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NEWS
SYDNEY BOAT SHOW: Back Cove on the front foot
Biggest ever boat-show display Down Under for the Down East single-screw cruisers from MaineAlthough Maine, New England, is a long way from Darling Harbour, Sydney, the Down East boatbuilder from North America is pulling out all stops to stage it’s biggest ever display at this year's downtown Sydney International Boat Show opening July 31-August 4.
There will be four Back Coves moored gunwale to gunwale in a multi-million dollar public showing of motor-boating good sense, timeless design and tradition. The pretty boats are based on the Down East lobster/fishing craft of yore, but use the latest electronic diesel engines, docking devices and fibreglass construction for low-cost, low-maintenance cruising.
The entry-level Back Cove 30-footer starts at $330,00 with a single 320hp twin-turbo Yanmar and bow and stern thrusters, while the 37 Down East (pictured) costs from $575,000 with a 480hp Cummins engine. Back Cove recently released a new 41 flagship with a single 600hp diesel engine and twin cabins/en suites.
Meantime, the Back Cove line-up at the Sydney boat show will be headed by the 37 Down East with flowing indoor/outdoor decks tested by us earlier this year; the Back Cove 37 with lock-up saloon bi-fold doors we tested back in 2009; the Back Cove 34
with single cabin and galley up layout; and a Back Cove 30, the yard’s entry-level model.
with single cabin and galley up layout; and a Back Cove 30, the yard’s entry-level model.
Marine industry nice guy Jed Elderkin from E Marine, the Back Cove importer, said he’s feeling positive about the Sydney boat show. “We have three new boats on order and presold going into the boat show and we have a strong book of interest. This is our eighth year in Australia, we have some solid brand-name recognition and a high level of desirability. We have delivered 42 boats to date in Australia, plus there are those three new ones on order.
The affable Bentley Collins, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Back Cove and sister company Sabre Motor Yachts — which has a stunning new 66 with Express-type layout in build now — will be on hand to answer inquiries about the Maine factory, boat construction, new models and so on.
Tellingly, the Down East boatbuilder has been a real success story during these pared back times in the pleasure-boat market, with strong growth and busy production lines of boats that are handbuilt with impressive timber interiors.
"It’s a well managed company, they’ve never had financial issues, and when other builders were putting on the brakes Back Cove was tooling up for new models," Elderkin told BoatPoint and boatsales. "New models sell and Back Cove and Sabre have all new models and no retooled or reworked old boats."
But above all it’s the simplicity, economy and rock-solid reliability of a single-diesel shaft drive, coupled with modern thruster docking systems, that makes the Back Coves a great fit in today’s market, Elderkin says.
"The boats have a lot of function, ease of maintenance, they are built strong and still going strong after six and seven years on the water. The resale is excellent and they just look great with the Down East style.
"They are timeless. Good design doesn’t date,” Elderkin adds, with just a week or so out from the 47th Sydney International Boat Show.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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