Back Cove Blog

Revolutionizing the Ride: How Mercury’s 600HP V12 Powers the Future of Outboard Cruising


When Mercury Marine unveiled the 600HP Verado V12, it marked more than just an advancement in horsepower—it redefined what’s possible in outboard propulsion. As the world’s first V12 outboard engine, it brings a level of performance, control, and engineering that was once reserved for much larger inboard systems.

At its core, the Verado V12 was engineered to move larger boats over greater distances—delivering serious power without compromising comfort, efficiency, or control. Despite its size and capability, it remains remarkably quiet and composed at idle and cruising speeds, making it an ideal pairing for premium vessels that demand both muscle and refinement.

two mercury 600hp v12So what makes it so revolutionary?

First, there’s the headline stat—600 horsepower, the highest ever in an outboard from Mercury. But it’s the technology under the cowling that sets it apart. A two-speed automatic transmission optimizes torque and fuel burn at different RPM ranges, giving you powerful acceleration without sacrificing cruising efficiency. The independent steerable gearcase—yes, the entire lower unit moves instead of the engine—means tighter turns, better tracking, and less vibration at the helm.

Another standout feature—especially important for long-distance cruisers—is serviceability. The V12 was designed with accessibility in mind, allowing for routine maintenance, such as oil and gear lube changes, to be done while the boat is still in the water. A quick-access hatch on the cowling makes basic checks and top-offs simple, while major service intervals are spaced further apart than ever before. It’s a thoughtful upgrade that reduces downtime and keeps you focused on the journey ahead.

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For Back Cove Yachts, this innovation opens new doors—particularly with the Back Cove 39O.

Already known for its elegant profile and seaworthy hull, the 39O is built to perform with outboard power. With the addition of twin Mercury 600HP V12 engines, owners will experience greater cruising efficiency, reduced engine noise, and increased range thanks to the engine’s intelligent fuel management. Docking and low-speed maneuvering become more precise, thanks to the steerable gearcases that enhance control without moving the engines themselves.

The 600HP Verado V12 doesn’t just add power to the 39O—it elevates the entire experience, blending performance with the quiet confidence Back Cove owners have come to expect.

Whether you’re chasing horizons or enjoying a quiet afternoon at anchor, the 600HP Mercury Verado V12 gives you the best of both worlds: sheer power and sophisticated control. It’s not just the biggest—it’s the smartest, too.

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Back Cove Yachts Partners with Rockland Rotary to Build Inclusive Playground


In late August, members of the Back Cove Yachts team partnered up with the Rockland Rotary Club to help build an all-inclusive playground, bringing joy and accessibility to children in Mid-Coast Maine. This new playground, located at the former MacDougal School site, is designed for kids of all abilities, providing provides a safe and fun space for everyone to play.

The Rockland Rotary Club, approaching its 100th anniversary in 2024, made it their mission to build a playground that caters to children faced with physical, emotional, and or social challenges. Featuring over 10 play structures, including wheelchair-accessible equipment and sensory pods, the playground ensures all children can enjoy themselves, regardless of their abilities and just be kids.

Back Cove Yachts was honored to be part of this important community initiative. “We’re proud to support a project that gives back to local families and helps create a space where every child can feel included,” said Carol Worcester, Rockland Rotary’s President-Elect and Back Cove team member.

Thanks to donations, grants, and local fundraisers like the Rotary’s annual Bass Fishing Tournament, the playground’s $200,000 funding goal was met, and the grand opening brought smiles to children eager to explore the new space. The playground officially opened to the public in late August, offering families in the region a closer, more accessible option for inclusive play.

At Back Cove Yachts, supporting the local community is a core value, and we’re excited to see this playground become a cherished spot for families across the Mid-Coast.

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Serendipity in Nashville – reuniting a historic guitar with its maker


(Image credit: Mark Agnesi/Instagram)

In a serendipitous turn of events, a yacht broker from Connecticut played a part in reuniting a historic guitar with its maker…

Sabre & Back Cove Yachts recently hosted our dealer meeting in Nashville, TN with representatives from our dealerships around the country & the world.

Why did a Maine-based boatbuilder host an event in Nashville? Well, there are a couple good reasons! The first is that logistically-speaking, it is a relatively central location as we have a strong network of dealers all over… Secondly, and much more interestingly, there is a family connection between Sabre and Back Cove and Gibson. Our Chairman, Daniel Zilkha, has lead Sabre since the early 1990’s and Back Cove since its inception, while his son, Nat Zilkha, is the current Chairman of Gibson Guitars. Talk about a really neat connection between two iconic American manufacturing brands from very different industries!

Part of the trip included a night at the Gibson Garage to celebrate our dealers and give out the Dealer & Broker of the Year awards. As a part of the evening, we were treated to an incredible behind the scenes tour of the Garage with Mark Agnesi, Gibson’s Director of Brand Experience. One of the folks on the tour with us was the 2023 Back Cove Broker of the Year, Joe Nadeau, from Petzold’s Marine Center in CT. Joe was also part of the group that toured the Gibson manufacturing facility while we were in town.

Joe Nadeau, 2023 Back Cove Broker of the Year, and his wife, Nancy, at the Gibson Garage

Shortly after returning home, he stumbled across something quite interesting… Nadeau was browsing Facebook Marketplace when he came across a 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom that had once belonged to Mary Ford. Ford was a singer and guitarist who, along with her husband Les Paul, was one of the most popular musical acts of the 1950s.

“I don’t really play the guitar but am interested in the instrument, so I look for old guitars on Facebook Marketplace occasionally. One day while browsing something caught my eye, it was a 1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom, and it had been owned by one Mary Ford… the Mary Ford guitar popped up in my search because the owner lives within five miles of my home! The owner lives in close by and is a guitar collector and local business owner.

I’m very familiar with the story of Les Paul and Mary Ford, they were musical superstars of their day back in the 1950’s with several #1 hits. Their story is quite interesting! I knew the guitar was significant in musical history and especially in Gibson’s history. Mark Agnesi was so nice and we enjoyed the Gibson tour so much that I immediately thought he’d be interested.  I tracked down his email and sent him the link to the owner’s contact information, he jumped on it right away.  The seller drove it down to Nashville and really enjoyed the experience.”

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Mark Agnesi (@markagnesi)

It’s not every day that you stumble upon something as historic as this guitar, especially right after getting the behind the scenes tour at Gibson. To be able to play a part in returning that guitar to the brand for display in the Music City is truly special!

The guitar is now on display at the Gibson Garage, where it is a reminder of the company’s rich history and its association with some of the most important musicians of all time.

And in case you haven’t seen it, here’s a little video recap of our trip to Nashville and the Gibson Garage…

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Back Cove Yachts (@backcoveyachts)

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New Mercury V10 Verados & the Back Cove 34O


There is a certain standard we hold ourselves to as Maine boatbuilders, and we have an expectation of quality and performance that must be met by every single component of every Back Cove that goes out the doors and into the hands of our owners… When our partners expect the same out of their own products, it leads to some very exciting opportunities to give owners an even better experience on the water! 

One of those opportunities has come in the form of the newly released engine option from our friends at Mercury Marine – The Mercury 5.7L V10 Verado outboards –  which continue the legendary Verado engine familyʼs legacy of providing premium marine performance. With the strength of the outboard segment’s first V10 naturally aspirated powerhead, they deliver extraordinary power and capabilities so you can confidently explore beyond the horizon. Take command of the water with innovative SmartCraft® technologies and advanced digital controls that make boating effortless. Exceptionally smooth, quiet, and refined, Verado outboards transform your boating experience.

And the best part is that these engines are now available on the Back Cove line of outboards, the award-winning 34O and 39O!

When Mercury Marine announced the outboard segment’s first V10 naturally aspirated powerhead, there was a ton of buzz around the idea of putting them on our own line of outboards. Last week, our team had the chance to sea trial the newest Back Cove 34O equipped with twin Mercury 5.7L V10 400hp Verados. The design and engineering crew headed out alongside the team of boatbuilders to ensure that everything met our standards, and the results were telling… let’s just say there is a lot of excitement around what they saw!

Some of the highlights of the Mercury V10 Verados include:

Effortless Operation
Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) controls deliver smooth, quiet shifting and instant throttle response with zero hesitation. You can further enhance handling and performance with available Electric Steering for multi-engine boats.
 
Exceptionally Smooth & Quiet
The rugged, refined Advanced MidSection (AMS) mounting system cradles the powerhead to isolate vibration. Industry-leading technologies minimize noise, vibration, and harshness and ensure the V10 Verado outboards deliver an unsurpassed boating experience that delights the senses without overpowering them. At idle, cruise, and wide-open throttle, they’re quieter than all other outboards in their class.
 
Adaptive Speed Control
The Adaptive Speed Control feature lets you maintain engine rpm despite changes in load or conditions. Climbing large swells is easier. Cruising at low speeds is smoother. Carving out tight turns is effortless.

Precision Gearcase
At high speeds, the hydrodynamic gearcase slips effortlessly through the water, maximizing efficiency and enhancing stability. At low speeds, its large-diameter Revolution X™ prop powerfully grips the water, giving you confident, authoritative handling around the docks while providing instant hole shots when it’s time to move.
 
Advanced Sound Control
Choose the sound that moves you with the industry-exclusive Advanced Sound Control feature. It lets you toggle between a whisper-quiet exhaust tone or a throatier growl at startup and idle for those times you truly want to hear the horsepower.

Lightweight & Efficient
Calibrated to deliver full performance on 87-octane fuel, with efficiency-enhancing features such as a closed-loop fuel system and Advanced Range Optimization (ARO) that help extend your range. A durable aluminum engine block and weight-saving cowl materials further enhance performance by minimizing weight on the transom.

Thrilling Speed & Acceleration
V10 Verado outboards shift your expectations of what high-horsepower performance feels like. They come to life with impressively responsive power, propelling you to sensational top speeds.

and now with fully-electric power steering!

Electric Advantage
With no hydraulics, you get more space in the utility compartment of your boat and a cleaner transom installation. Electric Steering also minimizes noise and distraction – a meaningful benefit for Joystick Piloting for Outboards (JPO) applications when the engines actively hold the boat in position or maneuver the vessel.

Power Savings
An efficient design consumes less than half the electrical power as electro-hydraulic steering, leaving more power for running your favorite onboard accessories.

And the best part is, you’re fully covered. Right down to the controls and gauges. When your builder or dealer uses genuine Mercury gauges and controls when installing a new engine(s) on your boat, the warranty coverage for those rigging components matches the total warranty of your engine.

The Mercury 5.7L V10 Verado outboards are offered on the Back Cove 34O and the Back Cove 39O

Learn more about the V10’s at mercurymarine.com/v10

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2022 Newport International Boat Show Recap


Once again, the 2022 Newport International Boat Show kicked off our fall boat show season, and as expected, it was a great time! 

We were welcomed to Newport for pre-show preparation by monsoon-like conditions. Our home for the week became waterfront property as the downpour combined with high tide led to flooding in the streets. Boat shows involve all sorts of moving parts, and a small delay can cause major challenges, so despite the weather, we met the elements head-on. 

Move-in went smoothly and all the boats made it into their positions. By the time we dried ourselves out the storms were moving out and the perfect New England fall weather was settling in for the weekend. 

Many hands do make light work… the Back Cove and Sabre display went up quickly with a team of folks from our dealer network helping out. From there, the team went through final preparation to ensure we were ready for the gates to open on show day #1. 

Each year, thousands of people make their way to Newport and down onto the docks to get a first-hand look at some of the best, highest-quality boats on the market. Our display featured a 3-model line-up, with the Back Cove 34O, 39O, and 372 on the docks. The clock hit 10:00am on Thursday morning and the first wave of attendees funneled down the ramp, many of whom made a beeline towards us. The traffic on the docks stayed steady all day. That evening, we hosted a get-together at the display, serving delicious charcuterie, good drinks, and great conversation amongst all those who attended. It was a treat to host such a wide variety of folks from the Back Cove & Sabre families. There were boat owners, dealers and brokers, vendor partners, friends, family, and more in attendance, and we’re so grateful for all who came out.

The display stayed busy over the course of the rest of the show. It was not uncommon to hear vocal appreciation of the boats, comments about the quality and craftsmanship as well as the practicality of the designs were echoed by many of the visitors. Hearing those things reaffirms that we have an incredibly talented and thoughtful team, and is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Another thing that sets this team apart is their commitment to growth, and that was demonstrated shortly after our return from the show. After the customary “How was the show?”, the follow-up questions from the team were focused on what feedback we heard about how we can get better. 

While we have another year until next year’s Newport show, we’re gearing up for the 2022 United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis, MD. You can find us on the F2 Docks from October 6th-9th, so if you’re in the area, please come and see us!

 

Get your tickets for the 2022 United States Powerboat Show here

 

 

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