Captain's Report

Say it ain’t so, Jim! It is true alright, and here is what the co-founder of Pacific Asia Enterprises (aka PAE, Nordhavn) and VP, Jim Leishman, has to say—“This design will appeal to a whole faction of clientele who tend not to prefer the traditional expedition-type look of a Nordhavn,” says PAE’s vice president, Jim Leishman. “The N78 will evoke a contemporary European feel without losing the dynamic of being a Nordhavn.”

Nordhavn says--

“Key to the design is the emphasis Chief Designer Jeff Leishman has placed on outdoor living, starting with the flybridge. The N78’s flybridge will feature a Jacuzzi, wetbar, barbecue and a large open deck area perfect for entertaining. Meanwhile, the foredeck – a typical lounging hotspot on most European boats – has been designated the ideal outdoor “chilling space.” The cockpit of the N78 has been opened up, too, further enhancing entertaining possibilities. “Another draw of the new 78 is that it better segregates the crew from the owners and their guests. Like the entire Nordhavn product range (with the exception of the N120), the N78 was intended to be operated without a captain. However, Leishman has designed engine room access in the transom so that employed crew can enter the area without impacting company on board.

“The new N78 will come equipped with twin engines, have ocean-crossing capabilities with a range of 3,000+ miles and superior fuel efficiency. The interior will feature an updated, modern design aesthetic that includes sumptuous owners’ accommodations and two superb guest rooms all with ensuite heads; crew quarters and off-watch quarters. “Although the lines of the N78 will have a European flair, Nordhavn feels the yacht will appeal to international and American markets alike. “The beauty of this design is that it’s a Nordhavn, so you’ve got comfort and confidence while underway, but the benefits will be realized when you’re not passage making,” notes Nordhavn Europe’s Philip Roach. “The added elements will really allow you to enjoy your time on board once you’ve arrived.”

BoatTEST.com Says—

This yacht is quite a departure for Nordhavn. We thought we’d never see this builder design in a Jacuzzi and put a bunny pad on the bow of a long range cruiser, but we guess change is constant. Azimut introduced a long range cruiser about 18 months ago that took its maiden voyage around the Med last fall, and we suspect that was an impetus for this Nordhavn departure. The owners of Nordhavn, Jim Leishman and Dan Streech, are smart and they are reaching out to a broader market than just the trawler/expedition group. Further, PAE has designs on making more European sales and evidently the styling of its current models are not ringing many chimes there. One would hope that this design will be stylish enough for Europeans, and so we understand the addition of the Jacuzzi and bunny pad. The boat has twin engines which will make it a lot easier to back into Med moorings.The fact that the boat will only go 9 knots or so shouldn’t be much of a disadvantage in the Med, as few boat owners there go any distance, anyway. Why pay all of that extra money for big engines to go five miles and anchor off a beach? Med charter boats do better with four staterooms, but other than that detail, we think the guys at Nordhavn might be on to something.This 78’ (24 m) vessel has a 21’ (6.46 m) beam draws 7’8” (2.35 m) and displaces 252,000 lbs. (114.3 MT). She carries 5,700 gal (21m575 L) of fuel which is considerable for this size of boat. Nordhavn says the boat will have over a 3,000 nm range, which means this boat can go trans-oceanic. She is powered by twin Cummins QSMIIDM-425 425-hp diesels driving through ZF550 V-drives with a 2.96:1 reduction. This vessel is chock full of new ideas and is one of the most innovative boats in this size range that we have seem come along in quite some time. We think the boat will be popular all over the world, and we look forward to seeing it in 2011 when it is launched.Visit Nordhavn’s website...

Standard and Optional Features