The Downeast Maine Lobsteryachts

-The Downeast Styled Hull-

Maine or Downeast style semi-displacement boats have pronounced keels. Typically the keel of a traditional Downeast styled vessel starts at the base of the boat's stem and runs aft longitudinally along fairbody ending at the rudder skeg. Boats that are constructed with a built down style keel traditionally have a fine entry and a round chine which is responsible for the excellent sea keeping ability that these boats have in an on coming sea. The flat sections of the hull that start around midships and run back aft are responsible for the boat's ability to carry speed and the boat's stability in a following sea. Traditional Downeast boats offer superior sea keeping ability and typically cruise between 15-20kts depending on the power option selected.

The skeg models are those where the hull goes flat into the keel. Skeg boats are often faster as there is less wetted surface(underwater area)holding the hull back from reaching its top speed. These boats have a hard chine that keeps them up on plane and makes for a less forgiving ride, but the plus side is that these boats tends to cruise from 25-30kts. Skeg boats also tend to be more shallow at the fairbody which makes it more difficult to conceal the engine under the cockpit sole and subsequently requires the use of an engine box instead.

As you can see there are inherent benefits to both of the Downeast styles discussed in the paragraph above. Deciding which boat is right for you should be based on the way you intend to use your boat. If speed is important for Canyon fishing then perhaps a skeg boat would be a more appropriate choice. If you want the safest most comfortable ride around and don't mind sacrificing a little speed, then a keeled boat should be a better choice for you.

-The Configurations-

There are a variety of Downeast styles and configurations to choose from:

- Lobster Yacht- Opened sides with a hardtop that is conntected to a glass windshield. The open sides start right at the helm sometimes they are only on the port side, other boats are completely opened on both sides. These boats are excellent for warmer climates and offer good protection from inclimate weather. These boats are 2nd to bassboats as the lightest variety of Downeast styled boats and their top speed is at the top of the range as a result.

-Bassboat- Open Top with an oversized windshield, which many regard as the most aesthetically pleasing variation of these Downeast styled designs. Bass Boats are great weekend trips and are an excellent for warm summer days. Some people prefer hard tops because Bass Boats use curtains and canvas to create an enclosure which can negatively impact visibility from the helm.

-Express Cruiser- Short Pilot House with an opened back, which looks very traditional offer copious cockpit area and is great for picnics or weekend outings. These boats are often lighter and faster than sedans.

-Sedans- An extended Pilot House with a full enclosure, that typically maintain a sleek classic profile with full weather protection for a longer cruising season and comfort from inclimate weather.

-Flybridge- Basically a Sedan with a 2nd helm station on the cabin top. The flybrige models offer all of the benefits of the sedan styled cruisers with the added benefit of an outside helm station that offers excellent visibility, a quiet space far above the engines and a nice place to get some air on warn sunny days. The biggest difficulty with flybridge models is that they have a high center of gravity that can cause them to oscillate more than other versions. Flybridge models also have a higher profile above the deck that makes them more susceptible to windage and can ultimately impair handling ability in high winds.

-Fit and Finish-

Downeast Boats often span a broad spectrum as far as fit and finish is concerned as well. The range of fit and finish goes from: Commercial -No Brightwork on deck or inside the boat. Low Maintenance - Very Little Brightwork on Deck, More Brightwork inside. Classic Reproduction (Lots of Brightwork inside and out often varnished for beauty).