Local boats shine at Newport International Boat Show

Hinckley pulls the plug

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 9/20/17

A star of last weekend’s Newport International Boat Show was Hinkley’s (Portsmouth) all-electric-powered 28.5-foot Dasher, billed as the first electric luxury powerboat.

Looking little like …

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Local boats shine at Newport International Boat Show

Hinckley pulls the plug

Posted

A star of last weekend’s Newport International Boat Show was Hinkley’s (Portsmouth) all-electric-powered 28.5-foot Dasher, billed as the first electric luxury powerboat.

Looking little like the more traditional Hinckley power and sailboats docked nearby, the open powerboat won the Newport show’s Newport For New Products award for Best New Powerboat 35 feet and under. The Hinckley Dasher was also selected for the Green Boat Award.

Weighing just 6,500 pounds (a slightly longer center console weighs 8,000 pounds, it is the lightest boat ever from the high-end builder.

Power comes from a pair of 80 hp electric engines and a pair of BMW lithium batterees. That combination will produce a range of about 40 miles at a cruising speed of 10 mph, and up to 25 miles at speeds of 18 to 27 mph. The batteries can be fully recharged in four hours.

Much of the boat is carbon fiber with titanium hardware. Even the ‘teak’ is actually painted carbon (hard to notice the difference) — the company calls it ‘artisinal teak.’

J/121 Best New Sailboat

Winner of the Newport International Boat Show’s Best New Sailboat award was J/Boats’ J/121 (Warren, Bristol). The J/121, 40 feet overall, 36 on the waterline, was selected by a team of industry experts on the basis of innovation, value to the consumer, safety and aesthetics.

Judge’s comments included: “This is the best sailboat designed for the best sailing experience … The J/121 is truly innovative … J/Boats built a boat capable of long distance races without the need of having a large crew … They brought together a lot of existing features and capabilities in a new way to make it as user-friendly as possible …The aesthetics come across in its design and ergonomics, it is a sharp looking boat.”

US Sailing moves to Bristol

US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing, has completed its move from Portsmouth to Roger Williams University (RWU) as of Friday.

Both US Sailing and RWU said they benefit from the move.

“This is a national organization that oversees many sailing competitions, so to have them on our campus is a feather in our cap,” RWU President Donald J. Farish said. “It is a perfect complement to RWU’s national powerhouse sailing team and to the Richard L. Bready Mount Hope Bay Sailing and Education Center, which opened on the campus waterfront in 2015.” US Sailing will collaborate with the university to develop programs at the sailing center in the summer months and will be able to sponsor regattas there, Mr. Farish said. “It is the kind of thing that can bring a lot of people to the area – to local restaurants and places to stay,” he said. “And if high school kids come to the regattas and see the sailing center, some will say, ‘Why not come to school here?’ ”

Jack Gierhart, CEO of US Sailing, said, “The new office space provides us with the opportunity to drive innovation and creativity in our core areas of focus – access, education and competitive excellence. US Sailing will have access to a state-of-the-art sailing center, modern classrooms and meeting spaces, and additional online learning capabilities.”

US Sailing is moving into the former James L. Maher Center on the north end of the Bristol campus. It had been located at 15 Maritime Drive in Portsmouth’s Melville Maritime District.

On the lookout for invaders

Help keep watch for aquatic invasive species by collecting specimens at the docks at Allen Harbor Marina, North Kingstown, with Kevin Cute, R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council marine resources manager.

The event is Friday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“The problem is that invasive species take over critical habitat for native species,” said Mt. Cute. “The issue is habitat and the competition for food and space.”

RSVP is required (and wear clothes that can get dirty) — Contact rhodeislandseagrant@gmail.com or (401) 874-6805 with your name and contact info. 

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Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.