among the last prominent sailing ships built before steamships came to dominate the industry. While steamships may have supplanted sailing ships in some contexts, this prominence just before the decline led Maine boatbuilders to remain in demand for sailing yachts and motor yachts; a common modern design influenced by coastal Maine's ubiquitous lobster boats is made by several manufacturers under names resembling 'Downeaster'.

In Maine, "Downeast" may refer more narrowly to the easternmost section of