Nord Star 31 Patrol Port Side Running Shot -- Photo: Allen M. Clark/Photoboat.com

I figured I might as well just get it out there up front.  These are boats unlike any others you’ve likely seen.  And although that alone would be reason enough to take a look at them, it turns out when you do see them I think you’re going to like what you see.  They are strong, seaworthy, practical cruisers for couples and families who understand where the real value in a boat is.  Yes, I know that sounds like a ringing endorsement.  It is.  And yes, there are a couple of nits I’ll pick but they’re nothing that can’t be easily fixed and some might just be my own opinions.  Right now you’re going to have to do a little work to see one of these boats, which is one reason we’re covering them here on OceanLines.  But if things continue to go well for Nord Star USA, the boat’s importer for the U.S. market, you’ll soon have a dealer near you no matter where you live.

Builder and Brand

First, a little background on the Nord Star brand.  These boats, which comprise a model line known fully as the Nord Star Patrol series, ranging from 24 feet to 40 feet, are built in Finland by parent company Linex-Boat Oy, the Lindkvist family-owned firm that has delivered more than 3,000 recreational, commercial and government-class vessels.  The patriarch of the Lindkvist family started building wooden fishing and workboats in the 1920′s.  Today’s modern fiberglass production facility is certified to the highest ISO 9001-2000 standards and the boats themselves meet the stringent CE Ocean Class B rating for offshore seaworthiness.  That last standard means, among other things, that the boats will safely handle seas up to 13′ and winds in excess of 40 knots.  Suffice it to say the boat can handle more than you can.

The Nord Star Patrol line has a nearly straight sheer from its sharp bow to wide transom, with its lines dominated by the central deckhouse/pilothouse.  The reverse angle on the windshield serves a very practical purpose in reducing glare and shedding spray, but also lends a working trawler look to the boat.  Sturdy sliding doors on either side of the pilothouse add to that look and also make line-handling a snap, with a mid-ships spring cleat within easy reach.  The boats are diesel-powered with modern, electronically controlled Volvo powerplants, all the way up to the IPS pod drives of the Nord Star 40 Patrol.  The diesels drive beefy Duoprop sterndrives which help maximize efficiency and maneuverability.  More about that later.

The interiors of the Nord Star line feature teak and pin soles and oiled teak cabinetry.  The accommodations are somewhat cozy in the deckhouse but when you have to go outside in a rolling seaway along the extra-wide and deep side decks, you understand the value of that small compromise.  Yes, the house could be a couple of inches wider, but those couple of inches serve the boat and owner better on the side decks.  (Read more about the boat, its performance and price after the jump)

Nord Star 31 Patrol in CT River No-Wake Zone -- Photo: Allen M. Clark/Photoboat.com

In the shot above, photographer Allen Clark from Photoboat.com has caught us returning from our sea trial in Long Island Sound, outside the mouth of the Connecticut River.  We were hosted for the review by Paul Tortora of east coast dealer Wilde Yacht Sales in Essex, CT, and John Uljens, President of Nord Star USA, the boat’s U.S. importer.  The Nord Star 31 Patrol is one of four Nord Star Patrol models, ranging from 24 to 40 feet, built by Linex-Boat Oy in Finland.  We’ll discuss their detailed pedigree in our review later this week, but they are true Sport Utility Vessels (SUVs), and can serve many roles very well.  Be sure to click on all the photos here to see them in expanded formats.

Stern Quarter Shot of the Nord Star 31 Patrol Accelerating -- Photo: Allen M. Clark/Photoboat.com

This is a dramatic shot of the 31 Patrol accelerating away from the photographer.  The boat has a 370 HP Volvo D-6 diesel with a DuoProp sterndrive that really gives you a kick in the pants when you want it to.  We saw a top end speed of around 33 knots with three people and three-quarters fuel aboard, but we got to that speed in only a little over 10 seconds, which is quick.  The Volvo diesel is also happy to putter along at 8-10 knots, sipping around 3 gallons per hour.  Even at 22 knots the boat doesn’t use more than about 10 gallons per hour of diesel.  It is a sterndrive, however, and you have to keep in mind the specific characteristics of that kind of propulsion.  In some ways, it’s similar to jet drives in that you have to use thrust to enhance a turn; something not always intuitive to folks who normally rely on rudders alone.  The truth is, you get far better performance when you can direct thrust — hence the popularity of azimuthing drive pods these days.  In fact, largest model in the line, the Nord Star 40 Patrol, comes standard with Volvo IPS pod drives.

Nord Star 31 Patrol Port Side Running Shot -- Photo: Allen M. Clark/Photoboat.com

This shot shows the pilothouse best, with its reverse windshield rake and nearly constant sheer line.  There are beefy sliding doors both port and starboard.  The helm is on the starboard side and has fantastic sight lines; the helmsman never losing sight of the horizon ahead even during sharp initial accelerations.  You can see the small flybridge topside here, covered with canvas because we didn’t intend to use it in the windy, rough conditions on the Sound that day.  It will hold three adults and has complete instrumentation, normally networked with the pilothouse helm units.  You can also see the bimini canvas over the aft cockpit (not deployed of course).  On the Nord Star, this canvas can completely protect the aft cockpit and with the diesel heating available on the boat, provide a cozy, expanded living space in cooler weather.  New England and Northwest boaters are really going to like that feature.  You can also see the bowthruster, a surprisingly powerful Side-Power unit that makes close-quarters maneuvering a snap.

Nord Star 31 Patrol Idling Along the Waterfront -- Photo: Allen M. Clark/Photoboat.com

Hard chines on the modified-vee  hull keep the Patrol 31 nice and stable at idle speeds around the docks.  Here the boat is quietly sliding upriver past the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, CT.  The deep and very wide sidedecks, along with tall stainless rails make for a safe and secure environment for linehandlers and sunbathers alike.  Look for our full review of the boat later this week, in particular, we explore the way it handled a typically unpredictable sea-state and wind combination on the eastern part of Long Island Sound.  We checked out the RPM and cruise speed numbers, tested its handling characteristics in pretty rough seas and gave it pretty thorough workout. 

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