RECENT COVERAGE : August 11, 2008
Similar to Article that appeared in Southern Boating

The Burton family waited with the anticipation of a family waiting for an adoptive child only they had more control over the gene pool.  Competitive sailors all of their lives, brothers Bruce and Glenn Burton, decided that it was time to enhance their sailing program with a Hinckley Picnic Boat.  Rather than use a RIB, they wanted a tender that would add dignity to their program and tow their Etchells keelboat with speed and style.  They also wanted in a comfortable spectator boat that three generations could enjoy and one on which they could entertain during the evening.  Sounds like a tall order, but Hinckley Yachts more than fulfilled their expectations.

The Hinckley Company, long known for building stylish Sou’wester and Bermuda 40 sailboats in “The Yard” in Southwest Harbor, Maine has been presenting proud owners with Picnic Boats since 1994.  While many melt like butter over the classic lines and the elegant bright work, cabinetry and hardware of a Hinckley, owners fall in love with The Hinckley Company.  Each year, over seventy new Hinckleys are delivered.  As the owner profile becomes more diversified and purchasers include newcomers to boating, resorts, recreational users and even captains of mega yachts, there are some commonalities.  The owners like to “affiliate with quality, they don’t want any surprises, they want their ownership to be hassle free and they want to know that Hinckley will take care of them,” says Eric Champlin, The Hinckley Company’s Sales Director.  Customer satisfaction is something that Hinckley does not take lightly.  In fact, customer service now represents 50% of their business.  Hinckley has a dedicated sales staff, but each custom delivery is coddled along with the help of an Owner Experience Manager (OEM) during the first year of ownership and then delicately transferred to a Service Manager to maintain the long term relationship. 

The Hinckley Company has delivered over 700 Picnic Boats and Talarias ranging from 29 footer to convertibles to 55-foot motor yachts with flying bridges and one of three OEM’s is assigned to each delivery.  The Hinckley Company staff handholds expectant owners’ hands through the entire build and delivery process.  Progress photos are e-mailed regularly and all are welcomed to join in on design decisions that go beyond the optional equipment list.  “Sometimes naming the boat and developing the right graphics become a bigger decision than purchasing the boat,” said Champlin.  There was no question that the Burton's boat was going to be named White Cloud VI and that they wanted the graphics to look just right on their new girl.  Hinckley presented the Burton men with over ten graphics options.  They also sent the Burtons’ a huge box of swatches and interior finish samples that also engaged Jane Burton and her friends in the planning and development process.  In the end, “we are really pleased with the way she looks,” said the proud owner, Bruce Burton.

The Burtons waited with anticipation for eight months while their boat was built and tested in Maine and the pre-delivery checklist was reduced from a manual to a matter of turning over the keys.  From Maine, White Cloud VI was trucked to Hinckley’s full service marine complex in Stuart, Florida for a November 2007 delivery.  Hinckley now has eight full service complexes along the East Coast of the US and one sales center in Harbor Springs, MI.  It’s on the waters surrounding these complexes, and in some cases, the owners’ home waters, that one of the most important bonding exercises take place.  The OEM dedicates three days, or more if necessary, to the new owner and all who will be handling the precious boat.  During the three-day class owners, spouses, offspring and captains participate in a free flowing practical orientation to the boat.  Together, they inspect the boat from stem to stern, review emergency procedures, gain a working knowledge of the GPS and autopilot systems and practice docking in a friendly atmosphere where there is no such thing as a stupid question. 

“We want to make sure that nothing is foreign to them and that they avoid embarrassing boat handling situations once they leave here,” explained Champlin as he reviewed the details of the Hinckley orientation.  While the Picnic Boat’s lines are classic, there is a lot more engineering than meets the eye that goes into every Hinckley.  The Kevlar/Carbon E-glass composite hull is bulletproof and lighter than traditional wet lay-up builds, but the true innovation is in the JetStick. 

The JetStick is the joy stick control for the water jet.  Exposed props and rudders are a thing of the past and by the time someone goes through the orientation process, the fear of docking a boat in close quarters or under extenuating circumstances is forgotten.  The JetStick enables the Picnic Boat to spin on a dime and move laterally at super slow speeds.  It doesn’t take long for anyone to learn and appreciate the simplicity of docking with a JetStick, but it can take a while for those who have years of single screw engine helmsmanship under their belts to break old habits.  “The JetStick enables us to spend more time showing people how to enjoy their boats.  It frees us up to take them out on a cruise and make them comfortable with operating the boat under all circumstances,” explained Champlin. 

“There is the mystique of the Hinckley police taking the boat back if it’s not maintained,” quipped Champlin.  One may have to go on a snipe hunt to find the Maytag repairman and Hinckley police, but part of the reason is that Hinckley impresses upon every new owner the need for annual servicing that includes a complete mechanical and electrical inspection along with paint and varnish touch-ups.  “Hinckleys always look and run like new and there is a reason for it.  They make owning and maintaining one hassle free,” said Burton.  In less than a year, White Cloud VI has been christened in Stuart, paraded at John’s Island, used to host a black tie event on Jupiter Island, towed Etchells and hosted numerous cocktail parties in Miami, featured at a fashion show in Bayview and attended a World Championship Regatta in Chicago.  Boat storage and many of the overland deliveries have been facilitated by Hinckley.  The Burtons are proud of the latest addition to their family, and Champlin and his colleagues have accomplished exactly what they set out to do with every Hinckley owner: they have made the boat part of their lives.

In competing for that precious commodity called ‘time’, Hinckley has perfected the recipe for pleasure boat ownership.