Pacific Asian Enterprises reported that it has delivered the first of its current flagship model, the Nordhavn 86. Cari Ali was just delivered to an undisclosed owner in Dana Point, California and is currently undergoing a shakedown cruise.

The N86 is truly a massive boat (ship?).  At nearly 400,000 pounds of displacement, the N86 will carry opulence to the farthest corners of the globe.  According to PAE, an N86 could leave the East Coast of the U.S., pass the Axores, push on through to Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, and travel up the coast of Spain to the Balearics and then go on to Italy. “If you watch your fuel management, you could arrive using less than the total fuel capacity of 7,000 gallons, said Dan Streech, PAE president.

As one might expect, everything on this boat is big — from the twin MTU Series 60 engines, spinning 48-inch propellers through 3.43-to-1 reduction gears, to the 20-swuare-foot stabilizers and 50 HP bow and stern thrusters.

PAE had a new, 21-acre South Coast China shipyard purpose-built for the N86 program and the boat was designed to be easily certified to ABS +A1 Yachting Service rating for the hull and AMS rating for machinery and installation as an option.

The N86 features its master stateroom forward on the main deck.  The guest staterooms are below, with one each to port, starboard and on centerline, each also with its own head.  Crew quarters are aft.  The list of standard equipment goes on and on, leaving a prospective owner to have to choose only electronics and tenders to complete the outfitting. 

Copyright © 2008 Thomas M. 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…)