Back Cove 30 (2015-)

Brief Summary

If one enjoys inviting lots of friends aboard to share some boating fun, the Back Cove 30 could be for them: There's plenty of built-in seating in both the deckhouse and cockpit – no need to perch on the gunwales or carry folding deck chairs. Below, they'll find a comfortable U-shaped lounge that converts to a berth for overnighting. A single diesel makes the Back Cove 30 economical; lightweight construction makes her fast.

Key Features

• Port and starboard molded steps leading to side and fore deck
• Molded quarter seating in cockpit with port/starboard storage
• Swim platform with SS under-mount swim ladder
• XM friendly stereo system with CD, MP3 jack and wired helm
• Arrigoni helm seat with choice of white or tan vinyl
• Raised L-settee seating aft of helmsman
• Mates bench seat to port, removes to face aft
• Galley Alcohol/110V single-burner stove with cover
• Custom hi-lo table with Birdseye Maple inlay
• V-berth with filler and cushion, converts to dinette

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	34’ 2'' / 10.41 m
Beam	11' 2'' 3.4 m
Dry Weight	12,000 lbs. 5.45 tonnes
Draft	2.6' 0.76 m
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	N/A
Bridge Clearance	N/A
Fuel Capacity	160 gal. 600 L
Water Capacity	60 gal. 225 L

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	7.4 sec.
0 to 30	10.6 sec (0 - 20)
Ratio	2.13 : 1
Props	ZF 20 X 24
Load	persons, 3/4 fuel, 3/4 water, 40 lbs. of gear
Climate	58 deg.; 91% humidity; wind: 0 mph; seas: calm

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 370-hp Yanmar 8LV-370
Std. Power	1 x 320-hp Yanmar 8LV electric common rail diesel
Opt. Power	1 x 370-hp Yanmar 8LV 1 x 370-hp Volvo Penta D6

Captain's Report Learn More
Watch Our Video

Contents of Report

• An Ideal Dayboat

• The Cockpit is for Sitting

• Below Decks

• Technical Aspects

• Observations

An Ideal Dayboat

Some people call boats like the Back Cove 30 “lobster yachts”, we guess in an effort to identify with the simple, rugged working craft used to harvest everybody’s favorite crustacean. But the only lobster you’ll find aboard the Back Cove 30 will be swimming in melted butter, so maybe “Downeast express” is a more accurate moniker.

Whatever you call her, the Back Cove 30 is set up to be an ideal dayboat, with lots of comfortable, built-in seating in the deckhouse, cockpit and cabin. One can leave the folding deck chairs on the dock. The tradeoff is limited cruising accommodations.

The Cockpit is for Sitting

Typical of this style yacht, the Back Cove’s cockpit is comfortable but not overly spacious, with corner lounges on both sides of the transom door occupying a good deal of space. It's a fine layout for socializing, but not for the fisherman. (Don’t even think of piling lobster pots here!) A swim platform, with a hot and cold shower, is standard facilitating watersports not involving a hook.

Here at BoatTEST.com we're of differing opinions as to how a transom door should be hinged: Should it open in or out? We can argue either way. The folks at Back Cove Yachts designed the transom door on the Back Cove 30 to open out, so it doesn't intrude into the cockpit. That sounds fine to about half of us at BoatTEST.

Below Decks

In the cabin, the Back Cove 30 has basic but adequate accommodations, typical for a 30' (9.14 m) boat. On the other hand, in the forward section of the cabin where most builders waste space on seldom-used V-berths, Back Cove created a comfortable seating area with a small table for drinks or a continental breakfast. It will convert to V-berths with filler when necessary. And there is a well-appointed head.

The galley has a dual-voltage refrigerator/freezer, a single-burner alcohol/electric cooktop and a microwave oven. Cooking on an alcohol burner is torture, so if you want hot food underway, we suggest they spring for the 4 kW genset or the 1800-watt inverter. We'd choose the inverter, to keep the mechanicals simple, add no excess weight and to save some money on the purchase price, too.

There's stowage under almost every flat surface, and a half-height cedar-lined hanging locker. There’s both overhead lighting and reading lights for each side of the berth, and an XM radio-ready, remote-controlled sound system with CD player and MP3 jack. Back Cove offers a selection of color schemes and fabrics; air conditioning is also optional.

Technical Aspects

Efficiency was an important goal of the Back Cove design team and that means building as light and slippery a boat as possible, consistent with strength. The Back Cove 30 rides on a deep-V hull (16 degrees deadrise aft) powered by a single diesel, in this case spinning a prop tucked-up in a pocket to minimize draft and reduce shaft angle.

Lightweight also demands less power, so a single diesel is plenty strong and economical, both to buy and to operate. To that end, the builder employs first-rate construction techniques: A resin-infused fiberglass laminate for maximum strength at minimum weight, with PVC foam coring in the hull, and end-grain balsa in the decks.

Base power, a 320-hp Yanmar 8LV electronic common rail diesel, produces 26.7 knots max, 20 knots cruise, according to the builder, but the boater can go faster: Power options up to 370 horses are available: A Yanmar 370-hp 8LV or a Volvo Penta D6 370-hp. Our test boat was powered with the 370-hp Yanmar 8LV which pushed the boat to 28.3 knots WOT, cruise at 23.4 knots.

A bow thruster is standard, a stern thruster optional. One doesn't need pod drives to maneuver a boat in tight places; spend an afternoon practicing and they'll do fine squeezing the Back Cove 30 into tight spaces, especially if they add the stern thruster.

Observations

If someone is into serious long-term cruising, fishing or active watersports, we don't think the Back Cove 30 is for them. On the other hand, if one enjoys inviting friends along for day trips, or just want plenty of room to spread out when boating with their significant other, the 30 could be just what the doctor ordered. She has good performance at reasonable fuel burn; lots of comfortable seating, both sheltered and in the cockpit; compact but adequate accommodations for occasional overnights; a seaworthy hull if the weather turns sour and a secure deck house to keep the captain happy even in the rain. What's not to like?