Back Cove 372

The Back Cove 372 stands out at the dock when compared to other boats for all the right reasons.

Something about a dark-colored hull and that simple lobster boat look with a well-defined cabin and a long trailing cockpit is appealing. The Back Cove presents a nice contrast to the ultra-modern styling of other new boats that look to me like some combination of sports car and spacecraft with more windows in the hull than on deck. While I appreciate light below decks, hull windows as big as my front door scare me. I tend to like boats that look like boats, and hulls that are more hull than window. After many years of boating, I have come to respect practicality. Sometimes simple is better, and I’m impressed when a boat builder like Back Cove combines the pragmatism of a single diesel engine with the elegance of Downeast styling.

That does not mean that the Back Cove 372 is old fashioned — far from it, as the boats are built with innovative composite technology and packed with modern amenities. The boats just aren’t frivolous. Like the boat builders in Maine that build them, Back Coves are serious. Their time-honored styling not only looks good, but the design has been proven to perform and to endure in all types of conditions.

Easy operation

The Back Cove 372 is powered by a single Cummins QSC8.3 600-hp diesel that provides efficiency and range (Volvo Penta D8 is an option). I found dockside maneuverability effortless using the Side Power joystick-controlled standard bow and optional stern thruster on our test boat. The boat is set up to be easily handled by a couple; with two of us onboard, it was simple, with well-placed cleats, reasonable side decks, steps and stainless railings.

An opening side window beside the helm eases communication while docking. Visibility is excellent from the helm and matching companion seat through three large windshields, the center of which opens, all surrounded by blacked out mullions for glare reduction. The aft bifold stainless and glass doors both connect the salon to the cockpit and provide good sightlines aft from the helm whether open or closed. Controls and electronics are accessed in a convenient helm pod from the Llebroc Ultraleather adjustable helm seat. An illuminated compass, USB charging station for phones, tablets and gadgets, and a helm drawer for binoculars are nice touches. Three footrests provide comfortable positioning, and the 20-inch Stazo wood grain wheel adjusts.

I throttle up and accelerate smoothly into the open water to an impressive wide-open speed of 33 mph. I then settle back to 2500 RPM where a fast cruise of 26.5 mph uses 21.1 gph yielding a modest 1.26 mpg. At this speed the efficiency of the single diesel yields a range of 340 miles based on 90% of the 300-gallon capacity. This means the Back Cove 372 has both the speed and range to make lake crossings safely and easily. At trawler speeds the range increases to over 1,000 miles, and with an air draft of 12 feet, 6 inches (with radar mast up) the boat is ideal for long passages through the Erie Canal or Great Loop. The Seastar hydraulic steering is lively and responsive, and the boat gently heels into turns. The Back Cove 372 feels comfortable and secure at the helm, and with a 22,100-pound displacement tracks evenly and cuts through wakes without notice. The hull is a modified V forward with camber from the bow to the transom creating a curved surface that softens the ride. The prop is in a tunnel and partially protected by a keel, skeg and rudder, creating a reasonable 3-foot, 7-inch draft that allows for Bahamas and other low-water cruising.

Like the lobster boats they are loosely derived from, Back Coves are designed to handle the rugged conditions of coastal Maine where they are built. Hull bottoms are cored with PVC foam, vacuum infused and reinforced with a resin-infused foam core stringer system. Resin-infused balsa coring is used in the deck, which should not be off-putting, because the way they isolate the wood eliminates issues. End grain balsa is scored into a fabric-backed grid and infusion encapsulates each cell with resin to prevent water intrusion. Cleats, rails and fittings are attached through solid sections, so fasteners don’t penetrate the coring. Back Cove boat builders use balsa purposefully because it maintains its strength in the long stretches of deck allowing for thinner panels that reduce weight.

A comfortable interior

The Back Cove 372 has a comfortable, fully climate-controlled salon lounge area with a fold-down table aft of the helm. A 32-inch LED Smart TV flips from the ceiling and pivots for better viewing from the salon seating. In temperate weather, bifold doors fully open to join the salon to the cockpit, where plentiful seating both inside and out is ideal for entertaining or simply relaxing.

The fully equipped galley is a few steps down from the salon under the light of the windshield, and features refrigerator/freezer drawers, an electric two-burner Kenyon induction cooktop, and a deep stainless steel sink with cover. A cut-out in the Corian countertop cleverly pulls out so you can wipe debris directly into the garbage can below. This mid galley provides convenient access to both the helm and the seating and gathering areas aft. Windows and hatches with screens keep the salon and galley light and airy and provide cross breezes when opened.

The primary cabin forward has a queen island berth with reading lights, an overhead hatch, a cedar-lined hanging locker, and plenty of drawers and storage. A handy ensuite door provides access to the head, which has a Tecma electric freshwater toilet and a separate shower compartment with a molded-in bench. The second private cabin is great for children and single adults. The limiting factor here is the bed, at 3 feet, 10 inches wide, makes it suitable only for couples of a smaller stature. The salon table also converts to create a larger bed for a second couple.

The interior of the Back Cove is brightly decorated with American cherry, which, when combined with fine upholstery and quality fixtures, creates a lively nautical feel. “Teak and Holly” soles add to the ambiance but are made of more practical, textured high-pressure laminate.

If you are looking for a stylish and practical cruiser that can be easily handled by a couple and has the range and durability to cruise anywhere, the Back Cove 372 deserves some serious consideration. Finely crafted and ruggedly constructed in Maine, I like this American cruiser because it looks like a boat, handles like a boat, and delivers a lot in a compact, timeless design.