Picnic Boat Adventures: The Best Waters in North America
A Picnic Boat is the kind of boat that makes you want to keep moving. The gentle under-powered feel, the comfortable cockpit, the classic lines — this is a boat designed for exploration, not for parking at a dock.
Here are the best cruising grounds for your Picnic Boat.
1. Chesapeake Bay, Maryland/Virginia
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
Protected waters, excellent marinas, and endless coves to explore. The Chesapeake is essentially a massive inland sea with more shore to swim than California. Your Picnic Boat shallow draft lets you explore backwaters that bigger boats cannot reach.
Must-see spots:
- Madison Ditch on the Virginia side
- The Choptank River and Edgewater
- Smith Island for the best crab cakes in North America
2. Maine Coast
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Hinckleys home turf. Cruising the coast of Maine in a Picnic Boat is like driving a classic car through the most beautiful scenery in New England. The rocky shores, the lobster boats, the lighthouses.
Must-see spots:
- Mount Desert Island and Acadia
- The Mid Coast harbors (Rockport, Camden, Rockland)
- Cube Harbor in Cutler (where Hinckley was founded)
3. The Great Lakes
Difficulty: Moderate
Freshwater cruising with dramatic shorelines. Lake Michigan western shore offers secluded beaches, Lake Erie southern shore has a vibrant marina culture.
4. Gulf Coast, Florida
Difficulty: Beginner
Warm water, protected bay systems, and an incredible winter cruising season. The Gulf side of Floridas panhandle and the Ten Thousand Islands offer miles of mangrove-lined waterways.
Bottom Line
A Picnic Boat is the perfect companion for cruising. She is slow enough to appreciate the scenery but fast enough to reach it. Wherever you go, take your time.