The Nordic Tug 32 is well suited for a cruising couple, and adapts well to cruising slow or at planing speed.

Capt. Steve Says --

I’m certainly one of those dreamers that wants to circumnavigate the globe. Unfortunately, that dream has to wait its turn behind my dream of paying off my mortgage, putting my daughter through college, and financing my upcoming mid-life crisis. But coastal cruising...that’s closer to reality. And the Nordic Tug 32 is a comfortable size for anyone to handle.



The Right Tool for the Right Job...

The Nordic Tug 32 really has found its niche in the cruising world. It’s not going to head off to the Med or the Azores, and that’s just fine with her. She’d rather stick closer to home where the groceries and fuel are. Her one stateroom/one head layout is ideal for a cruising couple. If you need to have overnight guests then the salon will have to do. Besides, that’ll convince the guests that they can’t stay forever so... win/win.

As with most cruisers, the accommodations are forward, and are roomy enough for the couple that isn’t trying to pack everything that the house held into a smaller space. It’s roomy enough for its purpose with adequate storage. Remember, it’s still a boat that is just under 33’.



The Nordic Tug 32 stateroom features an island berth with four drawers beneath. Overhead is a hatch for letting in natural light and it also serves as an emergency exit. We'd install two single berths here, or a double and a single.

The Living Space...

The salon is where the heart of the cruiser is and where you’ll be spending most of your time, at least when the boat is not underway and you’re not cavorting about town. On the Nordic Tug 32, the salon shares a roomy space with the galley. This is a nice arrangement, again keeping in mind that we’re on a cruising couple’s boat, not a boat for entertaining a large number of guests. The settee is off to port, and yes it serves as a sleeper. To starboard is the galley, just a few steps away.



The salon and galley occupy opposite sides of the same room. Three steps up is the pilot house. Note the visibility all around, and check out the clever use of space for the refrigerator.

You’re not going to find a wide screen LCD, or a dedicated entertainment center. You can add these things if you’d like, and the room is wired for speakers. The galley features an alcohol/electric stove, microwave, refrigerator, a single basin stainless sink, plenty of storage and teak trim is everywhere. It’s not a galley for cooking a five course meal, or carrying stores for months at sea. It is however, functional and well laid out for its purpose. Nordic Tug seems to be harboring no illusions about the 32’s place in the world, and all around is evidence of a down to earth working cruiser looking to get the job done.

Helm Station...

The helm is raised high enough to give all around visibility, there are two doors to either side, dual two person seats, and a control station to starboard. There is plenty of room for mounting electronics of choice and even having backups where desired. Teak is everywhere and looks very ship like and ship shape. Added points to Nordic Tug for including a chart table to the port of the helm. Some of us still rely on paper to back-up the software.



A roomy and efficient pilothouse with exits to port and starboard, and yes, a chart table to port.

Semi-displacement...

When I see these boats, I automatically think of operating them like I did offshore fishing trawlers and draggers. Run about 10-12 kts seemingly forever. You don’t get there fast, but you do always get there, and it’s cost effective. That said, with her standard 280-hp Volvo Penta turning a 24” four bladed prop, she is capable of much more, but it just seems out of place to me. Of course, I realize I’m in the minority on that page, so having a comfortable cruise in the early 20’s serves a much broader audience and nothing says you can’t pull the throttle back when you’d like, or when I’m at the helm. So we’re all happy.



While able to get up and go, the Nordic Tug 32 is still able to cruise along slower, and more sedately.

While we haven’t done any test numbers on this boat yet, a simple calculation will give you a hull speed of 7.6 kts or 8.7 mph that the Nordic Tug will find most comfortable. Nordic Tug tells us that at 8 kts the 32 will have an approximate range of 500 nm.

Specifications...

The Nordic Tug 32 has a length overall of 34’11” (10.6 m), a beam of 11’4” (3.4 m), and a draft of 3’11” (1.2 m). She has a dry weight of 15,700 lbs (7,121 kg), a fuel capacity of 205 gallons (776 L), and a water capacity of 100 gallons (378.5 L).

Clearly the Nordic Tug 32 is a working boat that is purpose built for carrying two people long distances in comfortable surroundings. You can spend several days onboard without having to hit a dock for resupply, but most will be traveling to distant ports, exploring for a day, and moving on to the next. In that manner, the Nordic Tug 32 can take you to far off places that few can only dream about.