The joy of building and running a Hinckley: An owner's experience with the Talaria 48 MKII
by Ted Gersen 8 Aug 2020 22:26 PDT
"Building a boat is just about as much fun as you can have—it's about as much fun as running one." David Neill and his wife, Scottie, will take delivery of their third Hinckley this week. Their Talaria 48 MKII Flybridge, Touch of Grey, is an exquisitely appointed yacht and a fine example of what is possible with the team at Hinckley.
While each model in this line of motor yachts presents exemplary base specifications from stem to stern, the Hinckley Custom Division provides the opportunity to do something special. The Neills worked together with the Hinckley team to customize Touch of Grey to their specifications incorporating custom elements including seating, wrap around flybridge, state room details, Seakeeper, stowable sun pads, storage and finishes.
Mr. Neill spent five years researching and planning the purchase of his first yacht. He ultimately settled on Hinckley because of the people and their knowledge base, performance and ease of use. He said, "when you buy a boat, it is a partnership. You need communication and someone who answers the phone - and that's what you get with Hinckley. Communication and confidence."
Through three builds with Hinckley, including a Talaria 43, Talaria 43 Flybridge and now a Talaria 48 MKII Flybridge, Mr. and Mrs. Neill have learned the possibilities are nearly boundless when thinking about how they spend their time onboard their boat and precious time on the water. "With [the Hinckley Custom Division], there are very few compromises, and you just don't have those options with many boat manufacturers," says David.
The Neills enjoyed their experience on their Talaria 43 and Talaria 43 Flybridge, but wanted a little more space and knew the Talaria 48 MKII Flybridge was their next move without hesitation. They were focused on performance, comfort and spaces that were fun to gather with friends. The Neills came to the table with a number of ideas, including drawings of their vision for the flybridge where they enjoy relaxing and socializing. "We said hey, this is what we want and the team at Hinckley worked with us, took our ideas and made them a reality... Touch of Grey has the most inviting flybridge I have seen on any boat this size," says David.
Performance was another key focus when planning for Touch of Grey. David said, "one of the things I really wanted was a Seakeeper—but I wanted to maintain the 32 knot cruising speed we had on our previous boats. We worked with the teams at Hinckley and Seakeeper to develop a plan and we're cruising at 35 knots on our Talaria 48 MKII."
When Mr. and Mrs. Neill pick up Touch of Grey next week, they are planning to make stops in Newport, RI, Nantucket, MA, then head south toward Hilton Head, SC with plans for time in Florida this winter and the Bahamas in the spring. The Neills put nearly 450 hours on their Talaria 43 Flybridge in one season. David said, "if you're going to run your own boat, you have to have the support behind you... you have a partner in Hinckley and the confidence you need."
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Neill on their Talaria 48 MKII Flybridge! The team at Hinckley looks forward to hearing about their adventures and memories made aboard Touch of Grey.