“What the heck is that?” Udo Willersinn asks, smiling with a mix of curiosity and amusement. He’s at the helm of the Fjord 39 XP as we ease into another bend on the New River. Standing tall at the wheel, he keeps a careful eye on the heavy traffic coursing through Fort Lauderdale. A low, black craft slips past us like a shadow skimming the water.
“It looks like something trying to be a submarine,” Wendy Meade says from the bolster seat beside him. She’s manning the VHF so Udo can concentrate on steering. The couple—co-founders of Yacht Sales International and U.S. Fjord distributors—work together like a well-oiled team.
I tuck my phone away, determined to keep it there. The New River demands attention; there’s more to see here than on many American waterways. This isn’t the place to stare at a screen.
Every turn produces another showstopper. A restored Trumpy Flush Deck Cruiser reminded us of 1960s luxury yachting. A custom Rybovich looked every bit the purpose-built sportfisherman. A jet boat painted like a shark prowled nearshore. To port, a bullet-gray Pershing 80 thundered by, its hull riding so high it seemed taller than a house.
If you enjoy boat-watching, this stretch is paradise. Heads swivel to take in the spectacle—vessels of every shape, size and age sharing a relatively narrow waterway in a city often called the yachting capital of the world.
Our Fjord adds to the parade. The 39 XP is the newest Fjord model in the U.S.—a stylish day yacht with unmistakable offshore character. Its plumb stem, vertical hullsides, high freeboard and straight sheer give it a purposeful stance. On deck, purposeful engineering and clean, simple design are evident throughout. Though Fjord has been available in the U.S. for several years, it remains something of an exotic choice for many owners.
Fjord began in Norway in the late 1950s building seaworthy family motorboats. After Hanse Yachts of Germany acquired the brand in 2005, Fjord took a bold design turn. The 40 Open, launched in 2008, broke conventions and earned the European Powerboat of the Year title. “If you owned a Fjord, you had arrived,” Udo recalls.
Today Fjord’s lineup stretches from 38 to 53 feet with boldly styled boats. The 39 XP is the outboard variant of the diesel-powered 39 XL; the sterndrive version is popular as a megayacht tender, while the XP serves admirably as an owner’s primary day boat for those who want something different.
“Fjord blends Nordic tradition with German engineering,” Udo says, comfortably shaded beneath an expansive hardtop—“the largest in its class,” he notes—and protected by a curved one-piece windshield that provides excellent visibility.
Udo may be biased—he grew up in Germany and helped build his family’s recreational boat import business before relocating to the U.S. He met Wendy in Florida on a blind date; she was impressed when he took her out on three boats in one day. Both entrepreneurs—Wendy ran a modeling business as a teenager and later earned an IT-focused engineering degree— they co-founded Yacht Sales International and represent several European brands, Fjord among them. Their company now operates five offices nationwide with headquarters on the New River.
Wendy is on the radio with my colleague Pim Van Hemmen, who’s photographing the Fjord from a RIB a few hundred yards ahead. “He’d like to head east and run offshore to capture some shots at speed,” she reports.
Though called a river, the New River is really a tidal estuary under four miles long, linked to the ICW and the Atlantic at Port Everglades. It’s threaded with canals, and boating here is as much about cruising those tributaries and peeking at prime waterfront real estate as it is about getting from A to B.
“There’s the Huizenga house,” Wendy points out at a Mediterranean-style mansion. Wayne Huizenga’s 18,000-square-foot riverside home is a local landmark. Tempted, I break my promise to keep the phone in my pocket and step forward to snap a photo.
The Fjord’s layout makes moving around easy. The walkaround is wide and deep; the gunwale comes up to hip level and the single-level deck has no steps, so you can reach the bow quickly. The floor is finished in synthetic teak (Flexiteak 2G), which is comfortable underfoot and low-maintenance.
As we near the ICW where it meets the Stranahan River, we pass the site where La Maison Blanche once stood. The neoclassical estate was an icon until recently demolished; a modern, sustainable 20,000-square-foot residence is planned to replace it—an example of how the riverfront continues to evolve.
After two hours of shooting from the RIB, Pim is ready for a swim, so we detour to Whiskey Creek. Udo slips the bow into a quiet anchorage, eases up to a sand bar and shuts off the twin Mercury 400-hp V-10 outboards. We hear only birds and the surf beyond a thick mangrove fringe. Though busy on weekends, today the creek is peaceful—a perfect spot for a swim. It’s also a place with history; during Prohibition it was used by smugglers bringing spirits from the Bahamas and England.
Wendy reveals a clever feature: a passerelle extends from the swim platform at the press of a button, creating an easy step into the water. Pim, eager to cool off, dives off the stern instead.
The cockpit is a social hub: two long bench seats face a matching wood table that folds into two sections. Cushions are plush and well-fitted. The forward seat’s backrest adjusts so passengers can turn and face the bow when the boat’s on plane.
Forward of the seating area sits a versatile console. Options include a propane grill, an induction stove powered by solar panels and an inverter, a refrigerator, a sink or additional drawers—Fjord encourages owners to personalize layouts to suit their needs.
“A megayacht owner might prefer minimal interior space if the boat serves mainly as a tender,” Udo explains. “Someone else will want more amenities for day cruising.” As distributors and experienced boaters, Wendy and Udo thoughtfully outfit each model; on this 39 they added a bow thruster to complement the Mercury Joystick Piloting system.
“Currents on the New River can be extreme and winds funnel between downtown high-rises,” Udo says. “The thruster gives extra control.”
Though Fjord markets the 39 XP as a day yacht, it can accommodate two for an overnight: a queen-size berth, a spacious head with shower and comfortable headroom provide reasonable overnight comfort.
Heading out through the Port Everglades inlet, the Atlantic builds a welcome chop—a condition this hull was designed to meet. The plumb bow slices through waves with minimal pitching; the deep forefoot keeps the boat steady. “In a head sea, I can keep it on plane at 15–16 mph and pass many boats that struggle at higher speeds,” Udo notes. He believes the 39 delivers one of the driest rides in its class.
We don’t run formal speed trials, but the builder reports a top end near 42 knots with twin 400-hp Mercurys and a cruising pace around 30 knots.
“I’m hungry,” Udo says. Wendy radios Pim and the RIB follows as we thread back up the ICW. Fort Lauderdale, a city of about 184,000, offers myriad waterfront dining options reachable by boat—from casual, lively spots with fried seafood and strong drinks to refined restaurants with white-glove service. All share one key draw: great views of water and boats.
We tie up side-to at Shooters on the ICW, a longtime favorite for local and visiting boaters. The Fjord draws admiring glances from diners eager for both good food and eye-catching fiberglass.
After lunch we continue up the ICW and pass under the 17th Street bascule drawbridge near the Port Everglades cut. This precast concrete landmark, recognized for engineering excellence, feels like the proper gateway to a city that offers one of the most visually exciting boating experiences anywhere.
Specifications
LOA: 39’2”
Beam: 12’8”
Draft: 2’9”
Water: 52 gals.
Fuel: 301 gals.
Power: (2) 400-hp Mercury Verados
This article was originally published in the August 2024 issue.