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Boats · Top 10

Top 10 Lobster Boats in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Sabre 38 Salon Express
Direct answer

The Sabre 38 Salon Express is the best lobster boat in 2027, with classic Downeast lines and twin Volvo Penta D4 320 hp engines. The Back Cove 39O, with a 45-knot top speed, is #2 and the Hinckley Picnic Boat 37 is #3.

At a glance

#PickLengthBest for
1Sabre 38 Salon Express41 ft 9 in overall (38 ft 3 in hull)A classic Downeast cruiser for coastal trips and skinny water
2Back Cove 39O43 ft 6 in overallFast Downeast cruising with a fully enclosed helm deck
3Hinckley Picnic Boat 3736 ft 11 in overallA jet-drive Downeast day boat with teak and carbon construction
4Wesmac 46 Lobster46 ftA working lobsterman who wants a big, finished kit from a Maine builder
5Calvin Beal 4444 ftA wide, stable lobster hull to finish your way
6Northern Bay 3838 ft 2 in overallA built-down Downeast hull for lobstering, sportfishing or cruising
7Young Brothers 4242 ft 6 inA lower-priced kit hull from a famous Maine lobster-boat line
8Back Cove 34O39 ft 7 in overallA smaller Downeast-style outboard yacht for couples
9Sabre 43 Salon Express47 ft 2 in overall (42 ft 7 in hull)A larger Downeast yacht with a networked helm and two cabins below
10Back Cove 37242 ft 8 in overallSingle-diesel Downeast cruising with a classic look

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Sabre 38 Salon Express
Fastest
Back Cove 39O
Best working lobster boat
Wesmac 46 Lobster
Best value kit
Young Brothers 42
Biggest yacht
Sabre 43 Salon Express

The ranking

1

Sabre 38 Salon Express

Sabre 38 Salon Express
Answrs VerdictThe best all-round lobster-style yacht.
Length: 41 ft 9 in overall (38 ft 3 in hull)Fuel: 300 US gallonsPower: Twin Volvo Penta D4 with DPI, 320 hpDraft: 3 ft 4 inPrice: Not published

The Sabre 38 Salon Express is 41 ft 9 in overall on a 38 ft 3 in hull, with a 3 ft 4 in draft, 300 US gallons of fuel and twin Volvo Penta D4 320 hp engines with DPI. Sabre builds it in South Casco, Maine, and describes classic Downeast lines.

Go ifA classic Downeast cruiser for coastal trips and skinny water
Skip ifYou want outboard power
Why #1 over #2: Its 3 ft 4 in draft and inboard diesels suit skinny-water cruising, where the 39O relies on outboards.
2

Back Cove 39O

Back Cove 39O
Answrs VerdictThe fastest lobster-style yacht here.
Length: 43 ft 6 in overallFuel: 520 US gallons (gas)Power: Triple Mercury V10 400 or twin Mercury V12 600 outboardsTop speed: 45 knots with the triple Mercury V10 400sPrice: Not published

The Back Cove 39O is 43 ft 6 in overall with a 2 ft 4 in draft, 520 US gallons of gas and a 45-knot top speed on optional triple Mercury V10 400 outboards. A fully enclosed helm deck stretches the season.

Go ifFast Downeast cruising with a fully enclosed helm deck
Skip ifYou want an inboard diesel
Why #2 over #3: Its 520 gallons and 45-knot top speed go beyond the Picnic Boat’s 220 gallons and 37 knots.
3

Hinckley Picnic Boat 37

Hinckley Picnic Boat 37
Answrs VerdictThe iconic picnic boat.
Length: 36 ft 11 in overallFuel: 220 US gallonsPower: Twin Volvo Penta D6 440 hp diesels on twin Hamilton jetsSpeed: 35 knots cruising, 37 knots topPrice: Not published

The Hinckley Picnic Boat 37 is 36 ft 11 in overall, built of epoxy-infused carbon composite with twin Volvo Penta D6 440 hp diesels driving twin Hamilton jets. It cruises at 35 knots and tops out at 37 knots.

Go ifA jet-drive Downeast day boat with teak and carbon construction
Skip ifYou want a big cabin for long trips
Why #3 over #4: Its 35-knot cruise and jet drive make it the better pleasure boat than the working Wesmac 46.
4

Wesmac 46 Lobster

Wesmac 46 Lobster
Answrs VerdictThe big working lobster boat.
Length: 46 ftPrice: Total kit price $329,010Fuel: Fuel tanks approx. 600 gallons (installed in the kit)Hull: Solid fiberglass laminate (no core), $88,000 hull

The Wesmac 46 Lobster is a 46 ft lobster boat kit from Surry, Maine, with a solid fiberglass hull at $88,000 and a total kit price of $329,010, including fuel tanks of approx. 600 gallons.

Go ifA working lobsterman who wants a big, finished kit from a Maine builder
Skip ifYou want a turnkey pleasure yacht
Why #4 over #5: Its kit comes with the engine installation, fuel tanks and steering in the $329,010 price, while the Calvin Beal 44 kit at $89,750 covers the hull and top.
5

Calvin Beal 44

Calvin Beal 44
Answrs VerdictThe widest working hull here.
Length: 44 ftBeam: 17 ft 6 inTransom: 16 ft 2 inPrice: Total kit price $89,750Hull: Solid fiberglass laminate (no core)

The Calvin Beal 44 is 44 ft with a 17 ft 6 in beam and a 16 ft 2 in transom, laid up in solid fiberglass with no core. Its suggested kit is $89,750.

Go ifA wide, stable lobster hull to finish your way
Skip ifYou need a finished boat now
Why #5 over #6: Its 17 ft 6 in beam is wider than the Northern Bay 38’s 13 ft 4 in.
6

Northern Bay 38

Northern Bay 38
Answrs VerdictThe versatile built-down hull.
Length: 38 ft 2 in overallBeam: 13 ft 4 inEngine: Single engine from 400 to 1200 hpSpeed: 31 knots top, 24 knots cruisingFuel: 265 to 400 US gallons

The Northern Bay 38 is a built-down Downeast hull, 38 ft 2 in overall with a 13 ft 4 in beam, a single engine from 400 to 1200 hp, a 31-knot top speed and 265 to 400 US gallons of fuel.

Go ifA built-down Downeast hull for lobstering, sportfishing or cruising
Skip ifYou want twin engines
Why #6 over #7: It has a published 31-knot top speed; Young Brothers publishes no speed for the 42.
7

Young Brothers 42

Young Brothers 42
Answrs VerdictThe value kit hull.
Length: 42 ft 6 inBeam: 15 ft 8 inDraft: 5 ftPrice: Total kit price $76,000Hull: Solid fiberglass laminate (no core), $49,500 hull

The Young Brothers 42 is 42 ft 6 in with a 15 ft 8 in beam and a 5 ft draft. Its solid fiberglass hull is $49,500 and the suggested kit is $76,000.

Go ifA lower-priced kit hull from a famous Maine lobster-boat line
Skip ifYou want a published top speed
Why #7 over #8: Its 15 ft 8 in beam is wider than the 34O’s 11 ft 11 in, for more deck to work from.
8

Back Cove 34O

Back Cove 34O
Answrs VerdictThe compact outboard pick.
Length: 39 ft 7 in overallFuel: 242 US gallons (gas)Power: Twin Mercury V10 400 hp or twin Mercury V8 300 hp outboardsSpeed: Cruises at 30 knots, top speeds over 40Price: Not published

The Back Cove 34O is 39 ft 7 in overall with an 11 ft 11 in beam and a 2 ft 1 in draft. On twin Mercury outboards it cruises at 30 knots with top speeds over 40, and it carries 242 US gallons of gas.

Go ifA smaller Downeast-style outboard yacht for couples
Skip ifYou need a second cabin
Why #8 over #9: Its 2 ft 1 in draft is shallower than the Sabre 43’s 3 ft 5 in.
9

Sabre 43 Salon Express

Sabre 43 Salon Express
Answrs VerdictThe biggest lobster-style yacht here.
Length: 47 ft 2 in overall (42 ft 7 in hull)Fuel: 432 US gallonsPower: Twin Volvo Penta D6-IPS600, 440 hpDraft: 3 ft 5 inPrice: Not published

The Sabre 43 Salon Express is 47 ft 2 in overall on a 42 ft 7 in hull, with 432 US gallons of fuel and twin Volvo Penta D6-IPS600 440 hp engines.

Go ifA larger Downeast yacht with a networked helm and two cabins below
Skip ifYou want a boat under 40 ft
Why #9 over #10: Its 432 gallons beat the Back Cove 372’s 300 gallons.
10

Back Cove 372

Back Cove 372
Answrs VerdictThe classic single-diesel pick.
Length: 42 ft 8 in overallFuel: 300 US gallonsPower: Cummins QSC 8.3 600 hp or Volvo Penta D8 600 hpDraft: 3 ft 7 inPrice: Not published

The Back Cove 372 is 42 ft 8 in overall with a 3 ft 7 in draft and 300 US gallons of fuel, powered by a Cummins QSC 8.3 600 hp or Volvo Penta D8 600 hp diesel.

Go ifSingle-diesel Downeast cruising with a classic look
Skip ifYou want outboards

How we ranked these

We ranked each boat on Downeast lobster-boat design and builder pedigree first, then on the size, power and fuel each builder publishes. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

What is the best lobster boat in 2027?

The Sabre 38 Salon Express: a 41 ft 9 in Downeast cruiser with 300 US gallons of fuel and twin Volvo Penta D4 320 hp engines with DPI.

Which lobster-style boat is fastest?

The Back Cove 39O, with a 45-knot top speed on optional triple Mercury V10 400 outboards.

How much does a lobster boat kit cost?

Young Brothers lists a 42 ft suggested kit at $76,000, Calvin Beal a 44 ft kit at $89,750, and Wesmac a 46 ft lobster kit at $329,010.

How fast is a Northern Bay 38?

Northern Bay lists a 31-knot top speed and 24-knot cruise with a single engine.

Fuel capacity (as published) at a glance

Hinckley Picnic Boat 37220 gal
Back Cove 34O242 gal
Sabre 38 Salon Express300 gal
Back Cove 372300 gal
Northern Bay 38400 gal
Sabre 43 Salon Express432 gal
Back Cove 39O520 gal
Wesmac 46 Lobster600 gal
Fuel capacity (as published), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.