OceanLines » Nordhavn

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.

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 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

What Would YOU Do With this Nordhavn 63 Helm?

Editor — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:52:38 +0000

The folks at Pacific Asian Enterprises just recently unloaded N63-01 from its freighter in Miami and brought it up to the Stuart completion center. It’s a beautiful boat; an evolution of the N55/60 hull with the aft pilothouse and overall look of the venerable N62 (but not quite the beam of that boat). In looking at the pictures P.A.E. posted on the Nordhavn brand website, I was drooling over the huge blank canvas of a dash in front of the helm and, naturally, I began to fantasize about what I would do if it was mine to outfit.

Helm of New Nordhavn 63-01 Before Electronics Installation. Photo courtesy of P.A.E.

Take a look at the photo above and imagine your favorite marine electronics installed in that non-glare acreage. It occurred to me that you could put a 32″ HDTV in that slot and use the latest Picture-in-Picture (PIP) controls to split the screen with whatever secondary input you want. On the other hand, one large screen like that means a single-point failure is going to be more of a pain in the rear. So, typical design philosophy says we should split that area into two large displays.

Wide View of the Pilothouse Aboard the New Nordhavn 63

I know I would prefer a black-box solution, with the displays fully customizable and redundant. If you really want to go the full belt and suspenders route, you could probably put a multifunction chartplotter/display on the far left side of the dash. In fact, since most owners of yachts this size will have two radars aboard, you could run the secondary radar as part of the chartplotter setup and use the primary radar on the main displays via black-box processor.

Salon Looking Forward Aboard New Nordhavn 63-01

I’d love to hear your own thoughts and ideas in the comments.

Galley Aboard the New Nordhavn 63-01

In the other photos in this piece, all courtesy of PAE, you can see there is quite a bit of room to spread out and relax in this pilothouse, as well as a beautiful salon and galley below. Delivery of N63-01 is set for a couple of months from now. We did a piece a while back on an interesting design feature of the hull of this Nordhavn here on OceanLines.

Nordhavn 76 “Eliana” Delivered

Editor — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:21:09 +0000

Nordhavn 76 Eliana at Delivery in 2010. Photo by Stephen Cridland

Editor’s Note — I’m running the full text here of a release this week from Pacific Asian Enterprises, the parent of the Nordhavn brand, in which they announce the recent delivery of “Eliana,” the 17th in the hull series. I don’t normally run the full copy of press releases here on OceanLines, but this is a pretty good story, well-told; even if we have to forgive PAE for a little marketing hype. They’re good people and justifiably proud of this delivery. Read on, dear reader…

—–

A few weeks ago, Nordhavn 76#17 Eliana was delivered to its owners Rick and Debbie Heiniger. The yacht is a portrait in contemporary styling and mechanical design savvy, and features a number of Nordhavn firsts on both fronts.

Prior to Eliana, the Heinigers had never owned a boat, but they approached the build and décor with the confidence and know-how of experienced yacht owners. The boat will become their full-time residence so they needed it to feel and function like a home. “We felt our design goal should emphasize a calm, serene and comfortable environment where one would love to spend time,” said Rick Heiniger. “Beauty would then be more of a feeling than an appearance.” The end result is what many have called the most exquisite Nordhavn 76 produced to date.

Designer Scott Cole certainly concurs with that description. “I am most proud of this interior of all the Nordhavns I’ve done,” said Cole. That’s high praise coming from the man who has helped create a number of gorgeous Nordhavn interiors. The Heinigers linked up with Cole and his firm, Seattle-based Ardeo Design, shortly after signing the contract for the N76 in 2008. From that point on, all parties were on the same page, and according to Cole, that chemistry was crucial toward the final outcome. “This boat is one of the best because everything just fell into place. The owners had good ideas of their own, were receptive to ideas, and made themselves accessible. They were appreciative of the entire process.”

Cole also attributes Debbie Heiniger’s great eye for style and her faith in her choices. The only time it wavered was in the beginning when the Heinigers, intent on creating a more traditional look for their yacht, saw another Nordhavn 76 whose interior had a modern feel. “After they saw the contemporary look of that 76, their minds changed.” The result? A combination of the two interiors; Elianaembodies the clean lines of the contemporary boat mixed with the warm African Cherry wood used in some traditional Nordhavns. The couple hail from Missouri and wanted to make sure the boat remained welcoming as well as sophisticated.

Salon Interior of Nordhavn 76-17 Eliana at Delivery in 2010. Photo by Stephen Cridland

The hardwood plays a key role in the spirit of the boat, and is a showcase of the Ta Shing yacht yard’s well-known excellent joinerwork, fit and finish. Incorporating the warm tones was critical in keeping the welcome feel, said Cole. The medium-toned quarter-sawn African Cherry is the primary wood and was used to construct the majority of the cabinets, as well as the walls’ wainscot, doors, and wood floors. The key to making the look contemporary was the couple’s decision to set the wood grain horizontally, which the craftsmen at Ta Shing executed masterfully. Adding a further contemporary nod, Cole suggested employing a mixture of woods and incorporated a darker wood, Charco, to use for the beds, nightstands, end tables and the dining table (the tops of the wood cabinets are Anigre.) The sprinkling of Charco wood was a way to introduce modern elements, simply within the woodwork itself. It easily transitions into the contemporary elements of the boat and disperses the oneness of all the African Cherry. Adds Cole: “It gives you the feel of loose furniture and breaks up the color palette. Combined with the other textural materials and finishes, they culminate to create a rich, casual elegance.” The touches of dark wood are present throughout the interior and provide a cohesive feel no matter where you go in the boat. This sustainable wood is FSC, SGS, and OLB- certified, and an example of Nordhavn’s efforts toward including green building practices.

Setting off the wood perfectly is the highly textural woven wall covering, which creates a lighter ambiance. Not many Nordhavns have wall covering, but the feature elevates Eliana’sstyle to a new level. As do the boat’s four heads. The master head is as luxurious as one would expect with stunning marble countertop, marble and glass accent tiles throughout, modern Toto satin nickel fixtures and a thoughtfully designed lighting plan. Venture to the two guest heads or the day head in the pilothouse and you’ll see the same fit and finish. “The guest heads and showers are finished to the same level as the master shower,” says Cole. “The owners’ keen eye for detail and willingness to upgrade these areas really made the interior cohesive.”

Behind the achievement of the interior aesthetic are a number of technical triumphs; of note, the design and implementation of a retractable awning extension over the cockpit. There are several eating and relaxing areas throughout the boat, but the simple addition of the accordion-like awning transforms the huge cockpit into a viable and pleasant space even in direct sun.

Another coup for the Heinigers is the design of a wheel-less helm. Only one other Nordhavn has been built without any sort of wheel present. “Esthetically, the helm layout is uncluttered and intuitive owing much of the efficiency to the absence of the destroyer wheel,” said Rick. The look is streamlined and seemingly practical, so why is the wheel-less helm so rare? Nearly all boats manufactured today are steered with joysticks while the boat is on autopilot, but when autopilot is turned off, for instance during docking, boat owners still want the familiarity of the ship’s wheel, says N76 Project Manager Garrett Severen. “On a Nordhavn, it is 14 revolutions from hard over port to hard over starboard, so docking with the lever control is much easier,” said Severen. “It’s like playing a video game.”

Nearly two years of construction and outfitting yielded Elianaa showstopper and shows just the level of sophistication that Nordhavns have reached. She’s a reliable, comfortable, state-of-the-art yacht that will provide enjoyable cruising and a safe haven for the Heinigers, no matter which place they happen to be calling home.”

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reprinted from press material supplied by Pacific Asian Enterprises.

A Bigger Motorsailer from Nordhavn?

Editor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:15:41 +0000

Partial Profile of a Possible Nordhavn 68 Motorsailer

Pacific Asian Enterprises, the company that builds the Nordhavn line of passagemaking boats, has spent some of the less-pressured time of the economic recession to finish work on a couple of new designs. Among them reportedly are a larger version of the 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher, a megayacht even bigger than the Nordhavn 120 currently under construction, and this one — a 68-foot motorsailer.

The 68MS is in official company drawings of layout and general arrangement that appeared on the Nordhavn Dreamers Group website this summer. The new motorsailer builds on the 56MS but, naturally, is significantly roomier and features twin engines. These drawings show a masthead sloop rig with a large foresail, but company sources indicate the boat could also be delivered as a ketch. You can download the profile drawings here; and the layout drawings here.

How long it takes before we see this boat probably has most to do with how long the recession lasts. While there are a handful of slightly positive economic measures out there, consumer (boat-buyer) uncertainty seems to be at an all-time high. Many boat-builders in the trawler/cruiser/passagemaker segment experienced a sharp drop-off in demand last April, in the midst of what was supposed to have been the recovery. Not only has that caused the untimely death of some companies (see our piece on Nordic Tugs here), but even some of those remaining are beginning to think it might be 2-3 years before demand recovers.

There is a tremendous amount of money out there, but between the “haves” who are worried about tax uncertainties and poor investment vehicles (the stock market); and the “have-nots” who can’t get loans from banks, that money is not being spent on new boats.

First Photos — Nordhavn 120 Megayacht

Editor — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:33:42 +0000

Well, they don’t come any hotter than this. These photos were taken overnight when the future queen of the Nordhavn fleet was released from her molds at the factory in China. I’m going to let the photos speak for themselves, but I think you can get from them a couple of things — first, this is a big yacht. It looks like a Nordhavn but bigger and more powerful; like a professional baseball player on the “juice.” (Just kidding, PAE, really!).

You can also see how gorgeous the hull surfaces look, even before they’ve been finished and painted. There really is nothing like a composite mold to ensure the perfect finish. Also note the overall scale of the thing by the fellow walking down into the bulbous bow extension. Looks like there might be room in there for crew quarters! Updated specs and program info available from P.A.E. here.

Starboard Quarter View of the First Nordhavn 120 - Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

Bow of the New Nordhavn 120 as Yacht is Pulled From Mold -- Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

Starboard Bow of the New Nordhavn 120 Half-in, Half-out of Her Mold - Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

Starboard Hull View of the New Nordhavn 120 - Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

Forward Interior Hull View of the New Nordhavn 120 -- Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

Transom View of New Nordhavn 120 -- Photo Courtesy of P.A.E.

New Nordhavn 63 Pictures

Editor — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:44:32 +0000

P.A.E. today confirmed that hull #1 of the new Nordhavn 63 is in final preparation for shipment from the factory in China to Florida, where it will be commissioned and available for inspection. The N63 is a development of the N55/N60 series, with new deck and engine room molds. With its beam narrower than the N62, it will fit in places the latter cannot.

Bow-on Shot of the New Nordhavn 63

The N63 is described by PAE as an aft-wheelhouse version of the N60, retaining some of the saltiness of the original N62 but with the narrower beam. In the accompanying photos, you can see it in the “tank” at the factory in China undergoing its first tests and systems checks. P.A.E. President Dan Streech told me yesterday that they hope to ship the boat by mid-September and have it available for viewing by the end of October.

Stern View of the New Nordhavn 63

Port Bow Photo of New Nordhavn 63

View of Foredeck on New Nordhavn 63

Port Quarter View of New Nordhavn 63

Starboard Quarter View of New Nordhavn 63

Portuguese Bridge on New Nordhavn 63

Nordhavn Offers Flybridge-Less 75 EYF

Editor — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:19:04 +0000

Nordhavn 75 EYF Without Flybridge

Pacific Asian Enterprises said on its website that it has developed a version of its 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher (EYF) without the expansive flybridge common to most sportfishing battlewagons. The change acknowledges the cruising half of this split-personality ocean-going yacht and gives it a more conventional “Norhdavn look.”

I took the liberty of scanning a print of a high-res pdf file of the new profile and layout, which you see here in this article. You can click on the image above for a larger view of it and if you’d like to download the original pdf file, just click here.

According to Chief of Design Jeff Leishman, the design caters to the client who “likes the wide-open layout of the EYF, but doesn’t necessarily need a tower to seek out big game fish.” The boat’s upper deck and huge cockpit provide owners plent of great spaces to sunbathe or entertain al fresco, according to the company. “And it’s already set up so that if you want to fish, dive, or cruise extensively, all you need to do is pick a destination and go. It’s just a variation of the current Yachtfisher,” says PAE’s vice president Jim Leishman. “I think it will emphasize the versatility of this model.”