OceanLines » Boats

Nordhavn 86 Still Queen of the Fleet — For Now

Editor — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:58:38 +0000

Nordhavn 86 -- Current Queen of the Fleet

For a little while longer this year–until the giant Nordhavn 120 is launched–the Nordhavn 86 is still the largest boat from this famous bluewater brand of trawlers. And in many ways, she is already a superyacht. At 400,000 lbs she has as much mass as many in the 120’ to 140’ class, so this 86-footer won’t leave you with a case of three-foot-itis. I took a look at the N86 at last fall’s Fort Lauderdale show and wrote up a piece that was just published on Yachtworld.com.

P.A.E. Introduces New Nordhavn 52 Coastal Pilot

Editor — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:57:05 +0000

Nordhavn 52 Coastal Pilot Profile -- Image Courtesy of P.A.E.

The builders of the famous Nordhavn brand of ocean-crossing, full-displacement yachts, this week introduced a brand-new design – the 52 Coastal Pilot — that reestablishes a coastal cruising model in the company’s fleet. The original 35 Coastal Pilot has been discontinued for several years, but Nordhavn admirers continued to clamor for a replacement.

Well, this is a much bigger boat than the 35 CP, but its semi-displacement hull and 8-15 knot cruising speed and lighter weight than a traditional deep-hull Nordhavn may be the sweet spot for potential customers looking for a less ambitious entry into the Nordhavn fleet.

Nordhavn 52 Coastal Pilot Layout -- Image Courtesy of P.A.E.

The new 52 Coastal Pilot has a classic sedan configuration with liveaboard-quality owners’ cabin and a second guest stateroom. A second head with stall shower will service the guest accommodations and double as a day head.

Nordhavn 52 Coastal Pilot Deck Layout -- Image Courtesy of P.A.E.

The new boat will have a displacement of about 52,000 pounds, which is nearly the same as the Nordhavn 40, currently the smallest boat in the fleet. It will be barely half the mass of the current full-displacement N52, however. Range with 800 gallons of fuel powering twin Cummins QSB 5.9 liter, 480 hp diesels should be about 1,000 miles. Larger engines, with higher top-end speeds, are also available. Even though it is designed to be a coastal cruiser, the 52 CP will comply with CE Category A certification for unrestricted offshore recreational use.

True to its liveaboard design target, the 52 CP will have eight 255 amp hour AGM batteries for starting and house needs, along with a 3,500 watt inverter/charger and a 20 kW Onan generator with its own starting batteries.

Here’s a full rundown on the features:

Designed to comply with CE Category A certification for unrestricted offshore recreational use
Twin Cummins QSB 5.9 liter – 480 hp diesel engines with electronic controls on fly bridge and interior helm station
Heavily insulated stand up engine room with molded fiberglass floors and highly detailed overhead and walls with three access points.
Engine room fitted with Delta T intake and exhaust blowers with Delta T moisture eliminators
2 Molded fiberglass fuel tanks with gravity supply reservoir for absolute reliability in fuel delivery
Two Molded fiberglass water tanks
Molded fiberglass holding tank
Bennett Premium trim tabs
Side Power 11 hp, 24 volt bow thruster
Eight 255 amp hour AGM batteries for engine starting and house power
3500 watt inverter/charger
20 KW Onan generator with separate starting batteries
Cruisair reverse cycle air-conditioning – heating through out
Galley appliances including refrigerator freezer with ice maker, electric cook top and convection microwave
Bosch Washer and dryer with separate Uline freezer in basement utility area
Imtra LED lighting throughout
Muir 3500 lb horizontal electric windlass with 110 lb anchor and 400 feet 3/8” chain
Flybridge with fixed stainless steel and fiberglass bimini and LED overhead lighting
Steelhead 600-lb. tender crane

General Specifications are as follows:

LOA: 52’ 1 ½”
LWL: 48 11 ½”
Draft : 4’ 3 ½”
Beam: 15’ 10”
Displ. 52,000
Water 340 gallons
Fuel 800 gallons
Holding 80 gallons

Lots more information is available at the Nordhavn brand website.

Florida Dealer Delivers the 100th Ranger Tug 29

Editor — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:41:32 +0000

100th Ranger 29 on Trailer

Wefings Marine, the Apalachicola, Florida-based Ranger Tugs dealer, recently delivered the 100th Ranger Tug 29 to her new owners. The 100th boat was sold by Marc Grove, who owns the dealership. Grove also sold the first R29 in 2009. Wefings Marine has also committed to buying the first of the new R31 series.

Grove said,

“We love having the Ranger Tugs as part of our line-up. The boats are the perfect size for gunkholing around the Intracoastal waterways but their layout and features allow owners to take them offshore or to more inland waters if they prefer. The “trailerable trawler” is an increasingly popular class of boat as people downsize and look for comfortable and economical alternatives to larger and less efficient boats.”

Wefings Marine will have boats available at the Miami, Jacksonville and Baypoint Boat Shows this year.

Ranger Tugs Announces New Ranger 31′

Editor — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:22 +0000

New Ranger Tugs 31' Layout

New Ranger Tugs 31' Rendering

Fluid Motion, LLC, designers and builders of the Ranger Tugs line of trailerable “pocket trawlers” this week announced a new flagship to the fleet — the Ranger 31′. The new R31 will make its debut at the Seattle Boat Show from January 26 to February 5; followed by an expected East Coast debut at the Miami Boat Show, February 16-20.

I’ll include the text of the company’s press release below because it’s fact-heavy and promotion-moderate, but a few thoughts of my own first. The R31 extends the fleet logically and will allow current and future Ranger Tugs owners to stay with the brand as their size requirements grow. This is something of a Holy Grail for boat brands; a model lineup that allows the brand to keep its customers as their needs change. The R31 includes a flybridge, which is new for the brand and will undoubtedly appeal to buyers in sunnier climes, while retaining the all-weather flexibility of the pilothouse helm station.

Here’s the press copy from Ranger Tugs:

“Kent, WA—Fluid Motion, LLC, the designers and builders of the popular line of Ranger Tugs have introduced the newest model in the fleet—the Ranger 31. The new R31 will debut this month at the Seattle Boat Show in the Stadium Exhibition Center, January 26-Feburary 5. Hull #2 is expected to make the East Coast debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 16-20 at Sea Isle Marina on Biscayne Bay.

The R31 shares many of the features and qualities of her smaller sisterships but some notable additions to this larger model make her ideal for extended cruising while still being a trailerable trawler. The R31 is the first Ranger Tug to feature a flybridge equipped with electronic controls at both the upper and lower helm. The flybridge also retracts to allow for trailering the 31’. The builders at Ranger Tugs also equipped the foredeck with seating and a table that can be raised or lowered depending on whether the boat is under way or at anchor or dock for entertaining. In addition to the extra seating now available on the flybridge and foredeck the 31’ allows for a larger cockpit area with wraparound seating and extra seating that folds out of the gunwale. When not entertaining, seats are folded leaving the cockpit unencumbered.

The interior layout of the R31 features two staterooms—one large island berth forward with en suite head and a midship berth and day head. Those who are familiar with Ranger Tugs models will recognize the galley layout and lower helm station that maximize interior space. A starboard side door provides easy access from the lower helm to the side decks so crew can get to the bow for line handling.

“We’ve been working on the R31 for the last year,” shares Jeff Messmer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ranger Tugs. “While we do have owners that are eager to upgrade to a larger model, the R31 allows us to introduce Ranger Tugs to a set of boaters who prefer a mid-size cruising trawler. We’ve done well with our trailerable trawlers and we continue to increase sales of the R21, R25SC, R27 and R29. The R31 will help us grow even more.”

Like all Ranger Tugs, the new R31 comes essentially turnkey with standard features and equipment intended to make her owner’s experience hassle-free and allow for ease of handling and comfort under way. Standard equipment includes bow and stern thrusters, an optional aft steering station and a Volvo D4 300hp engine that achieves a 16 knot cruise speed.

Ranger Tugs are built at a dedicated facility in Kent, WA, where the company now also offers a new Factory Delivery program and a Destination Training Cruise for new owners. The first R31 will debut in Seattle Jan. 26-Feb. 5 and will be offered at a base price of $279,937. Ranger Tugs is now taking orders for the first R31s and the first boats will begin to ship to dealers this spring.

For more information, visit www.rangertugs.com or call 253-839-5213.”

Ranger Tugs 31 (R31) Specifications

LOA molded 31’

LOA rigged (with swim & pulpit) 35’2”

Beam 10’0”

Draft 28”

Fuel Capacity 180 U.S. gallons

Water capacity 80 U.S. gallons

Holding tank capacity 40 U.S. gallons

Weight (Dry) 10,500 .

Engine Volvo D4 300hp

New Nordhavn 120 Construction Photos

Editor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:21 +0000

Construction Update photo of new Nordhavn 120 Megayacht

Pacific Asian Enterprises, Inc., today passed along a new collection of informal photos updating the construction progress of the new Nordhavn 120. The new-design megayacht will become the new queen of the Nordhavn fleet sometime late this year. According to PAE,

“Work continues on the first hull of the future queenship of the Nordhavn line: the Nordhavn 120. The latest photos released by the South Coast factory last week illustrate progress on various interior sections of the N120. Evident are the glossy build-up coats of varnish on the cherry wood which will serve to prime the satin finish that the owners have chosen for the woodwork. ‘Even in its unfinished state, the boat is so impressive,’ notes Project Manager Trever Smith.”

Check out the updated Nordhavn 120 photo gallery below.

First Photos: The New Kadey-Krogen 52′ Has Arrived

Editor — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:22:55 +0000

The first Kadey-Krogen 52' shown running at no-wake speed after arrival in Seattle

The first Kadey-Krogen 52′ arrived in the U.S. in time for the recent Seattle Boat Show and made her public debut there. The timing was so tight that the Kadey-Krogen team hadn’t had a chance to really begin the commissioning process, so in many of these photos you will see a fairly bare interior. I happen to like seeing it like this since I can use my imagination to decorate and outfit to my own taste.

Some things to notice:

The fabulous galley, including the Viking range and oven. I need to invite my superyacht chef friend Victoria Allman to come and play in this lovely workspace.
The office space below decks, which, in this two-stateroom configuration, really opens up the lower area with a functional, flexible area for work, navigation planning, and normal household management chores.
The expansive helm/dash setup. There’s room here for multiple big-screen displays so you can take advantage of all the latest technology, including monitoring, networked navigation and other sensors, and provide redundancy and flexibility. There is also plenty of room for two helm chairs; a feature I really like for longer passages.
The engine room has lots of space in which to work, especially with the standard single John Deere 6068AFM75, a continuous duty 231hp engine. Plenty of lighting and sturdy grab rails make those regular engine room checks underway more comfortable and safer.

Check out the photos in the gallery below.

First Photos: Krogen 52′ From Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Editor — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:02:07 +0000

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Port Quarter View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen has released the first photos of the nearly complete first Krogen 52′, which should be leaving the factory shortly by ship in time (hopefully) to make its debut at Seattle’s Lake Union Boats Afloat Show September 14. This all-new design shows classic Krogen lines in a raised pilothouse model. There’s no mistaking what company this yacht is from. It’s a bluewater passagemaker and liveaboard yacht intended to meet the full-time needs of a couple or family. Enjoy the photos and if you get to the Boats Afloat Show, let us know what you think! Failing that, we may see hull #2 at the Fort Lauderdale Trawler Fest in early February next year.

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Port Side Forward View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Pilothouse Helm View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Flybridge Helm View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Side Deck View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Wing Station View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Office View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Office View 2 -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Office Bookshelf View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

Kadey-Krogen 52' First Hull Port-Side Bar-Buffet and Pantry View -- Photo: Kadey-Krogen Yachts

First Photos of Nordhavn 63 Delivery

Editor — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:45:58 +0000

Silver Spray, Nordhavn '63, running in Stuart, FL. Photo by Billy Black, courtesy of P.A.E.

We’ve got a great collection of photos of the very first Nordhavn 63, Silver Spray, taken by Billy Black in Stuart, Florida, for P.A.E. last month just before delivery. There is quite a bit of detail to absorb and the photos leave you with the overwhelming impression of a luxurious, capable bluewater yacht. I happen to think this might be the perfect size for a couple to handle without crew, although Ken and Roberta Williams demonstrate that the N68 is manageable for a couple, too. If you haven’t seen the initial performance data, you can view it here.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the yacht’s features and decor. Let us know in the comments.

Here’s the link to the gallery page: Nordhavn 63-01 Delivery Photos

First Nordhavn 63 Performance Data

Editor — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:36:02 +0000

First Nordhavn 63, named Silver Spray -- Photo by Owner, Courtesy of PAE

Pacific Asian Enterprises, Inc., yesterday released the first published performance data for the new Nordhavn 63. The data are from the first hull, Silver Spray, which was just delivered to its owner at PAE’s Stuart, Florida commissioning facility. As you can see in the accompanying photo above, taken by the yacht’s owner, the N63 truly looks like the “next-generation” N62, the aft-pilothouse trawler that was a customer and fan favorite all through its production run. PAE has a lot riding on this yacht and it could become the right model to help bring the next generation of luxury distance-cruising boaters to the brand. It’s large enough to accommodate truly sumptuous appointments, yet small enough to be easily handled by a couple without crew.

The First Nordhavn 63, Silver Spray -- Photo Courtesy of PAE

In the table below, you can see that the sweet spot for cruising will be a little more than 8 knots. The fuel consumption basically doubles from 8.1 knots to 9.30 knots. And of course, as with nearly every other hull like this, if you slow down you get better range. Here you can see the NMPG at 7.55 knots is 1.42, which is very good performance for a yacht that displaces about 143,000 lbs.

The N63 hull incorporates an interesting design detail called a “maintenance strake.” We wrote about it here.

You can download the complete performance data sheet here.

Here is a link to the Nordhavn 63 webpage for full specs and information.

Nordhavn 63 Cruise Performance Data

RPM	KNOTS	GPH	NMPG	% Load
1216	7.55	5.30	1.42	41
1314	8.10	6.70	1.21	48
1597	9.30	12.70	0.73	75
1706	9.50	14.85	0.64	88
1803	9.80	17.05	0.57	100

*Performance based on average of 2 reciprocal-course runs. Data from Nordhavn 6301, equipped with a single Lugger 1276, and a 5-bladed 42″ x 29.5″ P Hung Shen prop.

New Nordic Tugs 39 A Nice Update to NT Fleet

Editor — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:15:30 +0000

New Nordic Tugs 39

In a piece I wrote for YachtWorld.com this week, I said that the new Nordic Tugs 39, an updated replacement for the NT-37, is a worthy successor. The couple I interviewed in the story, Donna and Kevin Steele, went through a meticulous process that culminated in choosing the new NT-39 and their experience would serve any new boat buyer well. Have a look at the piece on YachtWorld.com.