The largest American manufacturer of classic mahogany motorboats intends to enter new markets and attract cruisers craving something different. It’s doing so with the new Evolution Collection, a three-model range, complementing its more traditional boats.
The Evolution Collection includes the Commuter (above), the Center Console (below), and The Monaco (bottom). Naturally, the Commuter bears some resemblance to the fabled commuter boats of the early 20th century. Commuters were low, swift boats that took residents of Long Island’s North Shore to their offices on Wall Street in New York City during the 1930s. Hacker-Craft’s Evolution Collection Commuter measures 37’5” (11.43 meters) and has twin inboards. Between the open cabin and aft seating, you can accommodate a good crowd.

While the Commuter should appeal to traditionalists, the Center Console would make a good tender for watersports enthusiasts. Hacker-Craft builds her in sizes from 30 to 35 feet (9.14 to 10.7 meters), with a modified version of the hull from its Sport series. That particular series is pretty popular, due to it being ideal for swimming (thanks to a swim platform), waterskiing, and tubing. The Center Console series comes with either inboard or outboard engines, the latter a first for the company.
Finally, The Monaco is the largest of the Evolution Collection, at 40 feet (about 12.2 meters). She’s further the most modern of the models. Hacker-Craft equips her with an open transom, a big swim platform, flexible seating arrangements, and a customizable cuddy cabin.

All of the Evolution Collection boats are customizable in multiple ways, in fact. You can choose hull colors and stains, for example, as well as deck stains. Seat colors and configurations, interiors, and more are for you to tailor, too.
The Evolution Collection will see construction in the builder’s relatively new facilities in upstate New York. Hacker-Craft moved its operations early last year. Specifically, it moved into a facility offering 40 percent more space. George Badcock, the company’s president and CEO, says the intention was “to help us to attract new employees and make it easier for prospective customers to view and discuss purchasing a Hacker-Craft.”
Furthermore, the extra space allows taking on more boat restorations, a quickly growing segment of its business. Hacker-Craft first opened its doors in 1908. Notably, some of its early deliveries are still on the water.
Hacker-Craft hackerboat.com
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