2022 Back Cove 372
Overview
The Back Cove 372 is a single-engine cruiser that can be easily handled by a couple, especially with a standard Side-Power bow thruster and optional stern thruster. It offers great visibility from the helm and companion seat through the large tri-pane windshield framed with glare-reducing black mullions. A bi-fold stainless-and-glass door connects the salon and cockpit and provides outstanding sightlines aft. A convenient helm pod on the Llebroc Ultra-leather adjustable helm seat gives access to controls and electronics.
Engine
The 372 accelerated smoothly as we throttled up to a wide-open speed of 33 mph. Settling back to 2,500 rpm for a fast cruise of 26.5 mph, the engine used 21.1 gph, yielding 1.26 mpg. The single 600 hp Cummins QSC8.3 diesel provides a range of 340 miles, a respectable distance for long coastal cruises. Running the Back Cove provided us with an overall feel of comfort and security. At 22,100 pounds, the boat tracked evenly and cut 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 resides in a tunnel, partially protected by a keel, skeg and rudder, creating a reasonable 3-foot-7-inch draft.
Like the lobster boats from which it loosely derives, the 372 can handle the rugged conditions of coastal Maine, where it is built. Back Cove cores the hull bottom with PVC foam, then vacuum-infuses and reinforces it with a resin-infused foam-core stringer system. For the deck, end-grain balsa is scored into a fabric-backed grid, and resin infusion encapsulates each cell, preventing water intrusion. Back Cove mounts cleats, rails and fittings through solid sections, so fasteners don’t penetrate the coring. Balsa retains strength in thinner panels, reducing weight in long stretches of deck.
Read Next: Back Cove 340
Interior and Accessories
Two cabins, a salon table that converts to another berth, a head with a separate shower, a fully equipped galley, and 120-gallon freshwater capacity make the Back Cove 372 an ideal boat for couples or a cruising family.
How We Tested
- Engine: Single 600 hp Cummins QSC8.3 diesel
- Drive/Prop: Straight inboard/28″ x 30″ 4-blade nibral RH
- Gear Ratio: 2.40:1
- Fuel Load: 300 gal. Water On Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.
High Points
- Durable construction and curved hull sections provide a smooth, quiet ride.
- Blue hull and Down East lines blend traditional with modern styling in a contemporary but distinctly nautical look.
- Single-diesel power means less fuel burn and less maintenance, extends cruising range, and saves money.
Low Points
- At 3 feet, 10 inches wide by 6 feet long, the guest berth is tight for two adults.
- Interior lounge seats are too low to see out the windshield when running.
- Companion seat adjacent to the helm seat hems in the helmsman.
Toughest Competitor
A similar Down East-style cruiser is the Legacy 36, which is slightly smaller and boasts epoxy composite construction (starting at $850,000). Another boat in the category is the John Williams Boat Co. Stanley 38 ($950,000).
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $880,545 (as tested spring 2022) |
| LOA: | 42’8″ |
| Beam: | 13’3″ |
| Draft: | 3’7″ |
| Displacement (full load): | 22,100 lb. |
| Transom Deadrise: | 17 degrees |
| Bridge Clearance (mast up): | 12’6″ |
| Max Cabin Headroom: | 6’11” |
| Fuel Capacity: | 300 gal. |
| Max Horsepower: | 600 |
| Available Power: | Single 600 hp Cummins QSX8.3 diesel inboard or single 600 hp Volvo Penta D-8 diesel inboard |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Back Cove Yachts – Rockland, Maine; 207-594-8821; backcoveyachts.com
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