The question was asked "Are you suggesting the N46 is not the right boat for what we want to do?" Based on your desire to find your second boat now can bring mixed results. I base this on our experience of jumping from owning a number of smaller outboard and I/O boats to the N40 when I was in my early 40's. We were one of Nordhavn's youngest buyers and even with 25 years of boating experience this was big step for us. I looked at this move as "my retirement dream early in life" and looking back very glade we did. That being said I think if had owned another boat between the twenty something feet the Nordhavn I would have been better prepared for all the systems and size of the N40. The learning curve was steep and since only my wife and I were aboard there was no room for error which did result in more than one stressful adventure. These boats like other large trawlers can be complex and you need to ask yourself if you are mentally, financially and mechanically ready for this size and type of boat. Even with the two boats being new builds we had our share of the power going out in the middle of the night and crawling around with a flashlight for hours. Then there was smoke in the engine room on a coastal cruise. Then there was the time we got caught in the worst fog at the worst time and were stilling learning how to use and trust the new navigation equipment. Looking back now I can say those experiences along with many more made us better boaters and ready for our next boat but they were not fun. The N46 is in my opinion one of the safest ocean crossing boats built with the track record that proves it. We actually spent some time last year looking at the N46 and spoke with many owner about their boats before deciding the boat was little to big for us. I will not go into the pro's & con's we found since everyone has there own needs and opinions but I will say I love the N46.
I will now give you my opinion if I think the N46 is not the right boat for you. My answer is I don't know and neither does anyone else. If you were to ask if the N46 is a good choice for coastal cruising and crossing the Gulf I would say definitely. Remember you don't have to get very far off shore to run into rough weather and when you do you will be glade to be on the safest boat you can find. If I was you I would get aboard a N46 and go for as long a trip as you can and see how the boat feels. I would also look at the Nordhavn Dreamers web-site and ask the same questions you posted here. Many Nordhavn owners (present and past) will step in and help you. It is another great source of information as is this web-site.
Now I'll step out of line a little and suggest that if you want to learn more about the N46 I would call Jeff Merrill at Nordhavn (Dana Point, CA.) and explain to him where you are with your decision making process. I met Jeff back in 2001 and built our first N40 with him in 2005 followed by our second boat in 2007. He is a good family friend and has served as our life line 24/7 when we owned our boats and would be out cruising or just tied to the dock. He is one of the most knowledgeable and respected sales representatives at Nordhavn and will never pressure you into buying a boat, he just doesn't work that way. I hope this helps you a little. If you have more questions and would like to contact me off line please feel free to email me at N4061@yahoo.com
John T
I will now give you my opinion if I think the N46 is not the right boat for you. My answer is I don't know and neither does anyone else. If you were to ask if the N46 is a good choice for coastal cruising and crossing the Gulf I would say definitely. Remember you don't have to get very far off shore to run into rough weather and when you do you will be glade to be on the safest boat you can find. If I was you I would get aboard a N46 and go for as long a trip as you can and see how the boat feels. I would also look at the Nordhavn Dreamers web-site and ask the same questions you posted here. Many Nordhavn owners (present and past) will step in and help you. It is another great source of information as is this web-site.
Now I'll step out of line a little and suggest that if you want to learn more about the N46 I would call Jeff Merrill at Nordhavn (Dana Point, CA.) and explain to him where you are with your decision making process. I met Jeff back in 2001 and built our first N40 with him in 2005 followed by our second boat in 2007. He is a good family friend and has served as our life line 24/7 when we owned our boats and would be out cruising or just tied to the dock. He is one of the most knowledgeable and respected sales representatives at Nordhavn and will never pressure you into buying a boat, he just doesn't work that way. I hope this helps you a little. If you have more questions and would like to contact me off line please feel free to email me at N4061@yahoo.com
John T