Nordhavn 40: A Trawler that Goes the Distance

If long-range cruising on a trawler is in your future, there’s no time like the present to check out a Nordhavn 40.

By Jeanne Craig

November 20, 2013

You may have noticed that the Nordhavn 40 was a boat we singled out as one of the top Five Affordable Trawlers Under 40 Feet. There are a lot of reasons why, but in a nutshell, although this is the smallest model in a fleet of boats that ranges up to a 120-foot expedition yacht, it was built to stand up to the rigors of serious bluewater cruising. Big time.

Few trawlers of this size can circumnavigate the world. The Nordhavn 40 is one of them.

Nordhavn's goal was to demonstrate that even the smallest boat in its fleet was a safe and seaworthy passagemaker, so upon its launch the 40 circumnavigated the world. Twenty-six weeks after its departure, it completed a 23,000-nautical-mile voyage. And during that very extended shakedown cruise, the boat’s systems and accommodations were rigorously evaluated. Since that time, the 40 has been continuously refined and improved. Today, it has a reputation as one of the most stalwart long-distance cruisers in its size range.

Powered by a standard John Deere 107-hp 4045 with a dry exhaust system, the Nordhavn 40 has a range of about 2,400 nautical miles running at seven knots. The boat comes with a wing engine, too, which you can use as a get-home power plant if you have trouble with the main. It has its own shaft and fuel supply, and will push the boat at 4.5 knots.

Propulsion lives in an immaculate engine room, the hallmark of a Nordhavn, where features like a molded fiberglass floor, neat wire runs and a manual bilge pump (a back-up to the electric units) mounted on a shining piece of stainless steel call attention to the builder’s pride in workmanship. There are also gravity-fed fuel tanks, an oil change system, and oversized fuel filters.

Several tweaks and changes can be made, so the cabin in the Nordhavn 40 best suits your needs.

The captain navigates from the pilothouse, which is set up for serious cruising with features like reverse-angle windows to cut down on glare, and plenty of room for a suite of electronics. There’s also a folding chart table and a big settee with fold-out cushion behind it that's large enough to accommodate a person who wants to nap before taking a turn at a night watch.

Specifications
Length	39'9"
Beam	14'6"
Draft	5'2"
Deadrise	NA
Displacement	50,000 lbs
Fuel capacity	920 gal.
Fuel capacity	220 gal.

Just a few steps down from the pilothouse is the salon. In one corner is a curved settee. In another, you can specify another settee. Or, do what some other Nordhavn owners have done; use the space for a built-in desk, or even a diesel furnace, which is what one family did for a trip to Alaska. The builder does what it can to work with owners to create a layout that suits their cruising needs.

For accommodations, the Nordhavn 40 has a guest stateroom with bunks located amidships and it holds a washer/dryer plus access to the engine room. The owner’s stateroom is forward, with a queen berth, plenty of stowage and gleaming wood bulkheads.

Many of these features are standard. And when you buy a Nordhavn, you also receive training from an expert staff who work with you to ensure you have the confidence you need to pilot this boat to the far-away port of your dreams.

For more information, visit Nordhavn.

View a list of Nordhavns for sale

Written by: Jeanne Craig

Jeanne Craig has been covering powerboats since 1988. She spent ten years as a senior editor at Boating magazine and ten more as executive editor at Motor Boating. She’s now an independent writer based in Rowayton, Connecticut, where she’s close to the cruising grounds she most enjoys.