Hinckley Talaria® 44 Jet Now Offered with Flybridge Option

Southwest Harbor, Maine, November 29, 2001. Responding to customers' requests, The Hinckley Company is now offering its Talaria 44 Jet with a flybridge option. The first hull of the Talaria 44 "Flybridge" will be available in November 2002.
Designed by Bruce King of Newcastle, Maine, the T44 FB™ lengthens the pilothouse by 15-inches to accommodate the rooftop helm station and seating for up to six people.

"With the overwhelming success of the T44 express cruising yacht, and many requests from customers for the addition of a flybridge, we feel the time is right to introduce the T44 FB," said Ralph Willard, president and CEO of Hinckley. "Because we planned a flybridge since the inception of the T44 project and both designs were engineered simultaneously, the integration of the flybridge adds to the overall appearance of the yacht," he noted.

"The T44 FB gives owners another very comfortable outdoor platform," Mr. Willard remarked. "We think the additional platform will prove very popular both for extending cruising and as another area for entertaining family and friends."

The flybridge helm station is offset to the starboard side and features a varnished teak instrument panel with Hinckley’s patented JetStick® handling system. The ladder, which was custom-designed by Hinckley and is also offset to the starboard side, is built of 316L welded stainless steel and has teak treads. All railings utilize the same stainless steel, which is the highest quality marine-grade stainless steel. The flybridge has non-skid walking surfaces and a molded acrylic windscreen with stainless steel supports.

The offset helm station maximizes seating along a curved settee on the port side. Helm and bench seating is available in owner’s choice of materials. For southern climates, the flybridge can be outfitted with a bimini to offer a shaded and airy outdoor area.

Introduced in 1999, the T44 was designed as a larger craft for extended cruising, but with the same panache as the highly successful 36-foot Hinckley Picnic Boat®. Hinckley introduced the 40-foot Talaria 40 Jet in 2000 and 29-foot Talaria 29 "Center Console" in 2001.

The T44 FB retains all features of the original T44 yacht design. Twin 420 Yanmar diesel engines connected to 321 Hamilton water jets power the boat, which has a draft of only 27 inches. The shallow draft, coupled with the lack of propellers or other appendages to get tangled in underwater obstructions, opens up vast new cruising options for a yacht of this size.

Known for its fast, dry and comfortable ride, the T44 has a deadrise of 19 degrees amidship and beam of 13 feet, 6 inches. The jet boat will cruise at 25-28 knots and top out at 32 knots. Her range is approximately 340 nautical miles at 26 knots.

Both helm stations on the T44 FB are equipped with JetStick, the world’s first computer integrated steering and control system in a cruising yacht. The patented joystick-like control allows novice and expert helmsmen alike to maneuver the yacht with pinpoint accuracy, including turning on its own axis, sliding laterally into a tight dock and stopping within one boat length.

As with all Hinckley yachts, the T44 FB hull is built with DualGuard® composite construction, which uses the SCRIMP® process to bond outer layers of high-strength Kevlar® to an inner skin of carbon fiber. The result of this advanced construction technique is a fully integrated hull system that is stronger, stiffer and more resistant to impact, yet weighs 14% less than conventional laminates. The SCRIMP process also reduces environmental emissions by 98%.

The yacht’s elegant and spacious interior is offered in two different plans that are well-suited for the extended cruising needs of either families or couples. Forward, both plans offer a luxurious owner’s cabin sheathed in satin-finished cherry and featuring a centerline queen bed with wrap-around night stands, three under-bed drawers plus two, cedar-lined hanging lockers. Aft of the main sleeping cabin, there is a shower to starboard and a head and vanity with sink to port. Further aft to starboard, a spacious galley offers plenty of counter space and storage, a Force Ten 3-burner stove with oven, a double sink and separate side-by-side refrigerator and freezer.

On the port side of the main cabin, the two plans vary. One offers a large U-shaped dining area for five that becomes a comfortable double bed. The other offers a second, enclosed sleeping cabin with double berth, nightstand and hanging locker.

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