The Rosborough 246, a no-frills pocket cruiser built by Eastern Boats in Milton, New Hampshire, almost cries out, “Great Loop.” With its protected cabin, V-berth for two, enclosed head and single-outboard power, the Rosborough is fully capable of tackling the Great Loop, or almost any other coastal cruising destination. Indeed, John Hauck, an 82-year-old retired Special Forces major, has completed the Great Loop twice on his 2003 Rosborough 246.
Rosboroughs were originally made as commercial fishing boats in Nova Scotia, where they earned a reputation as salty and reliable performers. Rosborough sold the molds to the 246 to Eastern Boats in 2012. Since then, the 246 has been one of the company’s best sellers.
As the price of new boats (and fuel) continues to climb, Rosboroughs have become even more attractive as an easy-to-own, easy-to-maintain cruising boat for a couple or small family.
The 246 comes in three models, Yarmouth, Halifax and Digby, with slightly different interiors, involving placement of the galley, the dinette and the head. The Yarmouth has the dinette on the starboard side, behind the helm. It seats four and converts to a 7-foot long berth when you remove the forward seat back.
The simple galley, with a single-burner stove, fridge and sink, is aft to port, and the enclosed head is below. The forward cabin also has a V-berth measuring 6’ 2” on each side. The cabin has windows on both sides and an overhead hatch for ventilation.
The helm cabin is totally enclosed, but it has doors on both sides, next to the helm and the passenger’s forward seats, plus an opening door (with a window) aft, leading to the cockpit. Another panel opens on the windshield.
The cockpit has a simple bench seat aft, and low storage panels on each side that you can use as boarding steps. It also has a hot/cold shower, and the shore-power connector. A generator is an option.
The factory says you can choose a single outboard from 150- to 250-hp for power. With a standard 200-hp Yamaha, the 246 tops out at about 27 knots; at 8 knots, range is more than 350 nm.
The boat’s 8’ 6” beam means you can trailer it without a special permit, and its vertical clearance of just 12 feet means you can slide under a lot of bridges on the Great Loop or anywhere else.
Specs. LOA: 25’0”; Beam: 8’6”; Draft: 18”; Disp.: 7,500 lbs.; Fuel: 115 gals.; Water: 40 gals.; Power: 1×200-hp Yamaha outboard. Read more at http://rosboroughboatsusa.com and see the video below:
