Zeelander 55, Hinckley Dasher Win Best Powerboat Awards at Newport Show. Sabre 45 is People’s Choice
By Peter A. Janssen
The Dutch-made Zeelander 55, a gorgeous boat without a straight line anywhere, just won the Best Powerboat Over 35 feet award at the Newport International Boat Show. The judges said the boat was “all curves,” and presented an innovative approach to design. The Zeelander, pictured above, is a combination of a traditional Down East lobster boat and a 1930’s Gold Coast commuter boat, with a totally contemporary hull and performance.
The award for Best Powerboat Under 35 feet went to the new all-electric Hinckley 28.5 Dasher, which was just unveiled at the show. It is the iconic Maine builder’s first electric boat, and the first luxury electric boat. The boat is powered by two 80-hp Torquedo motors and tops out at about 25 knots. At a speed of 10 knots, the boat has a range of 4.5 hours before it needs to be recharged. At 6,500 pounds, the electric boat is the lightest Hinckley ever, with a hull made of carbon epoxy. There is no wood on the boat; instead, it uses Hinckley’s own Artisanal Teak, which is a compound that is hand-painted on the deck.
For the People’s Choice Award, the brand-new Sabre 45 took first place. It is a popular size in the Maine builder’s lineup of traditional Down East cruising boats.http://zeelander.com
