For a family day boat with a large cockpit that is also a fine couple’s cruiser that will be home for a long weekend or a week away, 35 feet is a manageable size that hits a sweet spot in the compromise between cost, comfort and performance.
While there is a bushel of boats in this size range and type, there are not many that are custom built by Maine craftsmen in a yard famous for building extremely high quality boats one customer and one boat at a time. Lyman Morse, which is based in what is known as Maine’s Mid-Coast, is just such a builder and the Hood 35 LM is just such a boat.
The design is from CW Hood and is a modern express cruiser that has sleeping accommodations for three, although it is really a couple’s boat, and the style of a modern Downeast classic. The hull is traditional cold-molded wood and composite construction, which creates a structure that is stiff and light while offering great sound and weather insulation. This is no small thing in the cooler waters of the Northeast.
The hull has a sharp entry and then flattens out aft to promote stability at slower speeds and a quick rise up onto a plane as you accelerate. There’s plenty of flare to the bows to keep the decks and crew dry in a pitching head sea. The cabin has a modern Maine aesthetic with a hint of Hinckley Picnic Boats and traditional Downeast lobster craft.
The customer for hull number two, shown, has made a few modifications from the prototype with the aim of making the cockpit more commodious and the sleeping arrangements below more comfortable.
The Hood 35 is powered by twin Volvo D6 440s so it will provide spritely performance with a top end of 40 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 30 knots.
A custom built 35-foot day boat and weekender from a builder like Lyman Morse is not for everyone. But, if you are looking for an heirloom quality craft with all of the fine touches and details that fit your personal requirements, then this is one to dream about.
