These lobster boat-inspired builders comprise one of the more niche—and beloved—sectors of the boating industry.
There is something timeless about the lines of a Downeast boat that enchants even those who will never own one. For buyers in the market, this style of vessel often sparks a lifelong love affair. With roots in the lobster fisheries of Maine, these boats have protected pilothouses and flat, wide, aft sections—ostensibly for hauling in lobster pots, but actually for packing in more guests on cocktail cruises. The charm of these designs is immediately evident, and their typical seaworthiness is an important bonus.
Find out why Downeast boats have attained such a cult status.
Hinckley
One of the most iconic builders in all of boating, Hinckley needs little introduction. The company was founded in 1928 in Southwest Harbor, Maine, and launched its first 36-foot “fisherman motorboat” five years later (a much-loved line of sailboats came shortly afterward). The boats were designed to mimic the ever-present lobster boats that dot the coast of the Pine Tree State. Besides having immediately recognizable lines, Hinckley has always distinguished itself by being ahead of the curve, technologically speaking. It was an early adopter of the fiberglass hull and also has brought to bear innovations like JetStick and Dual Guard composite material. Today, Hinckley offers a lineup ranging from 29-57 feet. While the builder’s legendary Picnic Boat is a top choice for dayboating, larger offerings like the Talaria 57 are suitable for offshore cruising. hinckleyyachts.com
Ellis
The Ellis Boat Company traces its rich history back nearly a century to a random game of pool. Raymond Bunker, a veteran boatbuilder, and Ralph Ellis, a fisherman local to Southwest Harbor, Maine, found themselves talking shop as they chalked up their sticks. They ended up in business together for nearly three decades before Ellis branched out on his own, founding the Ellis Boat Company in the 1980s. This new brand saw Ellis switch from building wooden boats to fiberglass ones, though the vessels retained their characteristic Downeast lines. Today, the Ellis Boat Company features boats between 20 and 40 feet that focus on seaworthiness and fuel efficiency. More than 300 of the builder’s products are floating on seas around the world, though they can most often be spotted in their home stomping grounds of Maine. ellisboat.com
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MJM
Like so many other Downeast brands, MJM traces its roots to sailing. However, not every brand can claim the pedigree that this one has. MJM was founded in 2002 by Bob Johnstone, a member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame who, alongside his brother Rod, invented the famed J/Boat. MJM’s focus is on building light but strong boats with an emphasis on speed, fun, and fuel efficiency. One of the innovations that MJM has been at the forefront of is the new trend toward bowrider Downeasters. The MJM 4 that debuted in 2022 was one of the first builds to have this feature, which maximizes the boat’s utility as an entertainment platform. Today, MJM builds its boats in North Carolina, where it takes advantage of good infrastructure and a knowledgeable work force to continue to make its mark in this crowded field. mjmyachts.com
Eastbay
One of the iconic brands that falls under the umbrella of GB Marine Group is Eastbay. The Eastbay 60 (above) and Eastbay 44 redefine Downeast elegance with modern luxury and top-tier performance. These sleek motoryachts blend advanced hull construction, exotic materials, and expert craftsmanship. The Eastbay 60, equipped with twin 725-hp Volvo IPS 950s, cruises nearly 900 nautical miles at 21 knots—extremely fuel-efficient, fast, and easy to handle. With a handcrafted satin teak interior, walkaround king berth, and a choice of galley-up or galley-down layouts, the Eastbay 60 is built for serious cruising comfort. grandbanks.com
Palm Beach
Australia’s Palm Beach Motor Yachts is a heavyweight in the Downeast field. As part of the GB Marine Group, the sprawling line of boats ranging from a 42 to a 107 showcases state-of-the-art construction processes and materials. Notably, every Palm Beach is fully carbon fiber from the main deck up. This has two major effects. First, the boats’ centers of gravity are very low, which help with seakeeping. And second, the boats are exceedingly light which—coupled with Palm Beach’s singular hull designs inspired by racing sailboats—gives them some of the best fuel-burn numbers in the entire industry. Pair that with classic good looks and a focus on customization that is perhaps unrivaled in this sector of the market and Palm Beach’s cult status among boaters manifests itself more plainly. palmbeachmotoryachts.com
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Sabre
Sabre Yachts began as a sailboat builder more than 50 years ago. Back in 1970, the company’s founder, Roger Hewson, built the first-ever Sabre—a 28-foot sailboat. To do this, he used production-line methods and fiberglass technology, which was still relatively fresh at the time. Hewson did extensive market research before launching his debut to make sure that it fit the sector perfectly. He decided that her introduction to the world would be at that year’s Newport Boat Show. The new model turned out to be a crowd favorite and was a nearly instant success. That 28 would be the first of a whopping 588 of that model sold. It was the start of something big. Today, Sabre has two yards in Raymond and Rockland, Maine, respectively, and has a range of boats spanning from a 43-footer up to a 58, all of which are offered in coupe and flybridge versions. sabreyachts.com
True North
The Largo, Florida-based builder True North may not be as well-known as some of the more storied builders on this list, but what it lacks in recognition it makes up for with quality boatbuilding. True North boats have a distinctly timeless and masculine appeal that the builder has honed over a 30-year history. They are not envisioned as dayboats, but rather as serious cruisers built to withstand tough conditions and get their occupants back to shore safely. True North boats are all resin-infused, a technique the builder likes because of its construction efficiency and the light, strong hulls it produces. The builder focuses on speed, stability, and aesthetics for all its offerings and is fond of using skegs to protect the props from any interference—a technique borrowed from lobster boats. True North currently produces a 34 and a 39. truenorth.yachts
Back Cove
Back Cove shares the same parent company as Sabre and can be thought of as that brand’s little sister. The line of boats was founded in 2003, when a group of Sabre dealers asked for a Downeast-style cruiser with the same look and feel as a Sabre, but with a shorter LOA and lower price point. The Back Cove 29 was launched soon thereafter with a single, reliable diesel engine that the dealers had requested. Thus was born a new brand. Today, more than 750 Back Coves ply waters all over the world, from Stockholm to Sydney, Tokyo to Athens. Back Cove uses production-line methods and vacuum-infusion technology to ensure that all of its boats are built to its high standards. Construction takes place in a 240,000-square-foot factory in Rockland, Maine. When combined, Back Cove and Sabre create the largest recreational boatbuilder in the state of Maine, no small feat when you consider the glut of competition. backcoveyachts.com
Hylas
Hylas was born in the early 1980s, when Joseph Huang of Queen Long Marine Ltd. paired up with the legendary Sparkman & Stephens design firm to create a 47-foot-long sailboat that they named the Stevens 47. The name was not a misspelling of its designer’s name. Instead, it was named after Bill Stevens of Stevens Yacht Charters, who ordered a ton of the new models for his clients. By the mid-’80s, Huang had brought on Argentina’s Germán Frers to design a 42 and 44. He named these boats Hylas after a youthful character associated with the myths of Hercules and Jason and the Argonauts. Both boats were met by a market eager for seaworthy, well-built, and well-designed vessels. Success was all but unavoidable. Today, Hylas counts a 46, 48, 57, and 70 among its offerings and enjoys something of an “If You Know You Know” status among knowledgeable boaters. hylasyachts.com
Vicem
Founded in Turkey in 1991, Vicem Yachts has built a reputation for handcrafting elegant Downeast-style motoryachts using traditional cold-molded mahogany and epoxy, now complemented by GRP builds. Its portfolio ranges from intimate 50-foot cruisers to bespoke 150-foot superyachts and embodies timeless Downeast design. Among its most popular models is the Vicem 50 Classic (52 feet), offered in both cold-molded and fiberglass variants. It accommodates four to six guests, reaches speeds of up to 28 knots, cruises around 24 knots with a 477 nautical mile-range, and features meticulous teak and mahogany interiors. The Vicem 55 Classic builds on this success, offering customizable layouts, GRP hull, twin Volvo Penta IPS 650s, 26-knot top speed, and a 280 nautical mile- range. A newer flagship model, the Vicem 65 Classic, is available in both wood and GRP, with twin 1400-hp MAN engines, luxurious modern interiors, and full customization. The Vicem 82 Classic Alecto launched in 2022, featuring Volvo Penta diesels, cold-molded hull, mahogany joinery, three cabins, and a full flybridge, signaled Vicem’s evolution into superyacht territory. vicemyachts.com
-by Kevin Koenig
