The Soundings staff has been having fun on social media recently, sharing some of the boats that get us excited when we see them on the water. They include decades-old designs built in wood and fiberglass, and newer models that have what it takes to become the classics of the future. Judging by the engagement we’ve seen, it seems the boats that turn our heads are the same ones that get your attention when you’re scanning the harbor from your own bridge.
I’m talking about heartstring-tuggers like the Pocasset 26 from First Light Boatworks in Chatham, Massachusetts. Like us, you also appreciate the sweet lines of this traditional wooden powerboat, with its tidy wheelhouse that makes her a capable little weekender. Then there’s the Pemaquid 26 (shown above), a design by Spencer Lincoln and John Cousins that was made to look like a workboat but ride comfortably as a cruiser for the family, with soft chines and full-length lifting strakes.
Boats that draw our eyes are often those you don’t see very often, builds like the Patriot 36, which the Ellis Boat Company first created for singer songwriter Billy Joel when he was shopping for a new sportfish. The Wasque 32 is another one of those not-so-common boats that you hope to catch sight of. This classic New England design is by David Thompson, who conceived it in 1969 as his dream fish boat. Approximately 80 were completed over the boat’s life span.
Another perennial favorite: the Kadey-Krogen 42. Many of you, it seems, are familiar with the boat’s origin story. Launched in 1976, naval architect James Krogen partnered with yacht broker Art Kadey to develop a cruising powerboat based on a hard-working shrimp boat with rugged seakeeping capabilities. Today, fans still call it the quintessential trawler.
Is there a classic we haven’t showcased yet that you’d like to see? Drop us a line the next time you catch a glimpse of something special from your boat.
Jeanne Craig
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This article was originally published in the August 2023 issue.
