Back Cove 26

If, like me, you enjoy year-round boating, then you need something with a cabin, a protected wheelhouse and undercover seating, so you can cruise for views and stay cosy; a boat with a head and hot water; and, ideally, a stove and sink so you can boil a billy or reheat your seafood chowder when the sun don’t shine. If that sounds like you then try something from Maine where it’s, well, forever winter.

At the top of North America, the state of Maine is famous for its rugged rocky coastline, low rolling mountains, lobsters and clams. But it’s also a place of extreme climate that, over the years, has given rise to the famous Maine lobster boats which, in bad weather, sure take some beating. And not only do you get a wheelhouse and a cabin but, for the fair-weather days, a serviceable cockpit for doing the picnic thing.

The Back Cove 26, the second of these pretty boats with Down-east styling to make it Down Under, is a great example of the genre. A classic wheelhouse boat with single diesel engine, it has timeless styling looks like it belongs on the water. And there, during our mid-winter test, in fact, it was as welcome as a hot shower after two near-freezing centre console test drives.

While looking pretty as a picture - important to this boat connoisseur and snob - the traditional looks are also coveting interest from experienced boatowners, retirees and especially ex-sailors. Look closer and the boat rewards with great engineering and attention to detail. However, that’s not surprising when you discover Back Cove was a moulding and building company well before it became a boatbuilder. In fact, another famous picnic-boat maker, Hinckley, commissioned it to build its boat moulds well before it turned its hand to making Back Coves.

LITTLE BIG BOAT
As with the Back Cove 29 that we tested last year, the 26 is a classic-looking boat made with the latest techniques, as in a vacuum-bagged hull with a composite foam core. The boat was also fitted with a single diesel engine with shaftdrive, in this case a D4 Volvo Penta 225hp electronic diesel with electronic controls, and the hull has a prop tunnel for low shaft angle and maximum thrust.

Things like an 1800W inverter, Shorepower connect, galley with hot/cold water, fridge, microwave, a convertible vee-berth/dinette, and shower and marine head mean you can do more than just gad about for a winter’s day. By any measure, this is a great overnighter. Hey, make it Saturday night and it’s a weekender.

Outdoors, you’ll find a generous convertible cockpit that plays into the hands of the Australian way of life, with passenger seating by way of an optional lift-out lounge that can accommodate a couple of adults. But with the seats removed you get a wonderful cockpit for fishing, diving, assembling a teak table and chairs, cruising with a crowd or playing with the kids.

A swim platform, ladder and hot/cold deck shower are provided, with an extended Italian cockpit awning optional for shade in summer while lunching al fresco. The diamond-pattern non-skid decks will ensure this is an easy boat to maintain and, post party, put to bed.

Walkaround decks lead to the foredeck and, though a windlass takes care of anchoring duties, the non-skid and moulded toerails, bowrail and flat cabin top let you sit up here and enjoy a sundowner. Crew will find it reassuring tending to mooring duties, too, and the big horn cleats reflect the intent of a big little boat.

WHEELHOUSE CRUISING
The hardtop (referred to as a half tower) and clears create a perfect enclosure around the bridgedeck, behind the high alloy-framed vented windscreen with three wipers. The helm seats are trick Pompanette types and there are additional quarter seats for impromptu seating at rest, but underway the liftout lounge is the place for guests.

Besides handy dry storage, I noted the helm has room to flushmount an E80 combi nav. screen, room for your radios, plus a sturdy stainless steel ship’s wheel and bowthruster. The Volvo Penta D4 comes with a multifunction engine management display, while nearby were stereo remote, Lectrosan trim tabs and windlass control. Thus, no need to leave the wheelhouse.

Highlights of the in-engine room are terrific servicing space around the D4, a big sea strainer with glass inspection window, Shorepower and inverter for AC power, Racor fuel filter, dripless shaft log, batteries mounted up high out of the bilge, handy waste and water tanks, and clean wiring runs. The prop is a Nibral number and the shaft ran through a ZF 2.03:1 gearbox.

Fuel is stored in an alloy tank, with a remote shutoff in the lazarette, where I noted room for fenders, fishing gear, water toys and so on. After rummaging around, you do get the impression the boat is built for open water and not a victim to fashion. A watertight bulkhead and dual bilge pumps come standard.

CABIN CAMPING
In the lock-up cabin, there’s headroom at the foot of the stairs tapering to 1.72m. Looking around, the Back Cove has a salty ambience derived from a melange of timber joinery including American cherry, North American or Douglas fir, maple inlay and a hardwearing mock-teak floor.

The cabin sides are planked and the cabinets are made from solid timber, while the upholstery on the demo boat had been upgraded to Ultrasuede. The headliner is an easy-clean moulded number, as is the boat in general.

The bow is taken up by a nice timber dinette made from maple and cherrywood on a telescopic pedestal. Seating is by way of a vee-berth that converts to a double bed when the table is lowered.

Amenities in the galley include Corian counter, deep sink, recessed 240V electric/alcohol single-burner stove, small Tappan microwave, bench-height Norcold fridge, and sufficient pantry and storage space for a weekend work of food stuffs. Four opening ports and an escape hatch take care of ventilation.

The head has a manual-only loo, but a hot/cold handheld shower adds to comfort factor. Put it all together and the $200,000 or thereabouts Back Cove 26 has virtually everything you need for a boating fix.

CRUISING BEAUTY
The tunnel hull eases out nice and level to a low-speed cruise of 13.8kts at 2370rpm whereupon the Volvo D4 uses just 20lt/h for a couple of hundred nautical-mile range. The turbo kicks in and the boat does a dignified 16.5 to 17kts at 2610rpm for 24.6lt/h.

Smooth cruise was clocked at 20 to 21.5kts, where the motors used 33lt/h at 3050rpm, and still sounds quiet enough to carry on a conversation in the wheelhouse, which aren’t usually known for being quiet due to sound reverberation.

 Top speed on the day was right on 25kts and steering was responsive. At low speed, the bowthruster will make you dock like a pro.

By any measure, during any weather, any time of the year, the Back Cove 26 is great boat for hitting the lobster trail - capable, comfortable, economical, seaworthy and low-maintenance - and for about $200,000 you need nothing more than the crustaceans and cold drinks or some bisque if its winter.