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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.

Sailing Performance of the First Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer

Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:38:38 +0000

First Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Under Sail -- Photo: PAE

Nordhavn this week released details of the performance under sail of its new 56 Motorsailer, which has been on sea trials with the Nordhavn commissioning team and its new owner, John Graham. The assessment of these trials comes from parent company PAE’s president, Dan Streech, who says, “I think any questions as to whether the Nordhavn Motorsailer would be an adequate sailor is now behind us.”

Equipped with a new suit of sales from industry leader North Sails, the N56 NordSail Onelogged 15 knots downwind and 6 knots SOG for the majority of its first trip under sail. Owner John Graham reporter a subsequent log of 8.5 knots SOG while on a beam reach during a subsequent trip returning from last week’s TrawlerFest San Diego.

Here’s a small gallery of photos of the 56MS exercising its new suit of sails.

New Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Arrives in U.S.

Editor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:26:30 +0000

The New Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Upon Arrival in the U.S.

Pacific Asian Enterprises late last week released these photos of its brand new 56 Motorsailer, which has just arrived in Dana Point, California. The boat was offloaded from the container ship in San Diego, and brought up the coast by Nordhavn salesman Eric Leishman (who sold the boat to owners Susan and John Felton) and PAE commissioning team member Bob Loeffler. “The boat runs smooth and quiet and has the feel of a much bigger boat,” said Leishman. The photos show the new boat in the water, maneuvering near the docks, minus its sailing rig, which will be installed during the coming weeks as the yacht undergoes its final commissioning process.

Nordhavn designer Jeff Leishman said, “Seeing the Motorsailer sitting here in Dana Point next to the Nordhavn 62 and 55 really reveals her true size. So far everyone who has seen it has been blown away at how sleek it looks and how big it feels.” P.A.E. said the boat will make its public debut at the San Diego Boat Show in January.

If you would like to read more about the boat, we have articles here and here. In the meantime, enjoy this updated photo gallery of the latest pictures of the new 56 motorsailer (all images courtesy of P.A.E.).

First Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Launched

oceanlines — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:34:05 +0000

Pacific Asian Enterprises reported last week that it has launched hull #1 of the new 56 Motorsailer line at the Ta Shing Yachts shipyard. Work on the first example of the new model began in late July of 2007. Present at the splashing were Ta Shing President Tim Juan, Nordhavn Chief Designer Jeff Leishman, Project Manager Pete Eunson, and the boat’s prospective owner John Felton.

Sea trials have begun in the An Ping harbor and PAE said it expects the boat will be shipped late this month to Dana Point, California, at which it will receive its sail rig and final outfitting. In the gallery below are the first photos release of the launch of the Nordhavn 56-01 motorsailer. You can read about the boat’s specifications and design elements here.

Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Ready for Launch

oceanlines — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:01:08 +0000

The exquisite torture that is having to wait for something you just know is going to be really good was the inspiration for Carly Simon’s 1971 hit “Anticipation.” That song was also the theme music for an advertisement for a well-loved tomato ketchup brand. I think we should play it now as Pacific Asian Enterprises puts the finishing touches on its brand new Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer.

Credit: PAE- Rendering of the new Nordhavn 56 MS Under Sail

Sources familiar with the schedule say the new boat, a kind of “Back to the Future” design from the builders of the venerated Mason line of bluewater sailboats, will slide down the ways in An Ping Harbor in Taiwan on September 20. Initial sea trials will follow — powered because the sail rig won’t be installed until the boat arrives by ship in Dana Point, Californaia. The new boat will then be movied to Kaohsiung for shipping to the States. The exact shipping date hasn’t been set yet, but is expected to come fairly quickly. One surmises the boat could be on this side of the Pacific by early to mid-November if all goes well.

Credit: PAE - Portside Rendering of Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer Under Sail

There is extreme interest in the new Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer. I wrote about it here on OceanLines and the story has been one of the top three on this site since it went up. Clearly, people are interested in whether the new technology motorsailer will be able to satisfy voyagers looking for a less fuel-dependent vessel. With its diesel propulsion system optimized for fuel efficiency, and the potential to extend range inifinitely by hoisting the sails, the 56MS might be just the boat for the Green Revolution. It certainly doesn’t forego the luxury interior of the rest of the Nordhavn line and with a well-ballasted, full-displacement hull, travelers won’t have to live their entire life at a ten degree heel angle.

As soon as we have new photos of the boat, we’ll get them posted here. In the meantime, tell us what you think about the potential of motorsailers.

Nordhavn 56 Motorsailer: Throwback to the Future

Editor — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:35:48 +0000

Nordhavn trawlers are considered by many global passagemakers to be the ultimate long-range, powered vessel. That reputation has been reflected in the company’s success in the marketplace and its growing line of boats from 35 feet to 86 feet. Not everyone realizes that the Nordhavn brand grew up only after its parent, Pacific Asian Enterprises, had finished a long and successful run building the Mason line of sailboats.

Well, that history has come full circle now and the PAE folks have decided to build a brand new motorsailer, under the Nordhavn brand, to meet the needs of those who got their sea legs under sail but who might appreciate some of the performance and features of running under power at times. Thus was born the new 56MS (motorsailer), now under construction in the Taiwan shipyards of PAE’s longtime partner, Ta Shing.

As befits its Nordhavn heritage, this is no ordinary motorsailer. The N56MS has a 3,000 mile range under power alone, due to its high-efficiency, full displacement hull designed by Nordhavn’s master designer, Jeff Leishman. Of course, should you choose to raise the sails and shut down the diesel and feather its controllable pitch propeller, your range will be limited only by your stamina and food supply. I suppose scurvy could make a comeback with range capabilities like this. Just in case, remember to bring citrus along.

Motorsailers are not a new idea, of course. They’ve been around for many years and in many iterations — some of them sailed better than they ran under power; some were better powerboats than sailers; but typically the compromise was significant. Nordhavn has taken advantage of the lastest technology and materials and design philosophy to create a new motorsailer where the performance — and comfort — compromises have been dramatically minimized. Several elements combine to make this so.

Probably most unique in the N56MS is its fully controllable-pitch propeller, from the Danish Hundested Propeller company. By fine-tuning the pitch of the prop to match load conditions, utilizing exhaust gas temperature and fuel flow measurements, the 56MS captain can achieve motoring efficiencies never-before possible in a motorsailer. A Lugger 1066 T diesel will drive the 36-inch, four-bladed prop at a top cruising speed of 9 knots.

The sailing setup aboard the 56MS is a sloop rig with powered main and headsail furling, along with powered winches, which should make for very easy sail handling. The boat is designed with a typical trawler-style wheelhouse/saloon and cockpit aft, with the sailing cockpit forward of the wheelhouse. There is room to carry a RIB athwartship on the roof of the wheelhouse and Nordhavn fits a standard power winch for launching and retrieval.

The aft cockpit has room to sit and enjoy a cocktail at anchor and also features hatch-access to a lazarette below deck. The saloon/wheelhouse entry is through a door slightly offset to port. The saloon features chairs to port and a U-shaped settee to starboard with a table for dining. The helm is forward and slightly offset to port, enabling the helmsman to see clearly forward past the main mast. Stairs to port of the helm lead below decks to the galley along the starboard side and the stand-up engine room admidships. There is a guest stateroom forward with queen-sized accomodations and head, while the master stateroom is aft, with a very large head to starboard and another queen berth.

Nordhavn provides room along the portside for laundry facilities and storage for tools and spare parts. Standard in the galley will be a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer with icemaker, Force Ten three-burner, gimballed LPG stove with oven and GE microwave oven and trash compactor. The countertops are Corian in the galley and heads, with teak fiddles. The interior spaces feature lots of teak, including bulkheads, decks and cabinetry.

The 56MS dimensions and capacities reflect its mission as a long-range passagemaker. The freshwater tanks for example, hold 250 gallons, which most cruisers will undoubtedly replenish from a watermaker. The LPG tanks — two 20-pound Worthington bottles — are carried in a portside transom locker. Fuel capacity is 750 gallons with a centerline day tank. The system features a proprietary supply reservoir for the diesel fuel, with a calibration feature and water sensor.

An overview of the N56MS specs: (Specifications are subject to change at the discretion of designers and
builders)

LOA: 57′/17.37M including swim step
LWL: 52′ 06″/16.0M
Draft – full load: 6′/1.83M
Displacement: 70,410 lbs./32.0T
Water Capacity: 250 gallons/946L
Fuel Capacity: 750 gallons/2,839L
Engine: Luggar L1066T Diesel
Power Output: 165HP @ 2400 RPM
Sail Area: 1,217 SQ FT/113.1 SQ M
Range under Power: 3,000+ nautical miles

Source: PAE http://www.nordhavn.com/56/overview.php