Ahoy - Aspiring to be a Nordic Tug owner

Breezin · 12-27-2018, 02:39 PM

Ahoy,
After a lifetime (up to now) of sailing, I am ready to "graduate" to a trawler. My wife and I have been roaming the Chesapeake Bay under sail for 15 years and while we enjoy sailing, we enjoy exploring even more. Due to the vagaries of weather, we find ourselves motoring more and more to visit destinations. It's not that we're in a hurry - six knots is just fine.

We have made lists (even spreadsheets) of must-haves, nice-to-haves, and don't-wants. We know how and where we would use a new (to us) boat. In reading various posts on this forum, I found valuable advice that's helped us organize our search and we've found a few boats that "check all the boxes."

We're going to take a second look at a used Nordic Tug 37 that's listed in our area. Does anyone know of any issues unique to Nordic Tugs I should be alerted to?

AdmiralS · 12-27-2018, 02:45 PM

Welcome Aboard!

We were looking at Nordic Tugs as well during our search.

Not sure if you have come across Helmsman Trawlers, but take a look at their 38 model.

Comodave · 12-27-2018, 03:30 PM

Welcome aboard.

Breezin · 12-27-2018, 04:19 PM

AdmiralS: We have looked at the Helmsman Trawlers and love the 38E, but the new ones are out of our price range and its predecessors, the Mariner 37, are hard to find.

AdmiralS · 12-27-2018, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breezin

AdmiralS: We have looked at the Helmsman Trawlers and love the 38E, but the new ones are out of our price range and its predecessors, the Mariner 37, are hard to find.

Indeed, while a number of 38's have been built they don't pop up too often.

There have been a number that have popped up over the last few months and they are usually sold within the week. Always keep an eye on the Helmsman website that lists them, as well as Waterline boats which usually handles the brokerage of them.

We ended up getting our 43 new as only a handful have been built and didn't expect to see a used one on the market for some time. There is a 43 available now, as the owners life circumstances have changed. It has an interesting interior....

Breezin · 12-27-2018, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdmiralS

There is a 43 available now, as the owners life circumstances have changed. It has an interesting interior....

Haven’t seen a listing for a used 43.

AdmiralS · 12-27-2018, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breezin

Haven’t seen a listing for a used 43.

Listed on Yacht World currently -

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/201...nced%20listing

Breezin · 12-27-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdmiralS

Listed on Yacht World currently -

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/201...nced%20listing

Ah! The “2019” threw me. I thought that was an ad for ordering a new one.

Capitaine R · 12-27-2018, 06:49 PM

Welcome aboard and good luck with your search which ever boat you choose.

RCook · 12-27-2018, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breezin

Ahoy,
After a lifetime (up to now) of sailing, I am ready to "graduate" to a trawler. My wife and I have been roaming the Chesapeake Bay under sail for 15 years and while we enjoy sailing, we enjoy exploring even more. Due to the vagaries of weather, we find ourselves motoring more and more to visit destinations. It's not that we're in a hurry - six knots is just fine.

We have made lists (even spreadsheets) of must-haves, nice-to-haves, and don't-wants. We know how and where we would use a new (to us) boat. In reading various posts on this forum, I found valuable advice that's helped us organize our search and we've found a few boats that "check all the boxes."

We're going to take a second look at a used Nordic Tug 37 that's listed in our area. Does anyone know of any issues unique to Nordic Tugs I should be alerted to?

We bought a 2002 NT 37 in 2016. Very sound and capable cruiser. Three summers doing BC and SE Alaska so far, for about 13,000 nm. Couldn't be happier.

Waterford · 12-27-2018, 08:21 PM

We had a 2000 Nordic Tug 32 for six years and just moved up to a 2008 37 three months ago.We've had great experiences with older Nordics but I'm not sure the same quality is found in the new boats. The factory has been less responsive in recent years but they are still building new boats. Join the owners' group in your area. https://nentoa.com

Salish Nomad · 12-28-2018, 12:49 AM

I think they are great boats. We looked at several NT 37's in September, and the reason we selected the AT 34 is that we were able to squeeze the AT into our slip.

Capitaine R · 12-28-2018, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterford

We had a 2000 Nordic Tug 32 for six years and just moved up to a 2008 37 three months ago.We've had great experiences with older Nordics but I'm not sure the same quality is found in the new boats. The factory has been less responsive in recent years but they are still building new boats. Join the owners' group in your area. https://nentoa.com

If this is true I'm glad we just bought an old one, a really old one.

SlowsailNC · 12-29-2018, 12:11 PM

Hello Breezin,

We bought our 2009 NT 37 in 2015. It is hull #5 and we are the third owner. The boat surveyed well when we bought it.

For most of the first 3 years of our ownership the boat saw minimal usage. We moved aboard full time on 11/28/17 and began using the boat in the sounds of NC. This fall we traveled south to Jacksonville and the boat performed flawlessly.

I do not have any maintenance records from the original owner but have records from the second. Those records show no unusual maintenance items, just what I would consider normal upkeep. The same holds true since we purchased the boat.

The boat layout/size works well for us, sure it could be bigger but then so would the travel & upkeep costs.

PM me if you have any specific questions and I will be happy to try and answer them.

Gene

Ang · 12-30-2018, 10:08 PM

Welcome to the Forum!

We spent a good portion of 2016-2017 looking at Nordic Tugs and American Tugs. Both are built in our area and both are wonderful boats. We are happy campers with the move.

Cheers,

markpierce · 12-30-2018, 10:11 PM

Congratulations. Nordics were my second choice.

Breezin · 12-31-2018, 10:35 AM

We have a purchase contract on a 2007 Nordic Tug 37.

I did a ton of online research, and attended a couple of trawlerfests, but I felt like we hadn't really looked at enough boats yet. When we found this one, I wasn't expecting our search to be over (although it did meet all my criteria). In fact, my wife had already dismissed it, having decided the salon was too small after looking at pictures online. (I've always liked hearing her say we need a bigger boat.)

Once aboard, she changed her opinion. On the drive home, she was bursting with excitement about it. We went back for a second look a week later, but I knew the decision was already made.

AdmiralS · 12-31-2018, 10:37 AM

Congratulations! Best of luck!

Spinner · 12-31-2018, 03:21 PM

I bought my 2003 42 Nordic in Feb 2018. No huge issues so far, and I am very happy with the boat.

Waterford · 01-01-2019, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterford

We had a 2000 Nordic Tug 32 for six years and just moved up to a 2008 37 three months ago.We've had great experiences with older Nordics but I'm not sure the same quality is found in the new boats. The factory has been less responsive in recent years but they are still building new boats. Join the owners' group in your area. https://nentoa.com

The factory delivered a new NT44 yesterday and they have no other orders in the queue. They have not had a single order through their new "factory direct" business model they adopted about a year ago. I wonder if Ranger Tugs is eating their lunch from the lower-end market while American Tug eats from the top. So, give them a call and order a new boat today! Surprise your spouse!