other gear reside below. At the very bottom, a 105-quart Frigid Rigid cooler slides out on tracks and doubles as a seat with a snap-on pad.

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The new Invincible boasts five in-sole, insulated fish lockers: one under the bow deck, a pair flanking the ­console, and another two in the aft cockpit. There are also raw-water and freshwater washdown spigots under the gunwales to keep the deck, gear and crew clean. In the forepeak is a cavernous anchor locker with a horizontal windlass and in-stem anchor chute/roller, and a pair of pull-up cleats on the bow secures the anchor line or ties off at the dock.

On the port side of the aft cockpit, an outward-opening dive door makes it a cinch to haul aboard big swordfish or tuna. The built-in, foldout boarding ladder comes in handy when someone wants to get back on board after taking a dip to cool off. The spacious, step-down cabin that gives this boat its name is accessed through a bifold acrylic door on the port side of the console. Inside, there is more than 6 feet of headroom, a 7-foot by 4-foot forward berth, and a 17-inch TV for entertainment.

Invincible 42 Center Cabin
The dash is wide enough for two 15-inch displays, VHF radio, gauges, stereo and more. Courtesy Invincible Boat Company

A mini galley in the aft portion of the cabin offers wood-veneer cabinetry, a microwave and refrigerator/freezer, stainless-steel sink with freshwater faucet, and a Corian countertop. The cabin sole is covered with SeaDek EVA foam nonskid. Cleverly designed, the door to the head compartment swings through the ­galley space and into the main cabin. It enables easy access to the head, then seals off the combined galley/head area for privacy and swings back to conceal the head compartment when not in use.

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There’s a two-person lounger with an angled backrest and fold-down armrests on the forward portion of the console for relaxing, along with a handy cooler at the foot of the lounger. In the bow, a pair of elevated pods with huge dry-storage lockers underneath provide more seating when fitted with snap-on seat pads. When it comes to performance, the 42 Center Cabin does not disappoint. During the test, the trio of Yamaha F350s propelled the boat to 30 mph in 7.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 69.3 mph at 6,000 rpm. We posted optimum fuel economy at 3,500 rpm, reaching 35.6 mph while burning 32.8 gph and achieving 1.09 mpg. Ultimately, this Invincible impresses as a high-performance fishing machine and a comfortable craft perfectly suited for extended outings with family and friends.

Test Conditions

  • Weather: Mostly sunny
  • Location: Miami, Florida
  • Wind: East 9 knots
  • Sea State: 2- to 3-foot waves
  • Test Load: Four adults, 400 gallons of fuel, 117 gallons of water
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