Not to brag, but before my invitation to test the Hinckley 39 on the Chesapeake, my family was in the midst of breaking a dubious record. For five of the previous seven workdays, at least one of my boys had been home sick from daycare—for myriad reasons. Perhaps craving more time with dad, they thoughtfully alternated their sick days to keep me on my toes and scrubbing down with sanitizer. So when the opportunity arose to drive—alone, in sweet, sweet silence—to Hinckley’s Bay Bridge Marina in Maryland to test the new 39 Picnic Boat, I jumped at it.
The 234-slip marina, tucked away in an idyllic Chesapeake harbor, is one of Hinckley’s newest acquisitions. The company has been on a tear in recent years, expanding its service network to 10 locations with more likely in its sights. On a windy October afternoon, it proved the perfect base of operations to put the first-ever Doug Zurn/Hinckley design collaboration through its paces.
Idling out of the marina, I got my first taste of Hinckley’s fourth-generation JetStick—now featuring a slick “dockhold” function that uses gentle thrust to keep the boat snug against the dock sans lines. Our crew for the day spread between the three social areas—the cockpit, salon, and bow lounge—and caught up on life, old friends getting reacquainted.
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Once we cleared the expansive 4.3-mile Bay Bridge, I unleashed the 480 horses from the twin Volvo Penta D6s paired with Hamilton HJX27 jets. Performance impressed across the rpm range—not just for its top end but for its efficiency and surefooted grip at every speed.
Later, I ran the 39 through stacked, windswept 2-foot chop. The single word I scrawled in my notebook: fun. The boat felt secure in all directions. Perhaps most impressive, while I was busy pretending to be Don Aronow, my colleague and Editor-in-Chief of Soundings, Jeanne Craig, and Hinckley’s Director of Marketing, Riley Yuhas, carried on an easy conversation in the lounges behind me. No white knuckles or raised voices, just comfort.
The more time I spent aboard, the clearer the 39’s mission became. A liveaboard motoryacht she is not. She’s born to be a day boat that boasts the ability for a couple to comfortably weekend aboard. “Snippets of fun,” says Scott Bryant, Hinckley’s VP of Marketing. “That’s what this boat is best for—enjoying snippets of fun with your friends and family.”
To that end, she boasts a small galley in the amidships salon that’s more adept at preparing sandwiches, drinks, and finger foods than a full-on feast. And down below there is a simple yet stunning cabin with a wet head.
Because the boat is focused on its mission and not stuffed full of features doesn’t mean the 39 was simple in terms of design. There is a ton of thought and care that goes into creating the next generation of Picnic Boat. A standout for me was the curved door between the cabin and bow lounge—its contour nearly disappears when open. A small latch unlocks it, and it closes and locks electrically, transforming the boat from an open dayboat to an enclosed, weather-ready retreat. Massive side windows and sunroofs enhance that versatility.
A few years ago, I spent a day aboard the original Picnic Boat, Dasher, which debuted in 1994 and redefined what it meant to be a Hinckley. Running both the first and newest versions underscores just how much the design has evolved in terms of comfort, materials, and sophistication—while still maintaining its unmistakable DNA. That’s what you hope for in any next generation: They keep your best traits while developing a personality of their own (and, ideally, stronger immune systems … but I digress).
Before long, the Hinckley team and I were at a bayside restaurant enjoying a drink and a bite to eat. After just a few hours aboard the 39, I felt transformed. Still a bit sleep-deprived, but refreshed. My shoulders relaxed, my blood pressure eased, and my thoughts cleared. A snippet of fun and a restored soul.
It’s no small feat to keep a line of boats thriving for more than 3 decades, even one as iconic as the Picnic Boat. Doing so requires honoring what made it special in the first place while embracing the comfort and performance today’s boaters expect. Anyone who’s seen the 39 in person knows Hinckley nailed that first challenge. And after a spirited sea trial on a sporty October afternoon, I can attest she delivers on the second as well. A modern dayboat that pays homage to her heritage, the 39 Picnic Boat pulls off a remarkably difficult balancing act.
Hinckley 39 Picnic Boat Test Numbers:
Hinckley 39 Picnic Boat Specifications:
LOA: 42’7”
Beam: 12’11”
Draft: 2’2”
Displ.: 21,000 lb.
Fuel: 300 gal.
Water: 40 gal.
Power: 2/480-hp Volvo Penta D6 w/Hamilton HJX27 jets
This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
