One's freedom to roam the oceans of the world is worth nothing less than the best materials and workmanship. Nordhavn owners around the world, as well as an experienced P.A.E. staff, provide the feedback about what works and doesn't work. One of the biggest advantages of a full displacement design is that saving weight is not a requirement for top performance. Everything can be built to heavy scantlings, and extra hull laminations can be specified without impairing performance. Woven roving is the basis for the ultimate strength in the fiberglass lamination of every Nordhavn. Each yacht is hand-fabricated in flawlessly polished molds, producing seamless structures that provide superior strength and prevent possible leakage. P.A.E. engineers specify vinylester resins, and the decks and superstructure are cored for extra rigidity and to keep weight as low as possible. An increased lamination schedule forward contributes to the overall ruggedness and integrity of the yacht. Nothing rattles, shakes, flexes or vibrates. Special attention is given to sound insulation, and the results are impressive. Indeed, with the engine room door secured, the noise level in the adjoining master stateroom is a quiet 70 dB. It's even quieter in the pilothouse. Hatch bosses, hardware bases, quick-draining waterways, and diamond-patterned non-skid are just a few of the quality details integrally molded on deck that all add up to a proper yacht.
Nordhavn yachts are engineered to last a lifetime, and beyond. Systems and their individual components are selected based on their performance and proven reliability in the world's toughest proving grounds-in the middle of the ocean. Aquamet stainless steel rudder and drive shafts are standard. Seamless copper tubing for hydraulic steering lines helps eliminate possible leaks. Bronze-body thru-hulls with stainless steel balls and Teflon seats ensure long-lasting reliability. The Nordhavn's proven dry stack exhaust vents engine noise and gases far above the deck, eliminating the need for additional thru-hull openings. Engine cooling takes place using fresh water in a closed-circuit keel cooler, minimizing the corrosive effects of salt water on the main powerplant.
Marine-grade tinned wire, harnessed and connected according to ABYC standards, is used throughout the yacht. Dual electrical systems provide l2/24 volt DC and l20/240 volt AC power through custom-designed electrical distribution panels. Chargers, inverters, and separate banks of batteries provide backup power. A look behind the electrical panel reveals the high level of workmanship and attention to detail that goes into each Nordhavn. Hydraulic equipment, including a bow thruster, windlass and active fin stabilizers, are selected for use after they have proved their mettle in long passages. Reverse cycle air conditioning and heating systems control temperatures and humidity in each cabin, making passages in any kind of weather a pleasant, comfortable experience. For ultimate reliability, hydraulic and fuel lines are installed in tunnels which run the length of the engine room, and specially-designed stainless steel fuel manifolds are easily accessed. To keep a clean, fresh flow of fuel, large water-separating filters are mounted on the bulkheads for instant visual inspection and easy service. Everything is clearly labeled for ease of use. From its carefully recessed fuel-level sight tubes to its high-capacity emergency bilge pump system, every detail of the Nordhavn 50 is designed to provide safe, comfortable ocean passages.
When the designers committed the Nordhavn 50 to paper, they remembered the elements that make a proper passagemaker. Her raised pilothouse is located forward for enhanced visibility, also making room for her optional flybridge and boat deck. There's room in the aft cockpit for entertaining, relaxing or fishing. An integral swim platform with a sturdy safety rail and swim ladder simplify boarding, swimming and docking, and there are built-in lockers and a huge lazarette for stowing cruising gear. Depending on the model, wide, walk-around decks run the full-length of either one or both sides of the vessel. Overhangs protect the saloon entry aft and the side- decks from torrential rain and tropical sun. High bulwarks all around increase safety on deck, and a secure Portuguese bridge protects the pilothouse and crew alike. A well-flared bow with plenty of reserve buoyancy and high freeboard forward turns back the spray. Large scuppers in the foredeck promote rapid runoff, and a spacious gear locker keeps the area uncluttered. heavy-duty life rails increase security for the crew, and an integral bow pulpit simplifies anchoring duties.
Custom-cast hawse hole fixtures for docking lines come complete with integral cleats. Like all the cruising vessels built by P.A.E., including the beautifully rugged Mason line of sailboats, the Nordhavn 50 is first and foremost a serious oceangoing ship. Blending the best design elements from contemporary-styled yachts with the offshore capabilities of a vetted bluewater passagemaker, the Nordhavn's designers have metaphorically cloaked a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's only a matter of time before the dock-walkers find out about this uniquely qualified vessel.
P.A.E. knows how to build boats that exceed the special requirements of bluewater cruising. Its real strength is its people-experienced cruisers who work hard to understand the needs of the owners before the first layer of fiberglass is laid into the mold. You are invited to harness P.A.E.'s experience and realize the power of your dreams.
