Chasing 70

TEXAN MIKE MCVEAN TAKES DELIVERY OF SUNSHINE , A CUSTOMIZED TALARIA 48 MKII. BY ERIN LENTZ

Mike McVean, owner of Sunshine, a 48-foot Talaria MKII, has a penchant for red. Whether piloting a jet, driving his Jeep through Dallas, or navigating open water, his vehicle of choice is finished in masculine pops of color. So, when he purchased Sunshine and collaborated with Newport Yacht Interiors on color palettes and fabric selections, naturally, red anchored the interior design inspiration. The result? A boat as stylish as it is powerful — Sunshine, like its captain, is sophisticated yet poised for play.

“I had a 38-footer for 10 years, which was fine, but it was a small fishing boat, and I couldn’t live on it,” says McVean. “I went to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and when I met the Hinckley team and discovered you could customize the interior of a Talaria 48 MKII, I was hooked.”

That freedom to personalize Sunshine closed the deal. “When I was shopping with other boat builders, I’d ask, ‘Can you make a small bedroom, a second bathroom?’ And the answer was no, in every case. I called Hinckley and asked,

‘Could you build it just like I wanted inside?’ and they said yes.”

The build began in February 2021, and after delivery in April of 2023, Sunshine has all the bells and whistles McVean desires — the typical second stateroom is a large office with a serious view and highspeed Starlink internet service. And seeing as he lives aboard throughout the year, he expanded the master bedroom and bath.

“What also blew me away was the hull number, 42,” he says. “The fact there were only that many built in 11 years feels extremely special. I entertain a lot of my people — customers, friends, family, and extended family — so I wanted it to be great for entertaining and for me to live on. It turned out perfectly.”

An avid adventurist, McVean is quick to add that Sunshine will also allow him to slow down. “My favorite thing to do is fly to my boat and sit on it — relax, bring a couple good books, and not move.” He adds that Hinckley’s reputable service team was a big part of his purchase decision. “When I’m running my own boat and don’t have a captain, I can pull into a Hinckley service location anywhere along the east coast, and say, ‘Here are three things that I’d like to have done, and then put her in your heated warehouse. Then I’ll call you when I’m coming back, and I’d like her back on the water, and please fill her with fuel. Hinckley does a 113-point check on it to make sure she’s all set — such an easy experience for a boat operator.”

Sunshine made a months-long 2023 debut, beginning with a trip from the Maine service yard to New Hampshire. With past boats, McVean would head straight for the Bahamas — one of his favorite places to tackle open seas. With Sunshine, he’s keen to keep the boat on the water versus storing her for winter. “I call it ‘Chasing 70’ — wherever it’s 70 degrees, that’s where the boat will be,” he says. “It’s like I have this new mistress,” he jokes. “And she’s taking up all my time.”