Nordic Tugs has introduced an updated version of its popular 39-footer, now featuring a lower-profile flybridge with a redesigned helm and an intuitive joystick-style docking control. The new silhouette reduces windage and enhances the sightlines from the pilothouse and bridge. “We have always been known for the great view from our flybridges, and with this lower profile it is even better,” says Ben Wilde, owner of Wilde Yacht Sales, a Nordic Tugs dealer in Essex, Conn. “The visibility is absolutely staggering.”
The 39 Flybridge now uses a Side-Power dock control panel that gives the skipper direct command of both bow and stern thrusters. The primary docking control is a boat-shaped knob that operates like a joystick, providing intuitive, proportional control of lateral thrust and heading adjustments. “The ‘joystick’ is actually a boat-shaped knob that gives you intuitive command of the boat,” says Paul Tortora, marketing director at Wilde Yacht Sales. “You can operate each thruster separately or together.” For owners who value precise, low-speed handling in tight harbors, the Side-Power system brings a significant increase in confidence and safety during docking maneuvers.
Power comes from a single 380-hp Cummins diesel engine. Fuel economy varies with speed: at an economical 8-knot slow cruise the 39 achieves about 4 nautical miles per gallon, which equates to an approximate range of 1,024 nautical miles when using 80 percent of the 320-gallon fuel capacity. At a higher cruise speed of 14 knots the boat achieves about 1.5 nautical miles per gallon, giving a range of roughly 384 nautical miles. While Nordic Tugs does not position this model as an ocean-crossing passagemaker, the combination of range and efficiency makes it an excellent coastal cruiser for extended cruises along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, the Bahamas, or island-hopping in the Caribbean. “We don’t say you’re going to cross an ocean with this boat, but we are saying it is a great coastal cruiser,” Tortora notes. “You can certainly do Florida, the Bahamas and work your way to the Caribbean.”
Nordic Tugs builds the 39 on a semidisplacement hull with a full keel. The full keel promotes straight tracking and directional stability in a variety of sea conditions. “So the boat wants to run straight — in any weather — and she really digs in and tracks very well,” Tortora explains. The designers also emphasized a low center of gravity to improve ride quality. Wilde points out that the boat’s engineering keeps heavy components—engine and tankage—located over the keel, which helps stabilize the vessel and contributes to comfortable motion underway. “It has a big keel, and the center of gravity is over the keel,” Wilde says. “The boat is engineered to keep the engine and the tankage over that center of gravity, where it belongs.”
Interior refinements on the updated 39 include updated joinery and modern materials chosen to deliver the look and feel of traditional wood without excessive maintenance. The cabin soles now feature Amtico faux teak and holly that replicate the aesthetic and tactile qualities of real teak while reducing upkeep. Mahogany pilothouse window frames have been added for a warmer, more classic interior appearance.
Accommodations are arranged for comfortable cruising. The layout includes two staterooms, with a queen berth in the forward master stateroom, and a dedicated head with a separate shower stall. Systems and amenities support extended cruising and liveaboard comfort: a 9 kW generator supplies house power, and the starboard-side full galley offers Corian countertops, a propane stove and oven, two refrigerators and a top-loading freezer located under the counter. The salon features a wraparound settee with a dining table, and the pilothouse is designed with large windows to maximize natural light and visibility while underway.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 40 feet
BEAM: 12 feet, 11 inches
DRAFT: 4 feet, 4 inches
DISPLACEMENT: 22,600 pounds
HULL TYPE: semidisplacement, full keel
POWER: single 380-hp Cummins diesel
SPEED: 17 knots top, 14 knots cruise, 8 knots slow cruise
TANKAGE: 320 gallons fuel, 144 gallons water, 32 gallons waste
PRICE: $589,900 (well equipped)
CONTACT: Nordic Tugs, Burlington, Wash.
(360) 757-8847
www.nordictugs.com
Wilde Yacht Sales
(888) 447-6944
www.wildeyachts.com
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December 2013 issue