We kicked back in the pair of aft-facing lounges, feet up on their electrically actuated footrests with others relaxing on the forward-facing settee. Flip-flops were strewn about the nonskid deck among various sporting equipment including a surfboard, foiling kiteboard, wakeboard and makeshift tow rope. There was enough sand in the cockpit for our own beach.
After a day of water sports and cruising, it was a short ride back to our Vineyard Haven mooring. But our workhorse for the day—the Hinckley Sport Boat 40x—was miles away from the bespoke, teak-clad vessels of her parent company.
According to Chief Marketing Officer Pete Saladino, “meaningful improvements in horsepower and reliability” in the outboard market—and the double-digit growth in the 300-hp and up seg-ment—led Hinckley to a two-year exploration on how to take advantage, smartly tapping Ray Hunt Design for the builder’s first hull specifically designed for outboard propulsion since the baby-boomer Kingfisher 15 of the 1950s.
The 40x reserves Hinckley’s meticulous approach that will separate it from a crowded field of 40-something-foot, multiple outboard vessels, evidenced in the choice of finishes: I particularly liked the glossy teak that framed the companionway, but also the choice of durable Corian for the galley and maintenance-free, faux teak in all the right places. It struck a nice balance.
