Pacific Asian Enterprises (PAE) has announced that it will have three of its famous Nordhavn trawlers at the Miami International Boat Show next week.  On display will be a Nordhavn 43, Miss B Havn, which is for sale; a Nordhavn 47, Aqua Daze, privately owned, and Always Friday, a well-known example of the Nordhavn 55 model.  Nordhavns are significant boats; they’re designed for ocean passagemaking and the qualities that give them that capability are not subtle.  For example, my own boat is the same length as the N43, yet weighs less than half the Nordhavn’s 54,540 pounds.  Nordhavn reports that two 43’s with husband and wife teams made Pacific crossings in 2007.

Nordhavn 43

For fans of the Nordhavn fleet — and they are many, and growing in number — there will also be plenty of other news to talk about, as well.  The company is also preparing two new boats for delivery, each first of a new line.  The 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher and the Nordhavn 86; new queen of the fleet, are in sea trials and pre-commissioning work at the builder’s facilities. 

Nordhavn 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher

The N55 at the show is Always Friday, owned by Buddy and Kathy Bethea, who have already put more than 13,000 miles under her keel.  Buddy is somewhat of a prolific writer, too, and his website is a fantastic, and entertaining resource for anyone thinking of bluewater cruising, or even dreaming about it.  (ed. note: It seems as though the website is no longer active; and Always Friday is for sale on the Nordhavn website)

Over the last several years, PAE has expanded the Nordhavn brand tremendously.  The N62 used to be the queen of the fleet, but has been passed in quick succession by the N68 (Ken and Roberta Williams have the first and Ken maintains a great website and travelogue featuring his boat, Sans Souci, the N64, N72 and N76, and now the 75EYF and N86. 

Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer

There is also a new motorsailer in the line, which I wrote about earlier here.

There may be something even more surprising coming soon from Nordhavn.  I can’t yet say what it is, but this company has BIG ambitions, and so far they’ve lived up to them.  Stay tuned.   I’ll report more from the Show and let you know what I hear.

Copyright 2008 by Thomas M. Tripp

Glacier Bay dropped me a line today to let me know that they will have a diesel-electric catamaran at the Strictly Sail venue of this year’s Miami International Boat Show.  AND, the boat will be available for customers to ride, so they can see and feel the differences with an electron-powered boat.

Glacier Bay diesel-electric-powered Alwoplast catamaran

The boat on display will be Asanagi, a Crowther design, #95 - MKII, 47 ft. in length, built by Alwoplast in Valdivia, Chile.  In fact, the boat just came up from Chile under its own power so there will be experienced crew there to talk about the trip and how all the systems performed.  The boat will be at dock slip L1B, in an area referred to as the “Hardrock Dock.”
 
The Glacier Bay team will have their systems on display at the Bayside location at booth 219 and also at booth R47 at the Convention Center.
 
If, like me, you’re fascinated by the potential of diesel-electric systems and technology, like the OSSA Powerlite technology developed by Glacier Bay, take a ride on an actual diesel-electric boat and see how it works in the real world.

Copyright 2008 Thomas M. Tripp