Barton & Gray Mariners Club just launched their first Daychaser, an elegant 48-foot luxury day boat, designed specifically for club members by Doug Zurn.
Until now, the club’s fleet has included almost 70 Hinckleys, spread among 30 ports around the country. The club, founded in Nantucket in 2006, has been growing rapidly. It now forecasts a record number of 12,000 outings this year. Members, who pay a base fee of $39,500, usually use the boats for one- to four-hour cruises; the boats come with a captain and concierge service.
A few years ago the club realized that it needed a boat with more social spaces up top and fewer cabins (that went unused) below. They commissioned Zurn, with his design office in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to design the Daychaser. It was built at Boston Boatworks.
“Barton & Gray was clear from the start that this was a purpose-built vessel centered around entertainment at sea,” Zurn said. “I took that to heart in the design process, and envisioned exactly how members would use the boat.”
The Daychaser does have a classic Downeast style, with lots of teak and mahogany and even a gorgeous tumblehome. It has an open plan, with seating on the bow (there’s a walk-through windshield from the salon), a cockpit galley, a bar, tables, lounges, a large cockpit, and a swim platform for easy access to the water and water sports.
It also has more storage space than most cruising boats of its size, with a large freezer and refrigerators for entertaining; most meals on board are catered. It also has a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer to keep everyone comfortable.
Below, there’s a cabin with a single berth if anyone wants to take a nap, a head with a shower, and even a work table.
Power comes from twin 550-hp Cummins diesels paired to Hamilton water jets. The boat has a draft of just 2’ 1” so it can head into skinny water for picnics on the beach; the jets also are safer for water sports than props.
Top speed is 35 knots. Zurn designed the boat for its entertaining capabilities and comfort on board, not for speed. Boston Boatworks is building nine more for delivery by next spring.
Specs.: LOA: 48’9”; Beam: 14’11’; Draft: 2’1”; Disp.: 29,098 lbs.; Fuel: 584 gals.; Water: 173 gals.; Power: 2×550-hp Cummins diesels and Hamilton jet drives. Read more:
