Starboard running shot of the new Nordic Tugs 39

News this week from Nordic Tugs, Inc., that it has re-started production after a three-month hiatus during which most of the operational employees were laid off.  Bob Shamek, who heads sales and marketing for Nordic Tugs, said workers were being recalled as the production processes ramp up.

View of the pilothouse and expanded helm of the new Nordic Tugs 39

The company has a number of boats on order from its dealer network, including some for its newest model, the NT-39, photos of which are shown in this piece.  The Nordic Tugs line now includes the 26, 34, 39, 42, 49 and 54.

Salon aboard the new Nordic Tugs 39

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC.  All rights reserved.

The Recently Launched Nordic Tug 39

The current management team at Nordic Tugs is looking for investors to help them acquire the brand and production capabilities from the current private owner of the company, according to a source familiar with the search. Late last week, the Washington state boatbuilder announced it was shutting down manufacturing operations. The company recently launched a new 42′ for the Seattle Boat Show, as well as a new 39′ for the Show, and has a couple of dozen pre-owned Nordic Tugs listed for sale on its website.

The current owner cited the economic recession as the underlying cause of the manufacturing shutdown. The shutdown is being attempted with the goal of keeping all parties involved as “whole” economically as possible.  Employees who are being laid off are being paid for time worked up to the shutdown and for paid time-off that had been earned. Vendors and suppliers are also being paid, according to one company official.

There were two additional company-owned boats in early stages of construction. A quick check with some Nordic Tug dealers suggests a guarded optimism that the brand will survive and that manufacturing will resume as soon as consumer demand picks up whenever the recession is over. It’s pure speculation on my part, but Nordic Tugs fit into the mid- to upper-market niche and probably have a slightly higher percentage of financed buyers than the very high-end cruising and passagemaking boats.  They may also have a buyer demographic that has been hit harder by unemployment. These factors could exacerbate the difficulties faced by the builder and dealers in finding buyers with either significant discretionary cash on-hand, or access to easy credit. Those last two are characteristics in extremely short supply right now.

In the end, the boats and brand will likely survive, in my opinion. They are high-quality boats, with a diverse and loyal ownership base out there that could move up through the larger models if economic conditions permit.

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC.  All rights reserved.

The NENTOA Nordic Tugs Flotilla in Essex, CT in 2010 - Photo Courtesy of Paul Tortora

If you’ve never been to an owners’ or manufacturer’s or dealer’s rendezvous, you’re missing a great part of the cruising lifestyle. Last weekend’s Northeast Nordic Tug Owners Association (NENTOA) 2010 Rendezvous in Essex, Connecticut, is a great example of how they work and why they’re such a wonderful experience.

The New Nordic Tug 39 Arrives, Captained by NT CEO Andy Lund - Photo Courtesy of Paul Tortora

NENTOA works closely each year with major sponsor Wilde Yacht Sales, the Essex-based Nordic Tugs dealer for the northeastern U.S. NENTOA is an active owners’ group and working with Wilde, they solicit support from industry sponsors and put together a long weekend program. In this case, which is typical of a well-planned rendezvous, the program had a nice mix of social and “educational” activities. Special guess this year was Nordic Tug’s new CEO Andy Lund, who talked about what’s new at the company these days. He skippered the brand new Nordic Tug 39 all the way from Michigan to the rendezvous. Pretty unique.

I asked Paul Tortora of Wilde Yacht Sales for a rundown on the weekend. Here’s his summary. I’m going to ask the couples who made presentations if they would share them with us here on OceanLines. So come on back to see those.  Here are Paul’s comments:

NENTOA Rendezvous Participants Talk Outboard Motors - Photo Courtesy of Paul Tortora

First day is pretty much reserved for arriving and settling in, getting your registration packet, socializing with other owners and culminates with a ‘Rum Party’ followed by a ‘Pot Luck Dinner/Barbeque’ and then a presentation by the owners of Seamantha ( John & Paulette Lee) who have spent the past year traveling on a Nordic 42, and another presentation by Celebration (Brian & Ellen Clarke) who took their Nordic 37 down to the Chesapeake from Essex, CT. Each set of the owners gave a presentation on their trip and experiences including photos and music.

NENTOA Nordic Tugs Rafted at Hamburg Cove - Photo Courtesy of Paul Tortora

Second day was filled with workshops like engine maintenance by Cummins, boat maintenance by Ben Wilde, electronic session presented by Bill Jones of Raymarine, ‘Going Green With Solar Panels’ & Vacuflush Maintenance by Phil D’Anato of Ship Shape, ‘Whats New At Nordic’ presented by Andy Lund (CEO of Nordic) and some other workshops like ‘Crafts on Board’ which was tailored for the Admirals aboard. The neat thing about the workshops this year is that we added several hands-on workshops which were a huge hit. They included ‘How To Properly Use A Fire Extinguisher’ where each attendee got to practice PASS – pull the ring, aim, squirt, side to side. Also Man Overboard drill presented by Bill Boyer and Deploying a Floatation vest which was demonstrated in the pool by Dick Seymour. This day ended with a formal dinner reception featuring steak and swordfish, open bar and then a raffle featuring some great prizes that include overnight stays at Brewers and Essex Island Marina, handheld VHF radios, Maptech Guides and more.

Part of the NENTOA Nordic Tugs Parade - Photo Courtesy of Paul Tortora

Third day was a presentation by Herb Nickles & Wendy Shepherd on their trip on a Nordic 32 – boat name is Snorri. That was followed by a parade on the CT River (all the individual shots of the boats where they are running) and then a raft-up in Hamburg Cove (pictures of boats on moorings, with dinghies, swimming).

The next morning (Saturday), 7 boats departed for a two week Tug Tour from Mystic to 5 ports in MA and then back to Block Island and Greenport, Long Island as the final destinations. Another group of approximately 9 boats went on to do the coast of Maine. (Editor’s note – This is one of the real benefitsof buying from an active, interested dealer like Wilde — these co-hosted rendezvous and group or flotilla cruise opportunities, which are really helpful if you’re a new boater or not used to longer trips.)

Farthest boat this year was from Michigan which was the brand new Nordic 39 at display at the Rendezvous and will be at our docks for the next month for viewing, sea trials and of course is available for purchase. That boat was brought here by Andy Lund himself (not often you see a president of a company roll up his sleeves and spend 14 days bringing a boat to its destination — really gives him an opportunity to test their design changes and interact with people IMO). Second farthest distances this year were from Barry Shapiro & Suzanne Claus on Spray (Nordic Tug 37) and they came from Nashua, NH while Richard and Shirley Righter of Keene, NH brought their Nordic 32 named Olive. We did have owners come from Guezpn, Ontario but they came by car as their boat is currently in the Turks and Caicos.

I created a gallery of some of the photos Paul sent along. You can see it here. Some of the picture sizes are rather large, which is good if you want to look at details on the boat, not so good if you have a slow Internet connection.

We’d like to hear about other rendezvous that took place this summer (or are still planned; we’ll help you spread the last-minute word). Drop me a line here on the Contact page or in the comments to this story and we’ll follow-up with you. Thanks to Paul Tortora and Ben Wilde of Wilde Yacht Sales for the photos and roundup.

Copyright ©2010 by OceanLines LLC. All rights reserved.

The new Nordic Tug 39

Nordic Tugs’ latest model, the 39, will be making its East Coast, U.S., debut next week at Warwick, Rhode Island, Trawlerfest, so we thought it was a good time to give you the details on this boat. While it is the same hull as its predecessor, the NT-37, the NT-39 has significant changes topside, and several new standard features. From the company:

“Nordic Tugs President and CEO Andy Lund described the new vessel as an evolutionary advancement developed to offer a better cruising experience. “We began with an enormously successful design, and then contacted our many Nordic Tugs 37 owners for their feedback on how we could improve it,” he said, adding that many of
the features offered in the new 39 are in direct response to customers’ suggestions.”

Nordic Tug 39 Interior

The 39 is still very obviously a Nordic Tug; the classic pilothouse lines remain, but the look is updated with larger pilothouse and salon windows that make the boat look larger. Obviously, these also brighten the interior and improve visibility. Gone are the thick windshield mullions of the original Nordic Tug pilothouse, with only thin strips dividing the panels into three.

Nordic Tug 39 Helm

The inside of the pilothouse sports a new, wider helm dash that will accommodate big-screen electronics – an extremely welcome change. The captain also gets a standard Llebroc chair for more comfort on longer runs.

Nordic Tug 39 Salon Looking Aft

In the brighter, more open salon, there is a new, long U-shaped settee with “enhanced cushioning” and a pull-out berth like on the 37. The optional overhead-mounted flat-screen TV is opposite the settee, which is nice, since it means everyone on the settee can actually see the TV — not always the case in many salons. The galley now has a Force 10 electric cook top, Sharp convection-microwave oven and top-loading freezer as standard features. There’s also a new Dutch door and two larger sliding windows — all by Diamond Sea-Glaze — in the salon.

Nordic Tug 39 Guest Cabin

Below deck, the guest cabin features a pull-out lower berth that serves as a settee during the day, and a wide bunk at night. The head has been re-designed and now sports a Tecma toilet, a molded shower stall with bench seat.

Nordic Tugs has switched to all-LED lighting for its 2011 models, including interior lights from Imtra, which the company says it chose for their warmer tone. The LED lights use about one-fifth the electricity required by halogen lamps and produce considerably less heat. The boats also now feature LED nav lights, which can last 10 times longer than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.

Another move that really modernizes the Nordic Tugs line is the incorporation of a full Mareton NMEA 2000 network, extending from stem to stern, and including the engine room, helm station and signal mast.  According to Nordic Tugs, “the network offers “plug-and-play” installation of electronics, gauges and equipment ranging from chart plotters and rudder angle indicators to ultrasonic tank level indicators, depth sounders and the GPS. The system is compatible with the most popular electronics brands for display on the Maretron monitor at the helm.”

Nordic Tugs and Wilde Yacht Sales of Essex, Connecticut, will have the new Nordic Tug 39 on display at the Warwick, Rhode Island, Trawlerfest from July 15-17.  Wilde has supplied a nice brochure on the new boat here.

Nordic Tug 39
Specifications

LOA                             40′ (with anchor roller)           12.19 m
LWL                             37′ 4″           11.4 m
Beam                           12′ 11″         3.9 m
Draft                            4′ 4″            1.3 m
Power                          Cummins QSB 380 hp diesel         283 kW
Weight (dry)              22,600 lbs           10,273 kg
Weight (full)              26,000 lbs           11,793 kg
Fuel                            320 US gal                1,211 L
Range (approx)        1,000 nm @ 8 knots; varies with load and conditions
Fresh Water             144 US gal         545 L
Black Water               32 US gal          121 L
Grey Water                 9 US gal            34 L

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC.  All rights reserved.

A lineup of the Nordic Tugs Models at Wilde Yacht Sales in Essex, CT

If you live anywhere in the Northeast U.S. and have wanted to get a good look at a Nordic Tug, you’ve got several great opportunities. I’ve tested a 37 in the past and loved it. It’s a great coastal cruiser that will take care of you if the seas come up. It’s being succeeded by a new NT-39, which you can read about here. Several of the models make good Great Loop boats and I would happily live aboard a 42. 

Anyway, here’s what you can look forward to this summer.  First off is a special “Tug Fest” at Wilde Yacht Sales in Essex, Connecticut, this coming weekend, June 19-20. Wilde will have all Nordic Tugs models currently in production, except for the 49, including the recently re-born NT-26. I noticed in their used boat inventory that they’ve got several nice boats, including a flybridge 37 and a flybridge 42.  Some of the old purists don’t like the flybridge on the Nordic Tugs, but I love it. I think it looks like a salty old captain’s cap. By the way, this year is the 30th anniversary of Nordic Tugs.

If you miss the Tug Fest at Wilde this coming weekend, you can see some of the boats at the upcoming TrawlerFest July 15-17, at the Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick, Rhode Island. Incidentally, if you go to TrawlerFest, make sure you drive over to Oakland Beach and pick up some authentic Rhode Island clam cakes (fritters). They are unlike anything you will ever eat (hint — they actually have clams in them!).

From July 28 to July 31, Wilde will help host the Northeast Nordic Tug Owners’ Association’s 9th Annual Rendezvous and Cruise. NENTOA is an active group with some great cruising blogs linked on its website, along with good information about some owner modifications to their Nordic Tugs.  After the rendezvous, the NENTOA group will begin two cruises — a two-week venture from Essex to Boston, and a three-week cruise to Maine. The cruises have been a huge success in recent years and all those Nordic Tugs cruising together makes for quite a sight.

I’ll update OceanLines readers on other Nordic Tugs events around the country in future posts here. If you know of some, or if you’re with some of the other NTOAs, let us know!

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC.  All rights reserved.

Ranger Tugs 29' starboard running

Purchasers of a new in-stock Nordic Tug or Ranger Tug from Wilde Yachts in Essex, CT, will receive three years of free dockage and winter storage at a Brewers Marina near them. And if there’s no Brewers nearby, the deal applies to the local marina of the buyer’s choice. According to Wilde, the new promotion runs until March 15, 2010.

Only the Ranger 21 and Nordic 26, the two babies in the fleet, are excluded from the deal. Given what slip rates are in the northeast U.S., the deal is easily worth five figures. While we all know there’s no free lunch in life, this really is a good deal, especially if you can beat up Ben Wilde on the price of the boat itself (smile).  But seriously, a fair price on the boat and free dockage and storage is an example of how the dealers who survived the recession did so.  They got creative and found ways to solve customers’ problems for them.

Wilde Yachts recently took on the Ranger Tugs line of boats, which we’ve written about here on OceanLines. They’re great “pocket trawlers” with a big following, particularly in the Pacific northwest. I’m betting that with Wilde as the new dealer in southern New England, we’ll see a lot more of these cruising in the northeast. Ranger Tugs has also made some improvements to the 29, which we’ll be covering in an upcoming article.  In the meantime, you can see the Ranger Tugs and Nordic Tugs from Wilde at the Hartford Boat Show January 28, 31, at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Copyright © 2009 by OceanLines LLC

Nordic Tugs 26 Starboard Running Photo

Nordic Tugs said this week it was offering a free upgrade from the base Volvo D-3 110 hp diesel on its NT-26 model to a 150 hp Cummins Mercruiser QSD2.0.  The company says the upgrade represents a savings of $6,000.  Nordic Tugs has normally offered the 26 and 32 with Volvo engines and the larger models with diesels from Cummins.  An industry source said the Cummins offer on the NT-26 does not represent a permanent switch from Volvo to Cummins at the smaller end of the Nordic Tugs line.  In fact, the free upgrade is available only for new orders placed and confirmed by June 29.

Nordic Tugs said also that Cummins was also offering a discounted upgrade to the optional Vessel View Digital Pan for $900.

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

Nordic Tugs 26 Almost Ready for Launch. Photo: Bay Breeze Yacht Sales

Nordic Tugs officials confirmed yesterday that the first “new” Nordic Tugs 26 will leave the factory in Skagit County, Washington, before the end of this month and splash into the cold waters of the San Juan islands for its first sea trials.  The NT-26 was the original Nordic Tug, produced from 1980 until 1997, and the company decided earlier this year to restart production, given customers’ focus on economy and fuel efficiency.  The “new” NT-26 shares enough with its ancestors that Nordic Tugs decided to simply resume hull numbers from the original production run.  Therefore, this first new NT-26 is numbered as hull 173.

The New Nordic Tugs 26 Nears Completion. Photo: Bay Breeze Yacht Sales

Standard power on the boat will be a D-3 Volvo Penta diesel, rated at 110 hp, although a Cummins QSD-115 HO diesel, rated at 115 hp, is an option.  Cruise speed for the NT-26 will run from 8 to 12 knots, with an estimated top speed of 15 knots.  More photos of the NT-26 under construction are available at the Great Lakes and Mid-Gulf states regional Nordic Tugs dealer, Bay Breeze Yacht Sales, in Traverse City, Michigan.

The New Nordic Tugs 26 Main Deckhouse Under Construction. Photo: Bay Breeze Yacht Sales

In other Nordic Tugs news, the company is expected to announce next Monday the executive replacement for former President Jim Cress, who died in a motorcycle accident last month.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

Nordic Tugs 37 Sea Mischief, with her wave-slap preventer deployed

Dick and Mable Seymour loved their Nordic Tugs 37 Sea Mischief, but there was a quirk that bothered them. When at anchor, the hard chine of the hull, close to the bow where it crossed the waterline, would sometimes create a rhythmic slapping noise from the waves in the anchorage.

While many other owners either don’t notice it or don’t mind it, the Seymours decided to do something about it, creating what they call the Wave Slap Preventer, a device designed to restore quiet at anchor.

Here is the project as described by Dick Seymour, on the NorthEast Nordic Tugs Owners Association website:

“In response to the wave slap noise that is characteristic of Nordic Tugs and many other hard-chine boats, I attempted several solutions. These included small fenders linked end to end and swim noodles alone. I found it impossible to hold any stand-alone devices like these in place under the chine.

These are key pieces of the wave slap preventer made by a Nordic Tugs 37 owner.

Therefore, I had my canvas man make up two panels of sailcloth with integrated pockets for two swim noodles. The top picture shows the two panels laid out flat. The pocket for the swim noodles is also visible. A second picture of the end of the swim noodle pocket shows the size and fit for the two swim noodles in each pocket. The end of each pocket is “tacked” down so that the noodles won’t slip out, but can be easily detached to remove the noodles if desired.

The two panels are connected together with three small lines that slip under the bow when the Wave Noise Preventer is deployed. These lines are sized lengthwise to keep the pockets tightly snug under the flat chines right at the water line. The panels extend about 2 1/2 feet forward and aft of the point where the waterline meets the chine.

Detail of the wave slap preventer for Nordic Tugs 37

The combination of the swim noodles (in their pockets) tightly against the flat chine and the sailcloth on either side of the pockets hold the Wave Noise Preventer in place and stops the noise generated by small wave slaps on the chine. It does take two people to “scoot” the Wave Noise Preventer into place and secure it tightly.

“The sailcloth panels each have 6 grommets for the connection lines that slip under the bow as well as the lines that attach to stanchions on the deck which hold the Wave Noise Preventer in place. The panels are 5 feet 8 inches long. This length accommodates standard length swim noodles. Each panel is 18 inches wide on the bow end and 24 inches wide on the aft end. The pockets are on a slight angle from bow to stern with the stern end down about 4 inches or so on the sailcloth panels.

I did a formal sea trial of the Nordic Tugs 37 with the late Jim Cress, former president of Nordic Tugs.  The NT-37 is a nearly perfect liveaboard cruiser for a couple, with its spaciousness and seaworthiness.  You can read that review here.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

The late Jim Cress, seen here in early 2008 while piloting the N-37

Jim Cress, the affable president and CEO of Nordic Tugs, died Saturday, October 18 of injuries received in a motorcycle accident. His death was announced by the company this week. 

Born on May 13, 1946 in Chicago, Ill., 62-year-old Cress joined Nordic Tugs in 1989 as sales manager. He left the company in 1993 to start SkipperCress Yacht Sales, Nordic Tugs’ northwest dealer. Always passionate about Nordic Tugs, Cress and a small group of investors purchased the company on Dec. 13, 1996, and he has served as the company’s president/CEO for a majority of the past 12 years.

Cress enjoyed boating, motorcycles and sprint cars, but his main passion in life was his family. He leaves behind family members including his wife Stephanie, three sons, Jeff, Allen and Steven, along with three grandchildren, plus many friends and coworkers whose lives he touched.

A memorial service is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 25, 2008, at 2:00 pm at Christ the King Community Church in Mount Vernon, Wash. In lieu of flowers, the Cress family requests that memorials be made to a favorite charity in Jim Cress’s name.

“Jim was passionate about Nordic Tugs, and this came through in all aspects of his lengthy career with the company,” stated Nordic Tugs founder Jerry Husted, who retired in Dec. 2007. “He was a lively person – always exuberant, but at the same time showing a great deal of humility, and this combination of traits matured into amazing leadership qualities. Jim was a fun guy to be around, and I’m proud to have been associated with him in the boat business. He will be sorely missed by all of us.”

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines