Agreed: there is no “perfect loop boat.” However, we purchased our 2004 Nordic Tug 32 in 2020 intending to cruise the Great American Loop. We wanted a comfortable, easily maintained (no external wood), economical vessel. This one ticked all our boxes and four years and more than 8,000 miles later, it continues to please us.
The previous owners had maintained it in excellent condition, and all we did before departing Connecticut to Florida was change the oil and filters and install a larger anchor. We also renamed her after Jane’s great-grandmother. Routine maintenance and various additions since our purchase make this vessel our home for the warmer months of each year. Full specifications are on the Nordic Tugs website.
Built of multi-directional, knitted fiberglass with a vinylester skin coat and white gel coat, the hull has full-length stringers of fiberglass-encapsulated composite that eliminate any concern about osmotic blisters or water-logged engine beds.The semi-displacement hull is protected by upper and lower rub rails of UV-stabilized PVC – adequate to protect against “dock rash.” Diamond Sea Glaze glass windows all around with powder-coated aluminum frames and insect screens provide excellent visibility and freedom from cracking and glazing. Port and starboard sliding doors in the pilot house offer safe access to the side decks for docking and anchoring. Handrails are 1¼-inch diameter stainless steel tubing outside and teak inside. A large Samson post and eight large well-placed cleats provide secure mooring options.
The single Cummins 5.9-liter Model 6BTA mechanically injected diesel engine is rated at 270 horsepower at 2600 rpm, and pushes us to a top speed of 17 mph. Parts and service for the engine are reasonably priced and readily available. We normally cruise at 8.4 mph at 1200 rpm, consuming about 1.7 U.S. gallons of diesel per hour. Access to the engine bay is via two removable sections of the pilot house floor, allowing easy access to the 4D engine start battery, six Trojan T-105 six-volt house batteries, a 2,000-watt inverter/charger and a three-outlet, 40-amp battery charger for the engine starter and bow thruster batteries. There’s also an 11-gallon water heater (electric and engine heated), fresh water, seawater washdown, toilet flush pumps, and ample storage for tools, oil, battery water, filters, etc. The engine bay is lined with sound-absorbing material, so the engine noise at cruising rpm is quite bearable.
This vessel has practically all the factory options available except for a generator. A Honda 2,200-watt portable generator was added by the previous owner to power either of the two air conditioners when shorepower is not available. We have not had a reason to start the generator since late 2021 due to cool temperatures and shorepower availability. Year-round creature comforts include a 12,000 BTU air conditioner, a 16,000 BTU air conditioner, a diesel heater, an electric heater, a hydronic heater and six 12-volt fans.
The ample galley is equipped with a single, deep, stainless-steel sink, a two-burner Force 10 LPG stove with oven, and a Nova-Cool refrigerator and freezer. Seven drawers and three cabinets provide ample storage space for kitchenware and food. Two storage compartments under the settee provide additional storage space. A corner cabinet with three shelves in the port quarter contains plates, cups and glasses. A hanging locker on the starboard side contains our foul weather gear and inflatable life vests.
The U-shaped settee converts to a double berth by removing the folding dining table. It is comfortable enough for short visits. We had all the upholstery renewed with ultra suede fabric. The original carpet in the salon and berth is still serviceable. The previous owners refinished the teak and holly pilot house floors and teak trim in the main salon. Cabinetry throughout the vessel is solid teak and teak veneer plywood.
Access to the pilot house is three steps up from the main salon. The steps are removable to gain access to the Twin Disc gearbox and shaft alley with PSS dripless shaft seal. The AC panel is to port and the DC panel is to starboard. The pilot house is fitted with an adjustable seat at the helm and a fixed seat on the port side. Visibility from the helm is excellent. Three two-speed wipers with washers keep the windshields clear. We added external screens to all the pilot house windows for privacy and sun protection while not underway.
A swing-down compartment above the helm houses the Raymarine ST-60 Tridata display (speed, depth and log), the Standard Horizon GX-2000 VHF and EM-TRAK B-954 AIS transceiver, which we added in 2022. We recently added Starlink for uninterrupted internet service.
The instrument panel contains the standard engine instruments. It also has the joystick for the Sleipner Side Power SP-55 bow thruster, anchor windlass control switches, three bilge pump switches and indicator lamps, three windshield wiper/washer controls. Navigation and anchor light switches, engine bay light switch, 12-volt outlet, horn button, defroster and heater controls, Morse electronic engine controls and Fireboy fire suppression control are logically laid out. A Danforth compass sits atop the navigation panel that houses the Raymarine C120 multifunction display, Raymarine ST-8001 autopilot control head, searchlight joystick and three USB charger outlets that we added.
The Raymarine devices are of 2004 vintage and no longer supported. The ST-8001 became erratic and could not be repaired or replaced with any of the latest models. Rather than replace all the Raymarine devices with the current models, we purchased the Raymarine S100 Remote, a cost-effective alternative. We use the Raymarine C120 only as a radar display, relying on an Apple iPad and AquaMaps or Navionics for navigation.
Three steps down from the pilot house are the 16,000 BTU air conditioner, storage cabinet and pump-out controls on the port side. To starboard is the head with electric toilet and generously sized shower with bench. Cabinets above and below a small sink offer convenient storage. The Whale Gulper pump for the shower/sink sump is under the shower seat and accessed by removing the teak cabinet under the sink.
The forward berth was originally the full width of the hull. We converted it to a queen-sized island berth during the first year of ownership. A custom-made latex mattress provides a comfortable berth and makes it much easier to replace the fitted sheets. We built a two-drawer cabinet to fit under the berth. Storage shelves along the hull and a hanging locker to port are adequate for our needs. Reading lights, fans and USB outlets are at the head of the berth on either side of the anchor chain locker door.
Under the berth are the bow thruster, its two batteries and storage. A Lofrans Tigres 12-volt windlass, 180 feet of 3/8-inch chain and a 20 kg (44-lb.) Rocna anchor constitute our ground tackle. A Fortress FX-23 anchor and 120 feet of eight-strand nylon rode are our kedging gear.
We added a Bimini over the cockpit and installed two 200-watt flexible solar panels in addition to the four 100-watt hard panels on the pilot house roof. We rarely connect to shore power unless air conditioning is required.
A locker in the cockpit holds the 20-pound horizontal propane tank, which we had recertified in 2021. A hatch in the cockpit floor provides access to the 205-gallon diesel fuel tank, fuel filter, diesel heater, autopilot hydraulic pump, holding tank macerator pump and considerable storage space. Heavy stainless steel dinghy davits support the nine-foot Pilot sailing dinghy. We replaced the gasoline outboard motor with a Torqeedo battery-powered motor and added extension cables, allowing the battery to be placed amidships for improved trim.
The full keel protects the prop and rudder, and with the bow thruster, the vessel is easy to handle. We have learned to sharpen our weather eyes as the semi-displacement hull and bluff bow make for rough riding in a seaway.
Bessie’s hull and topsides were beginning to look a bit tired, so we had the vessel detailed this spring. Now the 20-year-old vessel shines like a new penny. An occasional wash hopefully will keep her looking fresh for a few more years. n