Stepping from the dock to the swim platform and then the cockpit of the Hinckley Picnic Boat 39, it would be easy to think you’re stepping aboard a classic Picnic Boat. An open cockpit ringed by plush seating, teak trim glowing with a dozen coats of varnish, gracefully arcing hardtop supports and a fully protected helm deck are all in plain view.
But when you walk forward of the windshield—through it, in fact—you realize that this design marks the beginning of a new generation of Picnic Boats.
The 39 is the first Picnic Boat with a bow cockpit. A portside walkthrough leads forward to this outdoor seating space, where there’s room for a half dozen guests to relax. And relax, they will. This 39 has Sileather fabrics (owners can specify upholstery). When I sat on the multi-density foam seating and then leaned back into bolsters, fitted with different foam densities to produce the ideal feeling of luxury, well, all I could say was, “Ahhh.”
Seating throughout is similarly sumptuous. Hinckley says it built the Picnic Boat 39 in a way that every seat is the best seat in the house. It’s tough to argue with the yard’s team, because the difference between the seats on this boat and the seats on most boats is akin to the difference between a park bench and a BarcaLounger.
Having a bow cockpit does mean there’s less overall space belowdecks, but this is a yacht with a 42-foot-7-inch length overall and a 12-foot-11-inch beam. There’s plenty of room for a stateroom with a berth forward, and an enclosed stand-up head with a shower and vanity to starboard. Traditional teak is used extensively in the trim and cabinetry, with positive-locking latches on the drawers and doors, and uber-beefy stainless- steel hinges and hardware.
Hinckley didn’t try to shoehorn in a galley. Instead, an outdoor cooking station and wet bar are abaft the helm station, across from the helm deck’s L-shaped settee.
That bow cockpit doesn’t necessitate giving up any protection while running the boat, either. A sliding windshield pane matched with a beefy closing door locks out inclement weather. The door self-adjusts its height as it swings closed to make a perfect seal, then is secured open or closed by magnetic and electric latches. We put that seal to the test in choppy conditions produced by a 15- to 20-knot breeze, and yet, we did still enjoy a fresh breeze, thanks to the electrically actuated overhead sunroofs in the hardtop that open, close and dog down tight at the press of a button.
Running the Picnic Boat 39 provided peace of mind in multiple ways. For once, despite being in a Chesapeake Bay tributary with winding channels and numerous shoals, I wasn’t worried about running aground or fouling the running gear. This boat doesn’t have anything protruding beneath the hull. The twin Volvo Penta diesel inboards are coupled to Hamilton HJX27 waterjet drives. That setup reduces draft to a mere 2 feet 2 inches. The usual stress of bending a blade or wrapping a crab pot line is left in the wake, and shallow ports that were once off-limits are now accessible.
We drove to a top speed of just over 36 knots with a full crew of six people aboard. At the dock, the JetStick 4 controls provided an extra measure of confidence. While some jet systems suffer from quirky handling, this one responded immediately and predictably. JetStick 4 also has GPS position holding and the ability to spin 360 degrees or slide the boat sideways, all with mere nudges, twists and taps of the stick.
At an economical 26.1-knot cruise speed, the Picnic Boat 39 has a solid 270-nautical-mile range, earning 0.9 nautical miles per gallon.
Few boatbuilders create their own genre of yacht, but Hinckley accomplished this feat with the original Picnic Boat. It became a classic, and now, the next generation has arrived with more outdoor space and seating, all within the same beloved look and feel.
Building Blocks
Construction of the Picnic Boat 39 is robust, including single-bond vacuum-infused carbon and epoxy with post-curing to enhance strength, rigidity and longevity; a methacrylate seal around the hull-to-deck joint; and the use of vinylester resins. Hinckley is so confident in the construction method that it offers a lifetime hull warranty.
Full Service
For owners who are crunched for time, Hinckley offers the Yacht Care program. Owners have 24/7 service across the builder’s 10 boatyards with a direct point of contact at all times. Hinckley stores, services and delivers the owner’s yacht anywhere it needs to be on the East Coast and anytime it needs to be there.
Take the next step: hinckleyyachts.com
