Nordhavns - the Marmite motorboat

[TwoHooter]

...was almost impossible to get a response from them as they obviously had that many orders that they couldn't be bothered to follow up his enquiry so he gave up and bought something else.

It is certainly not like that nowadays. We walked in off the street last summer, made it clear the only thing we could afford was a brokerage 40 or 46, were treated with great respect, have been looked after very well and are still being looked after nearly 5 months after the deal. Questions on the online Nordhavn Owners and Nordhavn Dreamers Groups sometimes get responses from the president of the company Dan Streech which makes one feel they do care about customers both potential and existing.

whats that pole thing sticking out the top for ?? , Flopper stoppers

Derrick for lifting the tender, and flopper stopper. We only have one flopper stopper; you can have two. Haven't tried the flopper stopper yet; have read that one is 80% as effective as two, we'll find out before too long. You can get the boat with a fibreglass stack instead of the mast, and a crane instead of the derrick. I like the way ours looks.

Am I the only Nordie owner on here?

 

[Greg2]

Am I the only Nordie owner on here?

I suspect that you are

 

[petem]

I endorse what Deleted User and others have said about UK manufacturers missing a trick wrt trawler style boats. I'd be interested in a boat that's a cross between a Nordie and Beneteau Swift Trawler. So my brief would be:

1) Low fuel burn so displacement (or semi) hull that's safe in poor weather but no requirement for transatlantic capability.
2) Max speed in the high teens, cruising speed 15kts or so.
3) Single engine with 'get me home' wing job (perhaps electric driven off the gennie).
4) Lots of space for relaxing and lounging about with a shaded cockpit so flybridge essential.
5) Good master cabin with a second cabin that would comfortably sleep a couple or two kids.
6) Spec'd to spend 3-4 days at anchor therefore gyro, proper fridge / cooker, sufficient tankage / watermaking and waste storage space.
7) Contemporary but classic styling. Above all needs to be bright and practical.
8) 40-45ft in length.

Pete

 

[capsco]

I endorse what Deleted User and others have said about UK manufacturers missing a trick wrt trawler style boats. I'd be interested in a boat that's a cross between a Nordie and Beneteau Swift Trawler. So my brief would be:

1) Low fuel burn so displacement (or semi) hull that's safe in poor weather but no requirement for transatlantic capability.
2) Max speed in the high teens, cruising speed 15kts or so.
3) Single engine with 'get me home' wing job (perhaps electric driven off the gennie).
4) Lots of space for relaxing and lounging about with a shaded cockpit so flybridge essential.
5) Good master cabin with a second cabin that would comfortably sleep a couple or two kids.
6) Spec'd to spend 3-4 days at anchor therefore gyro, proper fridge / cooker, sufficient tankage / watermaking and waste storage space.
7) Contemporary but classic styling. Above all needs to be bright and practical.
8) 40-45ft in length.

Pete

Has your account been hacked? I was certain that you were looking for a Targa34 but I suppose very similar craft both in type and value######

 

[Nigelpickin]

If you can get past the flybridge then that sounds like an E3 Pete.

 

[wonky]

Magellano?

 

[westernman]

Magellano?

They look rather like a Benetau Swift.

 

[Greg2]

If you can get past the flybridge then that sounds like an E3 Pete.

Indeed it does!
The wing engine thing is an interesting point. Chatting with the Elling guys at SIBS it appears that around half of buyers opt for one and half decide they can do without......maybe a bit more than half IIRC. Very few actually have cause to use them. An expensive piece of ballast it would seem

 

[MapisM]

Single engine with 'get me home' wing job (perhaps electric driven off the gennie).

Interesting idea, on paper.
I've seen in flesh a 65' trawler which is afaik one of the very few vessels built with such system.
But it doesn't really work in practice, 'cause you get either a way oversized genset or an almost useless get home system.

That aside, all good points, in general. I'm just not sure of what you would consider "low fuel burn", if you wish to cruise at 15 knots.
If by low you mean LOW, at 40/45 feet there are only two ways to avoid burning a lot of fuel: either cruise at 8 knots, or (for ultimate savings! ) stay in the marina.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

They look rather like a Benetau Swift.

I have to say not to my eye but there's a bigger difference IMHO. Azimut seem to have decided that what buyers want in this market segment is a boat with a bit of heft to it. For example the Magellano 53 weighs nearly 50% more than the Swift 52 despite the fact they're almost exactly the same length. Speaking personally I'd always take a good heavy boat over a good light one in bad sea conditions. Actually I've been impressed by the couple of Magellanos I've looked at. They do seem to be built for extended cruising, more so than the average planing boat and they're selling well by all accounts

 

[IDAMAY]

Indeed it does!
The wing engine thing is an interesting point. Chatting with the Elling guys at SIBS it appears that around half of buyers opt for one and half decide they can do without......maybe a bit more than half IIRC. Very few actually have cause to use them. An expensive piece of ballast it would seem

A friend with an E4 would have welcomed a Wing engine when he broke down off Cartert and needed a tow in from a French fishing boat.

 

[BartW]

Actually I've been impressed by the couple of Magellanos I've looked at. They do seem to be built for extended cruising, more so than the average planing boat and they're selling well by all accounts

at the end of last season arrived a metallic blue grey Magellano 76, and is still berthed on our quay in PM,
and I have to say that I am very impressed by that boat, just looking from the outside at shape and finish.
I can perfectly understand that the look and style of this model range can please a big number of new rich people.
something new and something different, with a wink to trawlers. and very contemporary imho
well done from Azimut !

back to OP about Nordhavens,
like many other adicted boaters on here, I like them a lot, but wouldn't consider buying one,
because the boats are just not adapted to what most of us do with our boats, as discussed above and in many other threads,
not even talking about afordeability or internal styling etc...
all imho

 

[petem]

Magellano?

Yep, a Magellano 43 with a single engine would be close.

 

[Greg2]

A friend with an E4 would have welcomed a Wing engine when he broke down off Cartert and needed a tow in from a French fishing boat.

Fair point although I wasn't saying that it never happens but it is rare and when it does it is often fuel related, which is likely to affect two engines. I am guessing that the fishing boat only had the one engine.....

 

[TwoHooter]

Fair point although I wasn't saying that it never happens but it is rare and when it does it is often fuel related, which is likely to affect two engines. I am guessing that the fishing boat only had the one engine.....

Our fuel system has 2 main tanks with gravity feed to supply tank c/w water trap. From there to

1. two big switchable Racor primary filters, then to main engine secondary filter
2. separate Racor primary filter, then to generator secondary filter
3. separate Racor primary filter and transfer pump to Wing engine day tank and then by gravity to wing engine secondary filter

Returns from 1 and 2 go to a manifold with options to return to either of the main tanks or the supply tank; 3 returns to wing engine day tank. Transfer pump can by-pass wing engine day tank and return to either main tank or the supply tank. This makes it possible to polish fuel. There is a total of 5 primary filters plus the 3 secondary filters on the 3 engines so if I keep an eye on the filters I probably won't have fuel problems. The filters are very easy to get at
Our wing engine has only done 16 hours in 10 years which is awful. I plan to run it at least an hour every time we go out. The question of whether to have a wing engine on a Nordie doesn't really have a right answer and leads to endless circular debates. But I quite like having it there even though it is 99% ballast and 1% insurance. I don't like the idea of an electric drive on the main shaft because the biggest risk is prop fouling; the wing has its own little folding propellor.

 

[paul salliss]

I endorse what Deleted User and others have said about UK manufacturers missing a trick wrt trawler style boats. I'd be interested in a boat that's a cross between a Nordie and Beneteau Swift Trawler. So my brief would be:

1) Low fuel burn so displacement (or semi) hull that's safe in poor weather but no requirement for transatlantic capability.
2) Max speed in the high teens, cruising speed 15kts or so.
3) Single engine with 'get me home' wing job (perhaps electric driven off the gennie).
4) Lots of space for relaxing and lounging about with a shaded cockpit so flybridge essential.
5) Good master cabin with a second cabin that would comfortably sleep a couple or two kids.
6) Spec'd to spend 3-4 days at anchor therefore gyro, proper fridge / cooker, sufficient tankage / watermaking and waste storage space.
7) Contemporary but classic styling. Above all needs to be bright and practical.
8) 40-45ft in length.

Pete

Count me in re that brief , I am with you !!

 

[TwoHooter]

back to OP about Nordhavens, like many other adicted boaters on here, I like them a lot, but wouldn't consider buying one, because the boats are just not adapted to what most of us do with our boats, as discussed above and in many other threads, not even talking about afordeability or internal styling etc... all imho

I can see that, and if we end up doing the same as you we may have made the wrong choice. Right now I'm confident we made the right choice but only time will tell.

 

[petem]

Interesting idea, on paper.
I've seen in flesh a 65' trawler which is afaik one of the very few vessels built with such system.
But it doesn't really work in practice, 'cause you get either a way oversized genset or an almost useless get home system.

That aside, all good points, in general. I'm just not sure of what you would consider "low fuel burn", if you wish to cruise at 15 knots.
If by low you mean LOW, at 40/45 feet there are only two ways to avoid burning a lot of fuel: either cruise at 8 knots, or (for ultimate savings! ) stay in the marina.

Thanks M. With regards to low fuel burn, I'm thinking 4 or 5 MPG at cruise speed. Range wise I want something similar to Match Z / MYAG to do long Med hops in comfort. Or maybe Biscay comfortably in a oner (I realize that's not the Med). What speed could be achieved and what engine would be required for such a concept?

 

[petem]

Has your account been hacked? I was certain that you were looking for a Targa34 but I suppose very similar craft both in type and value######

Lol, the vessel above would be a retirement boat for when I have more time and funds.

 

[petem]

If you can get past the flybridge then that sounds like an E3 Pete.

No deffo not an E3 which looks to have a pokey upper and lower saloon. I want a spacious and bright upper deck with master and guest cabins down below* Galley to rear saloon and partly enclosable like Deleted User and Jez's Ferrettis. On top of that I want a flybridge.

Azimut Magellano and Beneteau Swift are on the right track, they just need to push the long range cruising and liveaboard concept further. Fairline 'Explorer' perhaps ?


* I also need a third utility area for tools and beer storage, work bench, washer and dryer pkus unsociable teenager berth.