Maine Downeast Boat / Lobster Yacht Buyer's Guide

Downeast Boat Configurations

Lobster Yachts  -  Windshield that is connected to a hardtop with one or both sides open to weather. These boats are excellent for warmer climates and offer good protection from inclement weather. These boats are second to Bassboats as the lightest variety of Downeast styled boats and their speed is at the top end of the 15-22 knot range as a result.

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

Express Cruisers  -  Short Pilot House with an opened back, that looks very traditional. Provides copious cockpit area and are great for picnics or weekend outings. These boats are often lighter and faster than sedans due to their shorter, lighter pilot house. Express boats have an excellent center of gravity that keeps roll and yaw to a minimum when you are running in a following sea. This variety of Downeaster is fast and dry and yet the house is long enough to offer excellent protection from the elements.

Sedan  -  An extended Pilot House with a full enclosure. Typically maintains a sleek classic profile with full weather protection for a longer cruising season and comfort from inclement weather. Sedans typically have a roomy salon and can be had with either galley up or galley down options. Sedans can greatly extend the length of your cruising season by offering a warm, often heated environment that will assure you maximum comfort during early spring or late fall cruises. Sedans have a much longer house than their Express sister ships and consequently offer much less cockpit area to enjoy during sunny summer outings.

Flybridges  -  Basically a Sedan with a second helm station on the cabin top. The Fybridge models offer all of the benefits of the sedan styled cruisers with the added benefit of an outside helm station offering excellent visibility, a quiet space far above the engines and a nice place to get some air on warm sunny days. The biggest difficulty with Flybridge models is that they have a higher center of gravity causing them to be less stable than other versions. Flybridge models also have a higher profile above the deck that makes them more susceptible to windage and can ultimately effect the boats handling ability in high winds.