Jake Grainger is a perfectionist. Or, as he explains it, he’s passionate about things being done correctly. This passion was nurtured when he entered the Coast Guard at age 17, and it drove him to establish a successful American manufacturing company that produces precision screw machine products.
Grainger’s other passion is boating. He loves being on the water, and he loves fishing, particularly offshore fishing in the Northeast canyons, where being detail-oriented and doing things correctly is the surest way to achieve success and return home safely.
Over several decades of boating, he has figured out what he likes, needs, and wants in a fishing boat. For his newest boat, he wanted an outboard-powered hull under 30 feet in length that had the range to get offshore and back. He needed a cabin or pilothouse, someplace where he and his wife could be comfortable and protected from the elements. When he checked out the NorthCoast line, he liked what he saw—great design, big windows, a feeling of openness, and a company president who shared his passion for doing things the right way.
The NorthCoast line of boats is produced by C&C Marine, Inc., a Bristol, Rhode Island, boat builder owned and operated by Joe DaPonte. DaPonte is a hands-on owner who spends his time on the factory floor, overseeing every detail of the manufacturing process. For Grainger, who has spent over 40 years on the floor of his manufacturing company, the connection was immediate.
“I’m a technical guy, and I want to know how my boat is being built, who is building it, and what their skill level is,” said Grainger. “I met Joe, and I saw the way he runs his factory, and I thought, this is the guy I want to deal with, and these are the people I want to build my boat.”
At the time, the NorthCoast 27 was a new, untested design. However, Grainger knew enough about boat design to see that the hull of the 27 would perform. For example, he liked the low length-to-width ratio that would give the boat stability at low speed. When he questioned whether the boat would be able to track, DaPonte explained that a keel in the hull would take care of that. In fact, every question Grainger asked, no matter how trivial, had either already been addressed by DaPonte’s team or was given serious consideration.
“Every request I made was accommodated with a smile,” said Grainger. “I made changes to the sink area in the cockpit, modifying it to become a tackle center. I gave feedback on the hardtop construction and the outrigger mountings, and shared my preferences on items as small as the vents.”
Some of Grainger’s modifications were custom for his hull, while others have been incorporated into the design of the NorthCoast 27. Between the two of them, no detail was left to chance.
LOA: 27′ 10″
Dry Weight: 6,300 lbs.
Power (max): 500 hp
Fuel Capacity: 240 gal.
“Even the placement of the fuel tanks was deliberate, out to the sides of the hull and down low, for additional stability,” explained Grainger. “And the fit and finish are phenomenal, with quality components everywhere. Joe used the absolute best components, the highest-quality wiring, and the most reliable LED lighting.”
Grainger’s time running the boat last year only increased his affinity for the NorthCoast 27 hull, which is powered by twin 250 Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboards. “The boat handles like a sports car,” said Grainger. “It leaps out on plane, turns quickly like a go-kart, and can stay on plane at slow speeds. This gives me the ability to dial it back in rough stuff, to under 15 miles per hour, and keep it on plane without any pounding or slamming.”
He’s also a fan of the boat’s huge cockpit for offshore trolling and the wide array of rod storage options, including custom rocket launchers he added to the hard top. And the wide beam and inherent stability of the hull have made bottom-fishing trips more comfortable for him and his wife, with a minimum of rocking and rolling when drifting for fluke.
With two full-size berths, a stand-up head area and plenty of storage, the 27 is designed for comfortable overnighting. Last season, Grainger and his son spent the night aboard, anchored up off Martha’s Vineyard to get an early start on a run out to the tuna grounds. Unfortunately, rough seas at sunrise forced them to pull the plug and head back to New Bedford Harbor. However, Grainger plans to make up for lost fishing time this season.
“I’ve owned a lot of boats, but I’m especially taken with the NorthCoast,” said Grainger. “I can’t wait to get back on it.”
