 There
are few boats so uniquely qualified to take two people and their guests
around the world as comfortably and as economically as the Nordhavn
40. Strong, rugged and handsome in a no-nonsense way, her special
personality was inspired by salty commercial ships fishing the world's
deepest oceans. She stirs a passionate interest and curiosity along
docks and throughout anchorages everywhere, with people enthusiastically
asking her crew "where have you been" and "where are
you headed?" Indeed, the Nordhavn 40 looks like the serious passagemaker
that she is. But above all her seriousness of purpose, there is a
wonderfully romantic, emotional element to the boat that strongly
attracts a wide base of seasoned sailors, experienced power boaters
and those just entering the world of boating.
The result of over three years of development by Pacific Asian
Enterprises, (P.A.E.), she represents the smallest of Nordhavn's
fleet of ocean-crossing motor vessels. Yet her modest size does
not limit her incredible, non-stop cruising range. Thanks to a highly
efficient, full displacement hull design and a fuel capacity of
over 900 gallons, a heavily loaded boat ready for ocean crossing
will cover more than 2,400 nautical miles at 7 knots. For instance,
the fully stabilized Nordhavn 40 used during P.A.E's Around The
World Voyage (ATW) was tested in relatively calm conditions and
yielded the following results:
| Speed |
S/L |
GPH |
RPM |
Range |
| 6 knots |
1.01 |
1.6 |
1,300 |
3,450 |
| 7 knots |
1.18 |
2.6 |
1,600 |
2,458 |
| 8 knots |
1.34 |
4.0 |
1,900 |
1,840 |
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Depending on weather, the actual performance can fluctuate for
better or worse. On the run from California to Hawaii, the ATW boat
pushed through contrary winds and currents which negatively impacted
its output. However, when experiencing favorable seas in the Western
Pacific, the boat made 7.4 knots at 2.6 GPH.
Previously published numbers were based on tests of an unstabilized,
lightly loaded boat in favorable conditions.
More important than her range is her impressive seakeeping ability.
This stout, tough ship is designed to punch through heavy head seas
without hesitation and to track down swell as if on rails. Her high
bow provides extraordinary buoyancy and contributes to her dry ride.
Beneath the surface her forefoot of moderate depth eliminates pounding
and helps provide a smooth, gentle motion. Her long keel with a
large, protected rudder keeps her going exactly where she's pointed.
When equipped with Nordhavn's highly dependable TPS (Towed Passive
Stabilizers) or gyro-controlled fins, side roll caused by beam seas
is minimized, greatly enhancing the comfort of her captain and crew.
Even if her owner's cruising plans do not include crossing oceans,
the Nordhavn 40's remarkable capabilities will be greatly appreciated
and utilized during long-range, coastal cruising. Her solid, seaworthy
performance instills confidence in the captain and a sense of safety
in the crew. Being caught in an afternoon squall on Lake Michigan
or in a nasty Nor'easter while crossing the Gulf Stream, her crew
will continue on, knowing their ship can take whatever the sea delivers.
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