Hinckley Introduces New SC Series


October 28, 2003 - SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Maine - The Hinckley Company announced here today that it is expanding its line of semi-custom yachts with a new Hinckley SC Series of express cruising yachts. The versatile new Hinckley SC38 and Hinckley SC42 are open express cruising yachts and have a deep-vee hull and propeller drive train that make them well-suited for local and offshore cruising, fishing and diving. Designed to be both fast and safe in blue water, the new boats will replace Hinckley's line of Little Harbor Custom Yachts. "The Hinckley SC Series remains true to our heritage of offering discerning customers a premium product based on distinctive traditional styling, quality craftsmanship and innovative technology," said Alexander Spaulding, President of Hinckley Yachts. "We believe the construction and performance of these yachts - which are sure to turn heads in the harbor - will elevate them to the pinnacle in their class," he commented. "It took nearly three years to develop the new Hinckley SC Series," Mr. Spaulding continued. "We listened carefully to what our customers and prospective customers had to say about adding a new yacht to the Hinckley family. We believe the end-result is a perfect complement to our current line of jet-powered Talaria® yachts. The new SC Series also offers customers tremendous value for the flexibility of the yacht," he asserted.

With a sporty, modern look that takes design cues from both Hinckley Talaria and Little Harbor Custom Yachts, the boats feature Hinckley's patented composite construction, twin Yanmar engines, full galley and head accommodations, a generator and air conditioning. The yachts also have Hinckley's signature teak toe rail with teak trim around the sleek, raked windshield and helm.

The base price for the Hinckley SC38 is $625,000. The SC42 starts at $695,000. Both models offer numerous option packages. The yachts' underbody was designed by noted Naval Architect Michael Peters, who has specialized in high-speed open-water hulls since the 1970s. The balance of the exterior and interior styling was designed in-house by the Hinckley Design Studio. Four design studies were conducted over a 30-month period with highly qualified prospective owners to refine the yachts' ultimate design from dozens of alternatives, according to Hinckley. Hulls and Decks Built To Last A Lifetime The Peters hull design was been optimized for exceptional seaworthiness and is built with the same DualGuard composite construction technique used on all Hinckley yachts. The space-age process bonds outer layers of Kevlar® to an inner skin of carbon fiber, using the patented SCRIMP® vacuum infusion process. The result is a fully integrated hull system that is stronger, stiffer and more resistant to impact yet weighs less than conventional laminates. The deck is made with E-glass and also uses the SCRIMP process. Both the deck and hull are backed by Hinckley's Limited Lifetime Warranty. The Hinckley SC38 is powered by twin 440 horsepower Yanmar turbo diesel engines. With a fuel capacity of 410 gallons, the yacht has a range of 300 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 27 knots and tops out at 34 knots. Twin Yanmar 720 horsepower engines or twin MAN 730 horsepower engines are optional, which boost the cruising speed to 30 knots, the top speed to 41 knots with a range of 275 nautical miles. The 38-foot boat has as 14'1" beam, 42" draft and 18,500 lb. displacement. Intended as a day boat or "weekender," the SC38 has a V-berth in the bow, a dinette with an L- settee, galley with sink, refrigerator and stove and head with enclosed shower. On deck is a second table with settee for entertaining family and friends. The stern has flexible below-deck storage port and starboard for fishing or extended cruising. The Hinckley SC42 comes with twin 500 horsepower Yanmar diesel engines that give it a range of 290 nautical miles, with a cruising speed of 28 knots and top speed of 33 knots. The same optional engine packages, as well as an additional fuel tank to extend the range to 330 nautical miles, are also available on this bigger boat.

On deck, the SC42 offers a table that can be removed for additional seating or lowered to create a sun pad. The forward-facing bench seat can also be reversed to add seating around the table. There is an extra icebox and storage on deck, as well as an optional live bait tank or bait freezer in a custom-designed tackle station. Below deck, the boat's 14'1" beam creates an overall sense of spaciousness. A centerline queen bed and storage lockers occupy the bow. The L-settee and dinette table also transforms into a double bed. A well-appointed galley and full head with enclosed shower are other notable features of this model. Both the Hinckley SC38 and SC42 are available with a number of special optional packages. In addition to the engine upgrades, customers can select from the following:

· Hard Top/Soft Top Package - A fiberglass hard top or retractable soft top
are both available, as is a radar arch. The overall height has been kept low for clearance under Intracoastal Waterway bridges.

· Black Watch® Edition - This special fishing package adds a live well or
bait freezer, rigging station, rod storage, fish well macerator, full tuna tower with outriggers and salt water washdown.

· Wood Package - This adds teak decks, dash and coamings to the boats.

Hinckley reduced the amount of exterior brightwork used on the SC series to make upkeep and maintenance more user-friendly. Considered the oldest yacht builder in America, Hinckley was known for most of its 75-year history for building a handful of impeccably crafted sailboats each year for discerning yachtsmen from around the world. In 1994, the company became a pioneer in semi-custom water jet propulsion yachts when it launched its now-classic, 36-foot Picnic Boat®. The company has since introduced a series of highly sought-after Talaria jet boats ranging from 29 to 55 feet and modeled after the design of the original Picnic Boat. Legendary for its high level of customer service, Hinckley now offers all new yacht owners "The Hinckley Commitment." In addition to the DualGuard composite construction with Kevlar and carbon fiber and Lifetime Warranty on all hulls and decks, the program provides "24/7" service. Owners are given a private, toll-free number to call Hinckley service technicians who are on call around-the-clock for troubleshooting. The introduction of the SC Series brings Hinckley full-circle in its history. Established in 1928 by Henry R. Hinckley, the company originally built wooden workboats designed to endure the rigors of Down East fishing, lobstering and cruising. In 1940, Mr. Hinckley designed a prototype boat that was intended to be a production boat called the Hinckley Sport Cruiser 30. The company's attentions, however, turned to building more than 500 picket boats, towboats and yawls for U.S. forces during World War II. Headquartered in Southwest Harbor, Maine, The Hinckley Company builds boats in nearby Trenton, Maine and has full-service yards in Southwest Harbor, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Oxford, Maryland, Savannah, Georgia and Stuart, Florida. In addition, the company provides yacht refit, maintenance, repair and storage services for boats up to 150 feet in length and 180 tons and operates a yacht brokerage, charter service and retail business.