MapisM
Well-known member
Good point, probably in that particular case a lower draft and a higher speed would have saved the day.Of course what they don’t say is a planing boat wouldn’t have gone aground
But in fairness, I wouldn't recommend a planing boat to anyone interested in cruising British Columbia.
And in her type/size bracket, the N57 was a stunning boat indeed, perfectly suited for cruising those waters, and also others even more extreme.
In more ways than one, better than their current models, which on top of being much more built to a budget, also trade a bit more space for a silly layout, where the crew must constantly go up or down some stairs in order to move around the boat.
Trouble is, they are way overrated within their market niche, and also in the second hand market they command prices which are beyond a joke.
As an example, there is one currently for sale in S'hampton. 2004 vintage and in great conditions, judging from the pics.
In comparison with my planing tub of exactly the same size and year, she has much less external spaces, her swim platform is a practical joke, the guest cabins are nowhere near as convenient and they share one head for both.
Oh, and she doesn't have a transom passerelle, which would also be difficult to retrofit.
Add up the fact that one cruises at 8 kts and the other 3 times faster, and it's easy to understand why P boats always sold like hot cakes in places like the Med, Southern Florida, etc. compared to any trawler - let alone Nordies.
In spite of all that, I would have chosen a N57 over any P boat of similar size without thinking twice, because I have a soft spot for cruising at D speed in almost sailboat-like silence.
I also appreciate that the construction is a sort of investment in terms of lower future maintenance, compared to the generally more "squeezed"powerplants of P boats.
Not to mention fuel, which is bound to affect much less the total cost of ownership in D boats - though obviously that depends on the mileage.
But, and it's a HUGE but, more than 3 times the price? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?
I would gladly challenge even the most hardcore Nordhavn fan to compare a N57 with any P boat of similar size from a decent builder.
I don't think anyone in his right mind could pretend that there is twice the value in the Nordie, let alone more than triple!
In other words, imho there are only two categories of boaters who think it's worth spending that much more for having - in several ways - so much less:
The first are true blue water boaters, who could take salt water when in need of a blood transfusion.
A category which imho would be better off in a sailboat, but fair winds to them anyhow.
The second are boaters who actually never experienced long non-stop passages, and only dream of what they are all about.
For them, at least there is the consolation that they might not take a huge hit when (not if) they will sell the boat to someone else with the same dream, after understanding what it really means taking forever to get nowhere...