Cabin Fever at the Boat Show

When it's cold outside and the winter days are short, thoughts inevitably turn to the halcyon days on the water on board a boat. Today I was shivering at my desk when Bruce sent me a text from Jupiter, Florida to say he had seen one of our boats down at the marina. Bruce, it's 7 degrees here and 72 down there. Nice guy !

Over the next three months there are a lot of boat shows going on and if you feel the need to get out of your cabin and into the cabin of a new boat, there's no time like the present. Seeing all the new boats and the technologies they are bringing to market. Taking a look at the latest electronics and gear and buying the new pair of boat shoes is a tradition in many families. It helps to shorten the winter and get launch day on your mind.

 

Shows are taking place in Toronto, Cleveland, New York, Miami, Portland, Maine and Boston. So let the hibernation end and the show begin.

Seeing First Hand

About a month ago I was communicating with a young couple who are currently based in Fayetteville, NC. They had attended the boat show in Annapolis last fall and had some questions about the boat. I put them in touch with our dealership in Beaufort, NC and followed the process as they discussed the merits of the Back Cove 33.

Now I have to tell you that if you were at the Annapolis Powerboat Show in October of 2009 you were either stark raving mad or an intrepid boater. The weather that weekend was as bad as it gets and if you were there you were on a mission. So the mere fact that I heard from anyone as a result of that show made me feel pretty good.

As their interest in the 33 increased I invited them to come to Maine to see the boats in build. When you build boats in Maine and invite people to come and see you, you are quite used to having people say "Sure I would love to come. How would July be?". But then there are people who went to that Annapolis Boat Show. And so they came to visit and their tour was very helpful.

Being able to see hulls in the mold and understanding the technology of building fiberglass parts. Being able to see areas of the boat that only boat builders see. They were able to witness for themselves the craftsmanship and pride with which each boat builder goes about his/her daily tasks; making sure that each operation helps to create the greater, high quality "whole".  

When they left (with a planned stop at LL Bean for a little post Christmas shopping) they had a new enthusiasm for Back Cove and a new understanding of what makes a Maine built boat. It's not all resin and fiberglass, wire and wood, It's all about the "Fierce Maine Pride".

And speaking of pride, this young couple are both graduates of the United States Naval Academy.  They have both served their country without question. I should have know they would come up when I asked them to.

Anniversary Celebration Plans

Although the Back Cove brand is relatively new, sister company Sabre Yachts is celebrating 40 fabulous years in business. Next July all Back Cove owners are invited to attend a Back Cove/Sabre rendezvous to be held at Wotton's Wharf in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Dates are July 9-11, 2010. Mark your calendars and get out your party shoes.

 

Back Cove 37 goes into production

This week we will mold the hull of the first Back Cove 37. The process we are going to use is new to our boats but not new to us as a company. For years we infused boats for other boat builders, now we are going to use this technique for our own parts.

Infusion is a molding technique where all of the fiberglass and coring materials are loaded into the mold dry. Then a plastic bag is laid over the top of the materials and sealed along it's edges. Once fully prepared ,resin is sucked into the bag and "infuses" itself into the fiberglass. When the process is complete the part has better strength characteristics and tends to weigh less. From the technicians and environmental point of view it's much cleaner too.

Over the next two to three months we'll show you the first Back Cove 37 going from start to sea trial. Stay tuned

Back Cove 37 tooling nears completion

I am never certain when blogging about boat building that everyone reading the blog understands the development process and so I decided I would take it from the first steps to the day when we complete the first boat and sea trial her. Long before launch day a new design is just that, a design, made with paper and pencil. Our design team works away at size, performance, features and styling and eventually comes up with "an envelope" which in time becomes a fully developed CAD design for the new boat. Meanwhile marketing and sales start their jobs by finding comparable boats in the market and assessing their virtues (good and bad).

Once the design goes to the tooling shop a foam billet is created and is then placed on the table of a very large multi-axis milling machine. The machine then goes about cutting the shape of this very complex design into the foam billet.

Once the basic shape is achieved the machine makes finer and finer passes until the surface is ready for final finish. Last week our designer was down in Florida to inspect the hull plug. Here are a couple of images of the plug nearing completion at Marine Concepts.    

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.

Evolution: The Flying Fish

I saw one of these in Australia on the boat ride back from the Great Barrier Reef.  I thought I was hallucinating after 3x dives for 3 straight days.  We'll all have to watch out when sharks start flying!

How to: Catch and clean fish on a boat

Some of the die-hard people love fishing and will kill and clean their catch right on the boat.  This can be messy, dirty and inconvenient unless you have a boat specifically designed for fishing and or don't mind the mess.  For people who own a boat like a Back Cove it can be difficult to try and balance the aesthetic  of the down east beauty, and the utility of an all around functional powerboat.  Most people try to avoid catching and cleaning fish on their boat because it is messy and time consuming.  In this post I will give a few personal tips on how to catch, clean and cook fish on a boat with minimal mess (note: Please check your local fishing regulations before catching and keeping fish)

1. Tackle.  It is not important to have the best gear in the world, a simple spinning rod or two with a decently stocked tackle box should be just fine.  Be sure to include: jigs, spoons,  sinkers, plugs, extra line, a knife, and pliers.   Your lures will obviously differ from location to location.  It is also nice to have some good rod holders, I have found a company called Burnewiin in Oregon that makes some really nice ones.   

2. Fishing.  Put on whatever suits you for a lure, no need to make a big long cast if you are motoring, just plunk the lure in the water and let out some line, I would say about 50 feet is enough depending on how deep the water is and how fast you are going.  Zig zag trolling I have found to be particularly effective.  If you are at anchor or drifting, casting can be fun too, just be careful not to hook anyone with your back swing!  Look for flocks of gulls on the water as this is where bait fish are found.

3. The Catch.  Once you hook into a fish, if you are trolling stop the engine.  If you are drifting or at anchor and casting try to keep the line away from the anchor chain and make your way to the back of the boat.  If you have a swim platform, stand on it, this is where you will want to land your fish. 

4. The Kill.  I know, no one likes to do it,  but it's a part of life.  Keep a spray bottle of cheep vodka close by (no need for Grey Goose here!)  Once you have your fish in hand, spray some vodka into it's gills, this will starve the fish of oxygen and it will gently slip into eternal sleep.  This method avoids the bludgeoning problem and the mess also common with the kill.  The fish is also relaxed when it dies, and does not release adrenaline which is commonly associated with a gamey fishy taste.  Give yourself a few squirts in the mouth too, congratulations you caught a fish!

5. The Clean.  Any plastic cutting board is fine to use.  Remove the head and toss it in the drink (or keep it and use it to fish with!)  You can also remove the tail if you like.  Make a cut from the anal fin to where the head used to be.  Use your fingers to remove then innards and toss them in the drink as well.  From here the rest of the fillet depends on what type of fish you have caught, and how you plan on preparing it.   Clean the cutting board with saltwater and then spray it down with the vodka to sterilize it.  You can also spray some on your hands to keep them from smelling fishy. 

6. The Cook.  This is where I leave you to your personal devices.  I personally like to use the grill for this one.  Many companies make small propane grills that fit right into your rod holders, these are great for all sorts of outdoor BBQing (word of advice, be mindful of the wind).  Depending on the fish species, I usually like to lay the fish skin-side down on a sheet of tinfoil.  I'll add butter, salt, pepper and other spices.  I put the foil on the grill and fold up the edges.  I usually cook for 8-10 minutes depending on the grill and the size of the fish.  Take the foil off the heat and use a spatula to take the fish off the foil, the skin should stick to the foil leaving only the fish.  Pop the cork on a nice white wine and Bon-Apatite! 

The Back Cove Logo: The Great Blue Heron

                                   Every once and a while someone will ask me, "what's that on the logo, is that a duck?"  or "Wow, I love the flying duck in the Back Cove logo".  To avoid further confusion, the bird flying in the background of the Back Cove logo is not a duck, rather the Ardea herodias otherwise known as the Great Blue Heron.  The bird is highly renowned for it's beauty and it's gracefulness while flying. 
    

        The Great Blue Heron stands about 40 inches tall and weights about 6 lbs.  It's wingspan is around 70 inches (just shy of 6 feet!).  It can be seen foraging in shallow shorelines, marshes and small streams.   It's diet varies from location to location but typically consists of small fish, crustaceans, and amphibians.  But most people see the statue like pose, waiting patiently for it's next meal. 
     Back Cove chose the Great Blue Heron for a variety of reasons, firstly a Back Cove is a quiet secluded anchorage in Maine, often times while preparing to anchor one will rouse up the great bird, who will express it's displeasure of with loud throaty croaks as it gently glides away only to return later and continue it's feeding.  We also feel that the blue heron represents us very well as a brand.  Beautiful and elegant, proud and strong, the heron caries a certain sense of integrity without being pompous and flashy.

No doubt the Great Blue Heron is a marine icon thought North America.  Whether it be the Rockey coast of Maine, cool shores of the pacific northwest, or the tropical waters of the Florida Keys, the blue heron is a sight to behold sitting tenderly in the heart of all who gaze upon it's being.   

      -Ben

Welcome to the Back Cove Yachts blog

Back Cove Yachts has a new web site that we want the blogoshpere to know about. The most popular pages so far have been the video and QTVR of each of the three boat models. We're looking forward to seeing how many folks join our blog and having some great conversation about boats and the boating lifestyle. Our sister company Sabre Yachts has had a blog for a while now and there are plenty of people reading that one.