Mark and Marilyn Boyd just got their dream boat: a Hinckley Talaria 48 Flybridge. Mark grew up in a boating family in Texas, and he and Marilyn are taking their voyaging to a new level, moving up from a Hinckley 29. Lifelong boaters, the Boyds say they would rather be on the water than anywhere else.
What made you realize the on-the-water lifestyle was for you?
All during the 1980s and 1990s, my business friends and family used to come with me to Belize for scuba diving and fishing vacations. In June 1999, I was fishing off the coast with a business friend when Cotton Ranch motored by in the distance. She was a 110-foot Feadship captained by Phil Richards. At the time, I did not know the boat or who captained it. I did tell my business associate/ best friend that if he did the legwork, I would pay to charter the boat or one like it. I had never entertained chartering, and I did not even know if it was possible. A month later, my business associate called and said he had the details — it was possible. My first charter was a November 1999 cruise from Belize City up the Rio Dulce to Guatemala. We were hooked. Since then, we have chartered 16 or 17 times all over the world.
How have your boating interests progressed over the years?
Since 2000, Marilyn and I have attended the boat show in Fort Lauderdale and shopped and dreamed of owning a yacht. The more we chartered, the stronger the dreams became. But I couldn’t get past the cost of owning a yacht versus the cost of chartering. We came close several times.
Since 2000, Marilyn and I have attended the boat show in Fort Lauderdale and shopped and dreamed of owning a yacht.
How did you discover Hinckley?
We have always had a boat, and our Grady-White was more than Marilyn could handle comfortably by herself. It was time to trade. She went to work researching the next boat, keeping in mind grandkids and taking the boat herself when I was traveling for work. The Internet brought her to Hinckley. Hinckley’s ace salesperson, Jennifer Richards, did the rest. A jet boat with no props, a “jet stick” that literally made it easy enough for anyone to drive, along with the unmatched workmanship and quality sold us.
Moving up to a 48 Flybridge is a big step.
Marilyn and I have always dreamed of owning our own yacht, but we did not want a crew. After owning the 29, we became aware that Hinckley boats could make our dream come true. We could own a yacht that we could easily drive and navigate safely. Our plans have changed from chartering to planning our own trips down the East Coast, over to the Bahamas, Cuba and Belize. Of course, we are keeping the 29 Hinckley for our weekend and evening boating on Galveston Bay.
