Yacht or Boat?: Where to draw the line

A topic that has always fascinated me is the terminological difference between Yacht and Boat.  I don't think anyone would argue that the connotation of a yacht is something that is larger and fancier than a boat.   In fact,  outside of the US a yacht is a sailboat, unless specifically called a motoryacht, which would have engines, but boat is still commonly used.  So where do we make the distinction between a boat and a yacht?  Is it size, price, interior design?  Would a 38 footer be a boat, and a 40 footer be a yacht?  Could a 33 footer costing a million dollars be a yacht, and a 42 footer costing 100K be a boat?  Are there certain features, such as a galley, stateroom, or spa that would separate yachts from boats?   One good distinction brought to my attention is that a Yacht does not rock when you step aboard, but a Boat does.  How do YOU make the distinction between a yacht and a boat?

New Back Cove 37 on it's way

Back Cove Yachts has grown significantly since the first Back Cove 29 was launched in 2003. The market has accepted our boats with an overwhelming enthusiasm and we have often been asked how big we are planning to go with the range. Naval architecture logic says that planing, single engine boats that like to go more than 20 knots, are limited in LOA to about 37 or 38 feet due to weight and drag factors.

And so our design team has envisioned a new model which comes in at 37 feet. Her interior will feature two private cabins and a shared head with stall shower. She will have a mid-level galley and a fully enclosed sedan style helm deck. Her exterior offers the same hallmarks that other Back Cove models provide. Safe and wide side decks, great deck hardware a very crew-friendly foredeck and a large cockpit with plenty of seating.

Standard power is a 480 HP Cummins QSB diesel engine and she'll have gen set and air conditioning supplied as standard. At the helm, two Stidd seats offer comfortable perches for helmsperson and crew. Check out this drawing of the interior and post your comments and questions about where we are headed.

Back Cove Propeller Pocket: Superior Performance

I'm not going to blab too much about Back Cove Yachts and the superior attributes that make our boats special.  But I find this feature particularly interesting and I wanted to share.  Here at Back Cove Yachts we put the prop in a bit of a pocket, the reasons are simple:
1. The propeller sits higher and reduced the draft by about 6".
2.  The pocket provides strut protection.  Obviously it does not provide as much protection as a keel, but if we had a keel, we wouldn't get the performance people have come to expect from us :)
3.  The shaft angle to the engine is straighter, this had 2 functions:
           a.  The Back Cove gets on plane quicker, some boats get bow high for a long time when they take off, we don't
           b.  At cruising speeds the load on the engine is lighter, making it more fuel efficient and a smoother running boat overall.

        -Ben

Boating and Boat Building Superstiton: The Back Cove Yachts Way

Here it is Friday the 13th, so far so good, but I have knocked on wood, avoided cats of all colors, and left a penny on my doorstep yesterday face up for me to find this morning.  Beyond my own superstitions I began to ask around the shop today what people thought about superstitions regarding boat building and boating in general.  Who knew that there were so many!  Here are a few top superstitions:

-Anyone had Back Cove hull #13? Nobody?  That's because we don't make a hull 13.  Superstition.

-We don't ship boats on Friday's, especially Friday the 13th!  Superstition, (and most states don't allow wide loads on the weekends)

-We don't walk under ladders, duh!

-Every boat leaves the factory bow first.  This may seem natural, but a boat that leaves stern first or sideways will have bad luck forever.

-When boarding, we never board a boat with our left foot first. 

-When testing a boat or cruising, we don't whistle on deck.  (It is said whistling, or whistling into the wind will whistle up a storm)

-Launching a boat, or starting a cruise on Friday is bad luck, especially Friday the 13th!

-Cutting your hair, fingernails, or trimming your beard is bad luck on a boat.

-A silver coin placed under the mast head ensures good luck and a safe voyage.

-Dolphins or Porpoises playing in the bow wake is good luck and a sign of a good voyage.

-It is bad luck to change the name of a boat.  When a boat is named and christened, it is said to be given life, renaming a boat takes that life and makes the boat angry.

-Traditionally women were bad luck on boats, except naked women. A naked women was said to calm the seas, this is why most old ships have a naked woman carved into the bow sprit.

In regards to the last fallacy about women being on boats, I agree with 1970's recording artist Stevie Wonder when he said, "Superstition ain't the way".

    -Ben

Boat Plants: 10 plants that are easy for boaters to keep onboard

At first plants and boating don't seem to go together, but when you stop and think, it's a perfect environment for plants!  Lots of sunlight, a breeze, and plenty of water!  Alright, maybe not salt water, but you get the idea.  Plants are enjoyable and easy to keep on a boat. Aesthetically they are a beautiful addition to the decor in the cabin or on the helm deck.  We use a lot of American cherry at Back Cove Yachts, and lush green plants look beautiful against the rich wood finish.  Here is a list of plants that are hearty and easy to keep on board your boat (click the name for a picture):

Christmas cactus:  A very hardy cactus with a pink flower needs good sun and little water.

Orchids: Orchids are bit on the delicate side, but beautiful and colorful, orchids need to have plenty of light and moderate water.

Aloe: Aloe is a very hardy plant and will grow well in sun, needs little water and it's great to break off a piece and rub on a burn or bug bite.  Also can be used in cooking!

English Ivy: Works well as a hanging plant in the cabin.  Does not need to much light, moderate water.  This is a fast growing plant; it should be trimmed back if it gets too big.

Bamboo: Bamboo is fun and it grows fast, however it needs to be very moist to thrive and requires moderate light.  This plant is often known as lucky bamboo and should be kept in odd numbers of stocks, for no other reason than to avoid bad luck!

African violet:  This is a very hardy plant with beautiful purple flowers.  It is nearly impossible to kill.  Put it next to an east facing window and water moderately.  The violets like the humidity and can often have a wonderful aroma that will make your boat smell delightful.

Spider Plant: These plants are fun and crazy, they often do well hanging and will have shoots with babies hanging off the ends.  They need a little sunlight and water once a week.

Venus Fly Trap: "FEED ME!!!" This little plant is fun and wild! It is a carnivorous and also very easy to care for.  It needs moderate light and moderate water.  Have a pesky fly problem?  Let this little guy take care of it for you.  If you are void of bugs it will need bits of uncooked meat now and again to keep it happy.

Heart leafed philodendron: If you think you have the black thumb and are hopeless at keeping plants, this one is for you.  Easy to take care of and will look beautiful wherever you put it on the boat.

Mint: There are many varieties of this herb available.  Mint will need plenty of light and moist soil.  Mint is a fast grower, and can be used in cooking, chewed for fresh breath, or steeped to make tea.  It has a great aroma and it will make your boat smell fresh and inviting.

Getting Sirius about Sirius Weather

Sirius Radio has really taken the world by storm.  I have it in my truck and I don't know how I ever lived without it.  My I-pod has not been thrown under the bus so to speak, but the diversity of music and satellite technology in the Sirius product is sweet. 
   Did you know that Sirius is available on boats?  Back Cove offers it's radios as 'Sirius ready', meaning all that one needs is a subscription to  the company and they are ready to start jamming Sirius Radio through their speakers.  However this is not where the story ends.
    Sirius also offers Marine Weather.  Sirius gathers current and forecast information from WSI.  Tons of  information such as lightning, buoy reports, surface temperatures, and storm tracking is up to date and instantly accessed.  The information is collected from satellites and displayed and/or overlaid on  your display panel, or onto a laptop.   My sense is that  the product and application is not perfect yet, but very close.  Once better integrated with companies like Raymarine and Furuno the sky will be the limit for Sirius.  Also keep an eye out for Sirius satellite TV in the future (now only available in soccer mom style minivans).   

    -Ben

Port of Call, for serious?

port of call   

n.   

pl. ports of call

A port where ships dock in the course of voyages to load or unload cargo, obtain supplies, or undergo repairs.

If this is the dictionary.com definition of 'Port of Call', then why are there so many boat's that have ports of call from places without boating water, like Las Vegas?  or fictional places, like Never,Never land? 

Maine Built Boats: Our Heritage

   

  When someone mentions Maine Built Boats, certainly a distinct image comes to mind.  I picture a weathered old man with a white beard diligently plaining away at boards as he calmly puffs a wooden pipe. The skeleton of a wooden boat is dimly lit by a few small windows where snow gently falls to the ground outside.  For some boat builders, this imagine isn't romantic, it's just reality.

Maine Built Boats is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthen and expand the awareness of our industry.  Their campaign is dedicated to show the beauty and artistry not only in the finished product, but also as a process, a  journey.   For more information visit Maine Built Boats.  Or join the news letter

There is no doubt that Back Cove is the 'new kid on the block', however we still feel a strong connection to our roots and those builders who are still doing it 'old school'.   Yes, as we evolve and become integrated with the new technologies, at the end of the day are all still cut from the same cloth, we all still share a common thread: a passion for building strong, beautiful, quality boats.
    

     -Ben

Under Water Lights: Must or Bust?

I've started to notice a lot of boats with underwater lights, and I though to myself, Hey, that's cool, because  it was at night and there were thousands of little fish swimming and playing in the light.  I was truly entertained. 

But then I thought some more about it, what a superfluous novelty!  I mean the owners the boat weren't even aboard, they had the lights on a timer!   Sure there is some elegance to it with mega yachts, but on a small boat I feel it's a bit tacky, like those 'fast and furious' style cars with lights under them. 

Do people think underwater lights are cool?  What about boat size, would they look good on a 33 Back Cove? How about a 26 Back Cove?   

Lobster Boat Racing: Only in Maine

Lobster boats are a major part of the Back Cove heritage, I wonder what they would say if we asked to race with them; more likely, I wonder how long they would laugh?