Pacific Asian Enterprises has quietly added two more models to its ever-growing Nordhavn fleet of long-distance trawlers.  The new Nordhavn 60 is a 5-foot stretch of the N55, and the new Nordhavn 52 is a 5-foot stretch of the highly successful N47.  I guess when you’re in this class of boats, “2-foot-itis” becomes “5-foot-itis.”

PAE says three changes differentiate the new 52 from its smaller sister. First is a cockpit extension, which the company says opens up the rear of the boat and elongates the yacht’s lines. The added waterline gave designers room to add 200 more gallons of fuel to her capacity. The upper level boat deck was also lengthened by 2 feet; which complements the cockpit extension and enables a bigger tender to be carried topsides.  The company says there is also a cosmetic change to the flybridge which is now “more integral with the boat deck and pilothouse roof.”

According to PAE,  the N52 will be slightly faster than the 47 due to the larger engine that will power the bigger boat.  PAE says a brand-new John Deere 6068AFM75, with about 250 HP, will be the main propulsion plant.

PAE cites aesthetics as a driving force behind the creation of the new N62. The company says the N55 was one of its most popular models but that for some customers, however, “the added height of the 55, while a proven design plus that ensures superior stability by allowing the engine, fuel tanks and water tanks to be positioned very low — kept the look decidedly more trawler-like and slightly out of proportion.”

To fix that problem (is looking “trawler-like” a problem?), PAE’s designers lengthened the decks by five feet. PAE says the length was added without measurable increases in weight, resulting in an N60 that will be one-third of a knot faster than the N55.  The new boat, similar to the N52, will benefit from a larger boat deck and, in a cosmetic change, will offer larger ports for the owner’s stateroom. PAE says the new look is compelling and that eight signed customers for the N55 switched to the bigger boat after seeing the new drawings.

PAE confirmed that both older models are still “very much” offered for sale.  This brings the current Nordhavn brand to 15 boats, from the N40 to the recently announced N120.  Visitors to this weekend’s TrawlerFest in Greenport, NY, on the North Fork of Long Island, can see the N40 and N47 on display.

Copyright ©  2008 by Tom Tripp

Rendering of the new Nordic Tugs 49

BURLINGTON, Wa. – In the 1990s, a 32-footer was the best seller in the Nordic Tugs line. The company added a 42 when it was time to expand – and learned a lesson in the balance.

“It became apparent that the 10-foot jump in size was too much for some of our customers,” said Jim Cress, president of Nordic Tugs. A 37-foot model was created to bridge the gap.

It was similar thinking that led to the development of the new Nordic Tugs 49, the latest addition to the trawler-style model line, which is still under construction at the company plant here. The 49 is designed to bridge the gap between the 42- and 54-foot models. “We did it again,” said Cress, laughing as he told the story. “We launched the 52″ [now the 54] and created another 10-foot gap.”

Nordic TugThe 49 has two cabins, with the master amidships. Still, the company has high hopes for the 49. I got a good look at Hull No. 1 at Nordic Tugs factory here last week, where systems are still being installed. The hull has a beautiful merlot shade of deep red gelcoat, not a traditional Nordic color but still very attractive. And that was not the only thing worth seeing. (more…)