Boston Boatworks BB52 Offshore Express Cruiser: Purpose-Built for the Owner-Operator

Scott Smith, co-founder and CEO of Boston Boatworks, recalls a defining moment at the Massachusetts yard: after 27 years of building boats for others, the team finally had the chance to design and build a model under their own name. “When we were given the opportunity to build a boat for ourselves, we thought, okay, what do we want to do?” Smith says. That decision led to the creation of the Boston Boatworks 52 Offshore Express Cruiser (BB52), a craft conceived with a clear, uncompromising purpose: an offshore-capable, owner-operated boat that also functions beautifully as an entertaining platform.

Design Heritage and Collaboration

Boston Boatworks began by building custom grand prix racing sailboats and later produced more than 300 express cruisers under another brand. Drawing on that deep experience, the yard partnered with designer Doug Zurn of Massachusetts for the BB52’s exterior. Interiors were developed by Winch Design of London, a studio best known for superyacht projects; the BB52 marks Winch’s first American offshore cruiser in its portfolio. Winch produced several layout and finish options and will work directly with owners to select palettes and bespoke details.

Function-First Philosophy

“This is an offshore vessel,” Smith emphasizes. The layout and features reflect a focus on safety, sightlines and ease of operation for a hands-on owner. Key design choices include a helm door that opens onto a side deck protected by an 8-inch bulwark and a full-length safety rail, allowing secure, unobstructed movement from bow to stern. Cleats and deck hardware are accessible from the side deck so crew and owners don’t need to climb over cockpit furniture to tend lines—an important detail for practical, everyday use.

Throughout the BB52, Boston Boatworks prioritized a feeling of connection to the water and open, usable spaces. Side windows lower electrically and an after bulkhead can be removed to create an unbroken relationship between cockpit and sea. The pilothouse windshield is a single, mullion-free pane to maximize visibility and light. A-pillars are set back from the helm to reduce obstruction of the horizon and provide superior sightlines over the bow—crucial when handling an offshore boat under varying conditions.

Comfort, Practicality and Interior Flow

Winch Design’s interior work emphasizes natural light and a flowing spatial relationship between the pilothouse and the lower deck. “The windscreen lands on the bulkhead forward of the galley, so there’s an atrium effect,” Smith explains. That intentional transition creates an interior that reads more like a split-level apartment than the traditional separate lower-deck and pilothouse arrangement. Pillars in the pilothouse cleverly conceal HVAC ducting, allowing for even heating and cooling distribution without louvered vents that would interrupt clean sightlines and interior surfaces.

Every choice on the BB52 supports the owner-operator model: visibility, easy access to lines and deck hardware, an open, light-filled interior, and simple systems integration. Winch is also presenting the BB52 to its superyacht clientele as a smaller, owner-driven complement to the larger, more complex superyacht experience—an option for owners who want direct involvement at the helm while still enjoying refined onboard spaces.

Production and Future Models

Construction of the first hull is scheduled to begin later this year. According to Smith, three BB52s have already been sold, and delivery of the fourth hull was expected in late 2024. Boston Boatworks is also exploring the possibility of expanding the line with smaller and larger models, extending the same owner-focused ethos to a broader range of sizes.

Specifications

LOA: 56’9”

Beam: 16’3”

Draft: 2’6” / 3’9” (drives up/down)

Displacement: 39,880 lbs. (half load)

Power: (3) Volvo Penta D6