The year was 1994. The vessel was Hinckley‘s 36 Picnic Boat. Yachting’s Oliver S. Moore III described the boat’s ride as “knife-through-butter smooth.” The model has since enjoyed a 22-year production run. Among the classic, extended pilothouse and MKIII versions, 491 hulls have been built.
Notable features: The jet-drive option coupled with a 350 hp Yanmar six-cylinder engine allows for an 18-inch draft, 29-knot top speed and 25-knot cruising speed.
Belowdecks: There’s a compact galley to port and a forward V-berth large enough for comfortable weekend cruising. Availability: At press time, 31 Hinckley 36 Picnic Boats were for sale, ranging from $179,000 to $389,000.
From the Archive: “In a world of monkey see, monkey do high-volume production boats, it is refreshing to experience something as revolutionary and practical as this new Hinckley. Beauty is as beauty does, and this boat really does it.” — Yachting, October 1994