Back Cove Blog

Herreshoff Style Interior in the Downeast 37


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The Downeast 37 has a new and different “look” from the other Back Cove Yacht models. With this new design, we opted for a traditional Herreshoff style interior complete with white panels and cherry trims. It’s a distinct look and the story behind the Herreshoff design is very interesting.

The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company built many beautiful boats over the last century. Nathanael “Captain Nat” Greene Herreshoff (1848-1938) was an architect mechanical engineer who revolutionized yacht design. His biggest accomplishment is arguably a succession of undefeated America’s Cup defenders between 1893 and 1920.images

The interior designs were based on simple concepts. They created white flat surfaces for bulkheads and hull ceilings than he used stained and varnished wood for all of the millwork, that being the corner posts drawer fronts, passageway doors and so on. Today, this elegant style has become known as the Herreshoff style.

The vision with the new model, the Downeast 37, was to create a retro style for this modern weekender. The team thought the Herreshoff style would be the perfect fit. speaks to the boats that the Herreshoff family created in their Bristol, RI boat shop in the early 20th century. 

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We hope you agree! To learn more about the Downeast 37 and the building of a new Back Cove model, take a look at our previous BLOG posts. 

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Hull Transformation of the Back Cove Downeast 37


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The Downeast 37 has been in production for just over four weeks. The cabinets and bulkheads are complete and installed, the engine and fuel tanks are in and the electrical team is hard at work!

The engineering and design team have been checking in regularly. Below Rick Paul, Adam Carlson and Kevin Burns review the engine room layout. Each item is situated for ideal weight and balance distribution.

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The deck mold has arrived in the lamination department. With a brand new mold, the lamination crew takes extra steps to ensure the first part releases properly from the mold. The team takes about three days to prep a new mold. The mold gets cleaned thoroughly and then sealed. Afterward, they apply approximately six coats of wax to the new mold. 

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After deck mold is properly cleaned and waxed, associates apply cure gel. This is a preliminary process designed to confirm the deck is ready by testing how the hardened gel releases from the mold. 

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The lamination department is now ready to start building the deck which takes about six days. As discussed in previously posts, Back Cove builds all of our fiberglass components using the Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP). You can learn more about the VIP System here.

Sign up for receive updates on our weekly blog. Next week we’ll be posting more about the progress the mechanical team is making; they will be installing the fresh water system and AC system among other things. 

Visit the new Back Cove website for more information about the Downeast 37 and other Back Cove models.

 

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Why is the exhaust on the edge of a Back Cove Yachts hull?


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Have you ever wondered why the exhaust of a Back Cove is on the starboard edge of the hull? Kevin Burns, VP of Design and Product Development, gave us the scoop!

All engines produce exhaust gases and therefore need a place for those gasses to exit the hull. According to Kevin, there are three basic location options for where to place an exhaust port in an “above the waterline” or “at the waterline” wet exhaust system.  The graphic below describes these three locations and a few positives and negatives associated with each location.

The green text outlines the benefits of the exhaust placement and the red text explains the negatives.

BC Corner Exhaust Graphic copy

As you can see from this diagram, using the corner exhaust is ideal for the following reasons:

  1. no back flooding
  2. no gasses under swim platform
  3. no station wagon effect
  4. the noise stays behind boat
  5. no gasses trapped by wake

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What is the station wagon effect? Backdrafting, or the “station wagon” effect occurs as air moves around a boat and forms a low pressure area immediately behind the transom or back of the boat.  Exhaust fumes entering this area are fed back into the cockpit and into cabin.

 

Kevin Burns says, “Back Cove’s custom corner exhaust port is more expensive to fabricate and more complicated to design and install than a side or transom port, but since introducing this design element we’ve been able to lower the noise levels associated with the exhaust note both on board and measured from the shore.  Additionally, we’ve eliminated nuisance spray that is generated at certain speeds by the hull side wake being interrupted by the trapped side gasses inherit with the side mounted port.  All of the extra effort pays off in the form of a more pleasant and safe boating experience.”  

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Step-by-Step…building the new Downeast 37


Boy, have we been busy! It’s amazing to see how quickly the Back Cove Downeast 37 is coming together. Over the last few weeks the shop has been buzzing with activity on this new model. Below are a few images of the progress being made.  

Glenn Campbell, Product Engineer, weighs the new Yanmar engine for the Downeast 37 to help confirm weight study predictions.

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We are using the new digital scale which helps improve accuracy.

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The Downeast 37 will be known as an excellent day cruiser with ample space in the cockpit (over 12ft x 12 ft!) but that doesn’t mean the area down below has suffered. Here is an image of the master stateroom berth. As you can see, there is ample storage.

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more storage under the berth

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Below is an image of the swim platform mold under construction. 

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A meeting of the minds! When building the first of any model, there are many impromptu meetings with the engineers, designers, mechanics and electricians.

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That’s it for this week. Sign up for our weekly BLOG posts and receive regular updates on the Back Cove Downeast 37 and other topics!

Additonal posts on the Downeast 37: 
The new Downeast 37 is comin’ together!
Every pound counts, so we could every pound!
Back Cove website

 

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The new Downeast 37 is comin’ together!


When we first started talking about the Downeast 37, the design team at Back Cove decided that we wanted her fit and finish to be different from the other Back Cove models because her purpose and functionality are different from other models in the range.

Downeast 37

Downeast 37

We opted for a traditional Herreshoff style interior done with white panels and cherry trims. Below is an image of the new Downeast 37 Galley complete with corian countertops, stovetop and two refrigerator drawers.

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Downeast 37 Galley

Now that this first major piece of furniture is assembled, we are very pleased with the look and very satisfied with our decision. She will be a “stunner”.

Downeast 37 Master Stateroom

Downeast 37 Master Stateroom

For more information on the Downeast 37, please enjoy our Downeast 37 brochure or visit the Back Cove Yachts website.

 

 

 

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