Hundreds of Nordhavn owners have logged ocean passages, and long-distance cruising is effectively the mission of every Nordhavn hull. That legacy began early for the company’s now-retired Nordhavn 40: in 2001 a stock 40 with a single engine completed a 172-day global voyage, proving a fiberglass production powerboat could safely cross oceans and earning the model lasting respect among passagemakers.
After 69 hulls, Nordhavn retired the 40 in 2018 but continued developing a similar-sized, modern design. The result arrived in late 2020 as the N41, a boat that quickly found buyers: more than 30 sales—almost half the total run of the 40—have already been recorded. Two of the N41’s earliest owners, both experienced cruising couples from California, recently described why they chose this compact, ocean-capable trawler.
Lance and Stephanie Leuthesser, Tavie
Lance Leuthesser’s time as a deck officer on a 300-foot research vessel during the Vietnam era gave him a lasting affinity for sturdy, ship-like boats. He and Stephanie began serious boat hunting in 2006. After Stephanie gifted Lance a 1966 C. Plath sextant, the couple decided to buy a boat, choosing a Nordhavn 40 they named Star Plath. Over the next decade they logged roughly 23,000 miles—from Skagway, Alaska, down to Zihuatanejo, Mexico—much of it with their dog Tavie aboard.
As the years and long offshore passages took their toll, the Leuthessers sold the 40 and moved inland to Arizona. When Tavie passed away, Nordhavn’s Southwest sales representative informed them about the new N41. Intrigued, they returned to the water and now own Hull No. 2 of the N41. Their boat, Tavie, is completing commissioning in California and will spend summers in Seattle once ready.
The couple appreciates the N41’s contemporary lines and open interior plan. Stephanie particularly likes how the layout keeps the couple together underway—Lance can helm while she works in the galley or relaxes in the salon with quilting and cross-stitch. They also welcome the switch from the 40’s single-engine arrangement to twin mains. Nordhavn’s decision to install two Beta Marine 74-hp diesels rather than a single larger main (plus a rarely used wing engine) improves maneuverability, delivers cleaner propeller intakes and gives owners greater confidence at docks and in close quarters.
Despite smaller individual outputs, the twin Betas offer efficiency and range that match—or surpass—the late-model Nordhavn 40’s single 107-hp John Deere. At 6.2 knots the N41 burns about 1.66 gallons per hour, and with a 900-gallon fuel capacity that equates to about 3,383 nautical miles. Cruising more slowly, at 5.09 knots, extends the theoretical range to roughly 6,582 nautical miles. The N41’s top speed is near 9 knots. The hull features a long, deep keel with 4,000 pounds of internal ballast and ABT 220 stabilizer fins for comfortable, stable passages.
“We’re not going to be jumping off to Hawaii,” Lance says, “but the boat’s efficiency and stable ride make us confident in her abilities.” Their short-term cruising plans include returning to favored ports in Canada and Alaska once pandemic restrictions ease. For the Leuthessers, the N41 is a practical, manageable vessel that renews their enthusiasm for cruising.
Randy and Jeri Frank, Sea Horse
Randy Frank brings decades of boating experience—everything from sailboats and ski boats to custom high-performance powerboats and a 74-footer linked to a Nordhavn yard in China. After selling their large yacht in 2020, Randy quickly acquired an N41 when a previous buyer stepped away due to pandemic-related financing issues. He and Jeri wanted a boat the two of them could handle comfortably without needing extra crew.
The N41 fits their goals: a simple, well-laid-out passagemaker that’s comfortable for two but still accommodates guests with a secondary stateroom containing two bunks. Randy and Jeri appreciate the salon-forward helm arrangement—no flybridge—so the helmsman can stay sheltered while remaining connected to the person in the galley or relaxing in the salon. They praise the master stateroom’s cozy proportions and the overall fit and finish of the interior.
Production of the N41 comes from a Turkish yard Nordhavn selected for this model. Unlike some earlier Nordhavns, the N41 is designed for production building with a high level of standard equipment. Buyers have responded favorably to that approach; many feel the boat is complete as delivered, with layout, systems and lines matching what they want in a compact passagemaker.
Both couples speak highly of Nordhavn’s customer service and delivery process. “They feel like part of our family,” Stephanie says of the Nordhavn team. Randy adds that the buying experience was excellent and that he looks forward to taking Sea Horse on its first cruise, confident the boat will perform as expected.
Nordhavn N41 Specifications
- LOA: 41’4”
- Beam: 13’11”
- Draft: 4’6”
- Displacement: 43,300 lbs.
- Fuel: 900 gals.
- Water: 300 gals.
- Power: (2) Beta Marine 74-hp diesels
- Price: $779,000
This article was originally published in the June 2021 issue.