Trevor Brice founded North Pacific Yachts in 2003. The company’s first pilothouse, introduced in 2004 as the NP42 and later renamed the NP43, quickly earned a loyal following among committed coastal cruisers. After producing about 60 hulls over a decade, North Pacific replaced the NP43 with a completely redesigned North Pacific 45 Pilothouse. The NP45 featured a wider beam, a longer waterline and a refreshed exterior profile, and it established itself as a well-equipped, long-range coastal trawler favored for quality construction and comfortable fit-and-finish.
Building on that success, North Pacific developed the NP450 to offer a more contemporary take on the company’s pilothouse series. While retaining the core attributes that made the NP45 popular—solid cruising range, practical layout and rugged construction—the NP450 introduces modern designer touches and updated systems to appeal to a broader audience.
The NP450 blends the brand’s signature teak joinery with contemporary elements such as indirect lighting, larger bonded windows and built-in cockpit seating. A larger stainless-steel-and-glass cockpit door improves access and visual flow between exterior and interior spaces. North Pacific still offers owner-driven customization, but the standard equipment list is comprehensive: a full Garmin navigation suite, air conditioning, a 24-volt Sleipner bow thruster, a Northern Lights generator, a Nick Jackson dinghy davit, and Rocna anchor and chain, among other items. The concept is simple—add a dinghy and personal gear, fill the tanks and you’re ready for extended cruising.
Externally, the NP450 shares many familiar design cues with the traditional 45. It has a plumb bow, a raised pilothouse with raked-forward windows and a full-beam cabin that creates generous interior volume. The aft cockpit sits under an overhanging boat deck that shields the space, and access to the boat deck and flybridge—covered by a hardtop—comes via molded stairways on either side of the deckhouse or through the pilothouse doors, which also allow quick access to the foredeck. A cockpit ladder provides additional access between levels.
Below the waterline the hull is lengthened with an integrated swim platform. A long keel enhances directional stability and protects running gear and the barn-door rudder. Prominent chines run from bow to transom to improve stability and lift at semi-displacement speeds, contributing to a predictable, efficient ride.
Construction of the NP450 emphasizes durability and structural integrity. The hull is hand-laid fiberglass with two exterior layers of vinylester to resist osmotic intrusion. Fiberglass stringers are molded and bonded to the inner hull in a grid pattern to stiffen the structure. The deckhouse and decks are fiberglass cored with closed-cell foam, reducing weight above the waterline. Solid PVC is used at fastener points, and the shoebox-style hull-to-deck joint is mechanically fastened and glassed on the interior for strength and watertightness.
Standard propulsion is a single 355-hp Cummins QSB diesel fed from twin 200-gallon fuel tanks, yielding a baseline fuel capacity of 400 gallons. An optional third tank can be added to increase total fuel capacity to 700 gallons for extended-range passages. North Pacific reports comfortable cruising speeds between 7 and 10 knots and a top speed near 14 knots. At an economical 8 knots with a 10 percent fuel reserve, range is cited at over 1,200 nautical miles. A twin-engine propulsion option is also available for buyers who prefer redundancy.
The cockpit is thoughtfully equipped for liveaboard cruising and entertaining. A versatile bench seat can be oriented forward or aft and centers around a teak table. Boarding from floating docks is simplified by transom doors and hullside gates; for higher fixed docks there are opening lifeline gates just outside the pilothouse doors. Large hawse holes with combined cleats and stainless-steel bollards on the side decks handle substantial dock lines with ease.
Step through the heavy-duty sliding stainless-steel-and-glass bulkhead into a bright salon that mixes direct and indirect lighting. Large bonded-glass cabin windows flood the interior with natural light and provide expansive views. The contemporary interior features a planked white-oak sole that pairs with book-matched, horizontal-grained teak paneling and built-in teak furniture for a modern yet warm aesthetic.
Opposite the L-shaped dinette, a TV on an electric lift serves the seating area and two single chairs to starboard. The U-shaped galley forward of the dinette is equipped with a stainless-clad refrigerator, propane cooktop, Bosch oven, two-basin stainless sink and hand-lacquered overhead storage—an efficient layout for preparing meals underway or at anchor.
Five steps lead up to the pilothouse, where extensive bonded-glass windows provide a roughly 270-degree field of view from the helm. A settee behind the helm converts to a berth for the off watch, offering practical overnight capability for a small crew.
Belowdecks the guest stateroom benefits from a long hullside window with an opening circular port, bringing daylight and ventilation to the space. Across the companionway is a day head with a dedicated shower stall. The forward owner’s stateroom features a queen island berth, long opening windows and an ensuite head that forgoes a separate shower in order to maximize storage and cabin space—an intentional trade-off for owners who value stowage on long cruises.
Based on a proven design lineage and built to support safe, comfortable long-distance cruising, the North Pacific 450 highlights the company’s ability to combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary appointments. The result is a capable, well-finished pilothouse trawler that will satisfy both traditionalists and owners seeking a modern cruising boat.
Specifications
LOA: 45’8”
Beam: 13’8”
Draft: 4’6”
Displacement: 44,000 lbs.
Power (standard): (1) 355-hp Cummins QSB
Fuel (standard): 400 gals.
Water: 240 gals.
This story was originally published in the June 2024 issue.