SOLEIL - Hinckley FOR SALE

The Hinckley Picnic 36 EP stands as a legendary Downeast motor yacht and jet-drive dayboat, blending timeless lines with modern performance, executed with impeccable craftsmanship, refined finishes, and express-cruiser pedigree.

Overview

The Hinckley Picnic 36 EP remains perhaps the most iconic Downeast jet boat of all time, its timeless sheer and varnished accents given fresh purpose by modern performance and a superbly executed fit and finish. Cherished by a highly experienced serial yacht owner who spared no expense on maintenance and upgrades, this EP presents exactly as her notable highlights and specifications promise. Competitively priced and just out of the Hinckley SWH shop with new fuel tanks, she is booked for heated indoor storage and stands fully ready to carry her next owner into spring with confidence and style.

Notable highlights

A 2017 Hinckley JetStick Upgrade 1.5 brings fingertip precision and the seamless low‑speed control Hinckley jet boats are famed for, complemented by freshly reupholstered Stidd seats that elevate comfort at the helm. Everyday practicality meets refinement with an anchor windlass and a storable, fold‑out bow roller discreetly housed in the anchor locker, while all deck hatches were replaced in 2025 for turnkey confidence. The gleam of a varnished teak wood package and varnished teak handrails frames her profile with unmistakable Hinckley elegance.

Construction

The hull is a Kevlar/E‑glass hybrid outer skin over a balsa and Corecell core with a carbon fiber inner skin, all SCRIMPED with vinylester resin for strength, stiffness, and long‑term durability. The deck and cockpit are E‑glass with balsa core, likewise SCRIMPED with vinylester resin, delivering the dry, quiet ride and structural integrity that define the Hinckley standard.

Engine/mechanical

Power comes from a Yanmar 6LY2A‑STP 440‑hp diesel mated to a Hamilton 292 Jet Drive through a ZF IRM220PL reduction transmission, delivering the smooth thrust, shoal‑friendly draft, and confident maneuverability that define a true jet Hinckley. A Vetus 12‑volt bow thruster integrates with the Hinckley custom JetStick Gen1.5 control system to harmonize jet and thruster for intuitive docking. Systems are thoughtfully specified with a Yanmar fuel filter/water separator, a tachometer with engine hour gauge, dedicated fuel, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges, alarms for high‑low oil pressure and high water temperature, and a water jet nozzle direction indicator for at‑a‑glance readouts. A wet exhaust muffler system, manual hydraulic steering pump, and acoustic‑lined foam engine box insulation with an engine box exhaust fan keep operation refined and quiet, while safety is underscored by a Halon engine compartment fire suppression system. Bilge management is robust, with two electric 1500‑GPH 12‑volt bilge pumps on float switches, a Whale emergency bilge pump mounted in the cockpit locker, and an in‑line 12‑volt automatic shower sump pump.

Tanks are equally seamanlike: an aluminum 27‑gallon holding tank with overboard discharge, a stainless steel 6‑gallon hot water heater heated by shore power and the engine loop, and two upgraded polypropylene fuel tanks installed by Hinckley in 2025 for a total of 150 gallons.

Deck features

A flush foredeck anchor locker keeps ground tackle tidy, framed by a rounded, tapered, varnished teak toe rail in the signature Hinckley profile and a varnished teak eyebrow molding around the cabin top. Teak cabin‑top handrails run along the sides and aft edge of the pilothouse roof, while four elliptical ports on the house sides—all opening—balance light and ventilation. A Hinckley pilothouse mast carries a spotlight and a radome painted to match the deck, and five low‑profile opening aluminum hatches punctuate the cabin top. Docking and fendering are effortless thanks to custom Hinckley 316L stainless steel mooring cleats at mid‑rail, easily reached from the cockpit, and Wichard stainless steel pad eyes with chafe strips for hanging fenders.

The Muir electric windlass package is neatly concealed within the flush foredeck anchor locker and includes a stainless Delta 22# anchor, 15’ stainless chain, a 150’ anchor rode, and a fold‑out stainless steel bow roller. The windlass may be operated from the helm station or via a handheld remote at the anchor locker.

Electronics

Navigation is modern and cohesive: a Garmin GPS/Chartplotter (2017) pairs with a Garmin 4kW Radar (2017) and a Garmin 420 VHF (2017), all complemented by a Ritchie compass and a Garmin multi‑function display providing depth, water temperature, and speed. Power management is handled by a Xantrex inverter/charger, and night operations are enhanced by an ACR RLC 100 spotlight with a helm‑mounted remote control. Entertainment is immersive, with a powerful Fusion stereo receiver featuring Bluetooth integration, JL aftermarket speakers, and three zones including a subwoofer to set the mood throughout the boat.

Cockpit

Warm teak‑covered cockpit coamings frame a sole with molded‑in nonskid and direct‑overboard drainage scuppers, while lockers with varnished louvered teak doors keep gear organized and dry. A cockpit shower with a mixing valve is tucked beneath the starboard side gunwale, and boarding is effortless via a stainless steel cockpit ladder with two teak steps that mounts port or starboard on stainless steel brackets, complemented by a teak boarding step for either side deck. Forward cockpit seating is cleverly integrated into the Picnic EP engine box, which incorporates a wet bar and an aft‑facing cushioned seat upholstered in blue and white striped fabric; a deck shower/water outlet with a hot‑and‑cold mixing valve adds versatility.

At the aft end of the pilothouse, the wet bar provides a molded sink with a foldaway faucet and hot and cold pressure water, an insulated, self‑draining ice box, a storage drawer to port and a locker to starboard, with varnished teak covers over both sink and cooler. The engine box/wet bar and seat assembly is hinged at the aft end and raised by an electric lift for easy access to the engine. Aft, a full‑width settee carries matching blue‑and‑white striped back and seat cushions, with two hinged lids beneath to access removable storage tubs and bilge spaces, and cup holders just forward on either side.

Pilothouse

The pilothouse balances visibility, protection, and craft with two sliding side windows and two fixed forward windows, heavy‑duty self‑parking intermittent windshield wipers with freshwater washers, and molded‑in nonskid gelcoat underfoot. Teak‑trimmed windows and shelves add warmth, while the insulated white overhead carries four acrylic opening hatches and four overhead low‑voltage halogen lights on a custom dimmer. Practical touches include a storage locker beneath the pilothouse settee and three cup holders, a removable pilothouse table on an adjustable pedestal, and a varnished teak locking companionway door, plus two varnished teak handrails under the aft outboard ends of the pilothouse cabin top. Comfort is amplified by a sound‑dampening acoustic headliner, ivory‑color drop curtains, and interior window sun UV shades for all four pilothouse windows.

At the helm, a varnished teak custom instrument pod and a stainless steel steering wheel with a varnished wood rim frame the Hinckley JetStick® new in 2017. Engine instrumentation is complete, with a tachometer and hour meter, oil pressure, water temperature, nozzle indicator, and fuel level, while a top‑opening locker with chart storage keeps passage plans tidy. The pilothouse roof shades the additional, spacious seating aft, where a triangular varnished teak table on an adjustable pedestal hinges open to create a larger square. Storage is further enhanced by a locker beneath the settee.

Interior

Below, satin‑varnished cherry with full sheathing and a varnished teak‑and‑holly cabin sole set a warm, classic tone. Natural light and privacy balance through an opening overhead hatch with a sliding privacy shade and four oval opening ports below.

The port galley is fully equipped, with a stainless steel sink and Grohe fixture, hot and cold pressure water, and a Sea Frost 12‑volt cold‑plate refrigerator in a self‑draining box. Cooking is handled by a Force 10 two‑burner stainless steel stove, a GE 1000W microwave oven, and a 110‑volt outlet, with safety assured by a remote propane shut‑off, an LP gas sniffer, and a Trident propane shut‑off system. Stowage is abundant, including a pantry locker with an optional hinged top, an under‑counter pullout garbage receptacle, three cherry pullout drawers, outboard and under‑sink lockers, and thoughtful touches like a step light in the galley, a 12V Frigast light, and a Freedom HF charger/inverter panel. An opening port with a screen adds ventilation.

The head is yacht‑finished, with a solid cherry panel door, an easy‑clean molded fiberglass sole, and a varnished cherry countertop with an under‑mount porcelain sink. A Grohe faucet/handheld shower delivers hot and cold pressure water. The Sealand Vacu‑Flush electric head is plumbed to a 27‑gallon aluminum holding tank with overboard discharge and monitored by a Tankwatch holding tank level indicator. A mirror on the forward bulkhead with a cherry frame, cherry‑faced lockers above and outboard of the vanity, a drawer with a cherry face beside the marine head, and a locker under the vanity keep essentials tidy, while a 110‑volt outlet, an opening port with a screen, and two 12V Frigast lights round out the space.

Forward, the V‑berth converts to a double berth with an insert and matching cushion. Storage lockers beneath have shelves and easy‑access cherry drop‑front doors, with additional forepeak stowage behind a louvered cherry door and a hanging locker just aft to starboard. Entertainment and practicality continue with two stereo speakers mounted port and starboard on the forward bulkhead, varnished cherry shelves over the berths (with the port shelf accommodating a television), an overhead opening hatch with an Ocean Air Sky screen/shade, and two 12V Frigast lights.

Additional equipment

A varnished burgee pennant staff with a flush socket and a stern‑mounted 4 ft. varnished teak ensign pole with socket set off her heritage. Practical extras include a boat hook mounted under the side deck, dock lines, and the full suite of safety items required to meet USCG standards, along with a life raft. For protection at rest, she carries a Stamoid aft canvas cover and interior pilothouse window covers.