Carolena
Guru
When you say the NT is three cabin, do you mean the v-berth forward, plus pilot house, plus saloon? I always considered our boat two cabin: v-berth and saloon.
As for handling, coming from a sailboa the NT does seem rolly. However, we often raft with several much larger boats and everyone is amazed that our boat seems to have the same motion as the other ones. We've been in a large following sea once, and aside from needing to power up a bit, she handled very well. Before we kicked the speed up a couple knots, she was a bit squirrely. That is one benefit of the semi-displacement hull. Although we cruise at 7-8 knots probably 95% of the time, it is nice to know that you can get on step when necessary (WOT for our boat fully loaded is around 15.5). As for head seas, she handles those very well, although with the blunt bow it can be a wet ride. That is where the pilot house and wipers come in hand. As with following seas, if we put her on step, things really calm down and the spray is much reduced.
We came very close to a IG Europa 32 before we found the NT. Loved the layout, large flybridge and side decks. Probably would have put in an offer except we determined that shiping was going to cost a fortune becuase the boat was in the middle of the country. As I recall, the flybridge would have needed to come off for shipping. On the NT, all we had to do was remove the stack, antennas and bimini. She was about two inches below the max with the upper deck rails still on.
As for handling, coming from a sailboa the NT does seem rolly. However, we often raft with several much larger boats and everyone is amazed that our boat seems to have the same motion as the other ones. We've been in a large following sea once, and aside from needing to power up a bit, she handled very well. Before we kicked the speed up a couple knots, she was a bit squirrely. That is one benefit of the semi-displacement hull. Although we cruise at 7-8 knots probably 95% of the time, it is nice to know that you can get on step when necessary (WOT for our boat fully loaded is around 15.5). As for head seas, she handles those very well, although with the blunt bow it can be a wet ride. That is where the pilot house and wipers come in hand. As with following seas, if we put her on step, things really calm down and the spray is much reduced.
We came very close to a IG Europa 32 before we found the NT. Loved the layout, large flybridge and side decks. Probably would have put in an offer except we determined that shiping was going to cost a fortune becuase the boat was in the middle of the country. As I recall, the flybridge would have needed to come off for shipping. On the NT, all we had to do was remove the stack, antennas and bimini. She was about two inches below the max with the upper deck rails still on.