Back Cove Introduces the New Downeast 37 Express Cruiser

Back Cove Yachts has expanded its lineup with a new 37-foot express cruiser designed specifically for dayboating and short cruising adventures: the Downeast 37. Built on the same proven hull as the Back Cove 37, this new model emphasizes larger exterior social areas and a redesigned deck layout aimed at owners who value open cockpit living and efficient single-engine performance.

Bentley Collins, Back Cove’s vice president of sales and marketing, notes that while the hull is unchanged, the deck arrangement is “totally different.” The Downeast 37 moves the windshield farther forward and extends the pilothouse, creating nearly 20 feet of combined cockpit and helm-deck lengthwise. That generous outdoor footprint is complemented by a full-width retractable SureShade awning that covers the entire cockpit, making the boat ideal for sun protection and alfresco entertaining.

Compared with the standard Back Cove 37 — which is oriented toward extended cruising with a forward master stateroom, a guest stateroom, and a galley-up layout inside an enclosed saloon — the Downeast 37 prioritizes cockpit space and helm-deck seating. To maximize those areas, the Downeast version adopts a galley-down configuration and retains only a forward master stateroom below. The lower accommodations are completed by a head with a separate shower, providing comfortable overnight capability without sacrificing daytime living space.

Performance figures for the Downeast 37 mirror those of the Back Cove 37 thanks to the shared hull design. With the optional 600-hp Cummins QSC 8.3 diesel the boat achieves 1.25 nautical miles per gallon at 24 knots, yielding a calculated range of about 336 nautical miles. The 530-hp Yanmar option delivers roughly 1.2 nmpg at 20 knots, and the 480-hp Cummins package is rated at 1.34 nmpg at 20.4 knots. Hull No. 1 of the Downeast 37 ships with the 600-hp Cummins, while hull No. 2 is powered by the Yanmar.

Back Cove’s appeal lies in efficient single-engine operation, lower ongoing costs for fuel and maintenance, and a distinctive profile that combines a workboat aesthetic with a modern planing hull. “Our boats are for people who like that workboat-like profile in a modern planing hull,” Collins says, summarizing the brand’s design philosophy and target market.

The introduction of the Downeast 37 adds a second 37-foot option to Back Cove’s fleet, offering two distinct purposes from the same hull: the more cruising-focused Back Cove 37 and the social, day-focused Downeast 37. In addition to these two 37-foot models, Back Cove’s current lineup includes 30- and 34-foot models. The company has also been developing a 41-foot model, with a planned debut at the 2014 Miami International Boat Show.

Specifications

LOA: 42 feet, 6 inches

Beam: 13 feet, 3 inches

Draft: 2 feet, 8 inches

Displacement: 22,100 pounds

Hull Type: Modified-vee

Transom Deadrise: 16 degrees

Tankage: 300 gallons fuel, 120 gallons water, 50 gallons waste

Standard Power: 480-hp Cummins QSB 6.7

Optional Power: 600-hp Cummins QSC 8.3, 530-hp Yanmar 6CX

Price: $433,500 (standard power), $448,400 (with Yanmar 6CX), $457,150 (with Cummins QSC 8.3)

Contact: Back Cove Yachts, Rockland, Maine, (207) 594-8821.

www.backcoveyachts.com

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September 2013 issue