Introducing a new yacht for a new model year is not unusual, but during the past year, Hinckley Yachts has debuted an all-electric runabout, announced a 40-foot Picnic Boat and a 53 Sou’wester sailing yacht, and now premiered a yacht series with the Sport Boat and Sport Boat Center Cabin.
The Sport Boat series should hit the water in July — and it’s more than just a new line for the Maine-based builder. It represents a new power configuration for Hinckley yachts: outboards.
The express-style Sport Boat and the walkaround-style Center Cabin will each have triple 300 hp Mercury Verado outboards as standard power plants, with triple 350 hp Verados and twin 627 hp Seven Marines as options. Best top-end speed with the optional motors should be about 54 knots, with speeds around 45 to 47 knots with the standard Verados.
The Sport Boats have a deep-V hull form from Ray Hunt Design. Epoxy-infused carbon-fiber construction supports that form. The builder says carbon fiber is used for the vessel’s inner layer, while Kevlar is used for the outer one. The hull and supporting grid system are infused in one shot.
For entertaining, a 75-square-foot cockpit makes a great place for sundowners with friends. Overnight cruisers on the Sport Boat have an amidships master and a forepeak VIP stateroom, each with a queen berth. The Center Cabin model has a single queen, good for couples. In either setup, there is one head with a stand-up shower.
A pedigree builder, modern construction and outboard power blend with classic lines in the Sport Boat series. It’s a recipe that should appeal to current Hinckley fans, while gaining some new ones too.
