Alpa Yachts

[Whitelighter]

Or more specifically the Alpa 42.

Seems they are another small builder who have virtually no presence outside of Italy. The 42 comes in a very useful 3 cabin layout and there are a number on the Italian market for sensible money.

So what, if anything is the catch? They seem to have cat engines of one sort it another and while they won't set the world alight in the design stakes they look solid enough and have classic rather than contemporary lines.

 

[davids0865]

I' ve just looked at one on BluYachts.it and it's a tidy little boat, that one has 2 X 370 Cummins.

 

[MapisM]

So what, if anything is the catch?

None, afaik.
I mean, I never heard any horror stories specifically related to the A42, and the yard actually used to have a decent reputation.
Their more well known model was the Patriot, which was among the earlier open boats with an HT, and had some success.
I've been on a 42 f/b quite some years ago at a boat show, and it was really impressive how they could squeeze 3 decent cabins in her.

Of course, the usual warnings apply, proper survey etc.
Also because, in spite of its range, limited to (IIRC) 35'-45' boats, the yard was quite flexible in customizing the boats according to client requests.
On one hand, this means that you can find the good, as well as the bad and the ugly.
But otoh, it also means that their production was not industrialised/standardised at all, so looking "under the skin" is more important than with a Cranchi or an Azimut, just to name a couple of builders on the opposite scale of customization.

Good luck, and keep us posted - with pics, obviously!