What floats your boat?
by Hinckley Yachts 22 Jun 07:53 PDT
Hinckley owners give us the scoop on their favorite summer destinations and traditions on the water © Hinckley Yachts
Hinckley owners give us the scoop on their favorite summer destinations and traditions on the water.
"My happiest moments are when we cruise to Flat Hammock with my grandchildren. It's a small, uninhabited island not far from Fishers Island that's inaccessible by car. We take sandwiches and a variety of floating devices, and on hot summer days, we swim to the island to hunt for shells and rocks." — Sally Simpson, owner of Penny Benjamin, a Hinckley Picnic Boat 34.
"Jessie is my everything-boat. She's a floating living room. She's a water camper. She's a cocktail party. She's fast transportation off the island I live on. She's a day at the beach, carrying every toy and convenience I need. And believe it or not, she's a fishing vessel — I just put down a tarp to protect the teak deck!" — Mark Cronin, owner of Jessie, a Hinckley Talaria 34.
My Idea of a Perfect Weekend: "One Saturday last summer, my wife Shelley and I cruised over to nearby Cuttyhunk to have dinner with friends. We slept on the boat and hit the beach the next day."
I Never Leave the Dock Without: "My progressive polarized sunglasses that let me seamlessly watch the chart and scan the water."
My Best Boat Hack: "A built-in air pump near the stern that makes quick and quiet work of all my inflatables for the water."
A Lunch That's Always Worth the Cruise: "Larsen's Fish Market in Menemsha. Gotta have the warm lobster roll!"
"Last summer, we took Dark Star to Sag Harbor, Newport, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Hyannis, New York City, and Greenwich. Then it spends the winter at the yard in Portsmouth. The boat is peaceful and quiet, it's quick when it needs to be quick, and it's a great cruiser when you want to just relax, have cocktails, and see incredible sunsets with friends and family. It works everywhere." — Mark Dowley, Owner of Dark Star, a Hinckley Talaria 43.
Favorite Destinations: "Newport and Nantucket."
Favorite Tradition: "Going out into Nantucket Harbor to watch the July 4th fireworks every year — it never lets you down."
Favorite Addition: "We just got Starlink and it's really awesome — I can't believe how we lived without it."
Favorite Fridge Mates: "Rosé and margaritas are all you need."
Favorite Dockside Takeout: "Millie's in Nantucket. Just thinking about it makes me smile. My order is the Eel Point — seared tuna tacos that are insanely good."
Favorite Thing About the Hinckley Team: "Yash, Oscar, and the people in Portsmouth are spectacular. If I have any issues or questions, I can always get a hold of these guys — I can't say enough good things about them. How well the boat is taken care of makes all the difference in the world."
"I was never into boating, but when I retired and sold my business, I figured it was the right thing to do. I have a piece of property on the water at the Adam's apple of Narragansett Bay, right next to the lighthouse in Warwick Neck. We have a lift in front of our house, and everyone said to me, 'Pick the boat that you like, and then get one three sizes bigger.' I only went up to the second size — I got a Picnic Boat 37 and fell in love with it. I added all the options like the Seakeeper and the latest JetStick. Now I have a new boat in production, a Picnic Boat 40 — it's the biggest one that will fit on my lift. I'm working with Paul, Matt, and the team in Maine to outfit it just the way we like it." — Ed Tarbox, owner of Katerina, a Hinckley Picnic Boat 37.
Always on Board: "Oliver, our little Havanese."
Fishing 101: "The only fish that's allowed on our Hinckley is sushi."
Mum's the Word: "We don't want to say where our favorite spot is because it's that private. All I'll tell you is that it's up in Newport and it's great."
Dinner Date: "We like to cruise over to the Boat House in Tiverton for some scallops."
The Hinckley Way: "One time, my son didn't pick up the bow line for me so we sucked it into the jets. I drove right across the bay to the Hinckley yard [in Portsmouth], they put the boat on the sling with me still in it, pulled the line out of the jet, and off we went."