Down East-style Guide 2008
Spirit of Tradition

Today’s Down East fleet marries retro
looks with 21st century technology.
By Louisa Beckett

In much of the U.S. cruising yacht market, “traditional” has become somewhat of a forgotten word. Starting in the 1990s, a wave of curvaceous “Eurostyle” cruisers washed over our shores and the tide hasn’t receded since. But judging by the number of boats shown in this 2008 roundup of Down East-style yachts, there’s a growing group of owners who yearn for the sweet lines–and salty offshore hulls–of America’s “Down East” (meaning Maine) lobster boats. While many pleasure versions are still built in the Northeast, more and more are coming from far-flung places around the world, including England, Turkey and Asia. The new yachts are constructed with the latest high-tech methods and equipped with all the must-have electronics. Still, the sweeping sheerlines and saucy tumblehomes of yesteryear remain to pull at the heartstrings. They may have taken the Down East yacht out of Maine–but they can never take Maine out of the Down Easter. ...

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