46 Nordhavn MS, What do you know?

[moondoggie46]

Hi everone,

We have been going to boat shows for the past 6 years to try and figure out what boat would be right for us and we think it's a 46 Nordhavn motor sailer. We are planing to live abourd and go up and down both sides of USA & Canada including the Great Lakes. I have been hearing different opinions on the sails been able to move this boat without the engine on . Also would this boat be able to enter the ICW with its 5.5' draft. Any input would be great.

[ChristiGrab]

The 46 Nordhavn is NOT a motorsailer. It is a straight up trawler. I have heard stories of people putting a sail on them for extra speed, but I assure you that you WILL NOT be able to move her AT ALL without the engine on.

Did you mean the 56 foot Nordhavn Motorsailor with a 6 foot draft?

[moondoggie46]

There is 2 for sale that I can find that are sail rigged. 1 says they can get 5.5 knots under sail.

[moondoggie46]

No its not the 56. I wish I had that kind of coin.

[doug86]

there are some NH 46's that have been outfitted with sails, but I would doubt that they would handle very well under sail only, as the boat was really designed as a trawler rather than a motorsailor.

5.5' draft won't be a problem in 99% of ICW. A few spots might require you to wait for high tides to transit.

[Kettlewell]

I've traveled in company with one before and it is a very nice trawler. As a sailboat I imagine the only direction you could go would be basically downwind and only then if there is plenty of wind. The one thing is that they have very complicated systems and lots of them, so you need to be very skilled and/or have plenty of money for upkeep.

[CarlF]

I agree this is not a motorsailor but downwind that sail might be able to do 5 knots in 20+ knot winds. It would also let you reduce fuel use substantially anytime the wind is at all behind you.

More importantly, that sail would reduce rolling a lot. Active stabilizers are very expensive and break down. Dragging birds astern is a pain in the neck. Many people can't tolerate a trawler's roll offshore.

Carl

[moondoggie46]

I had a feeiing draging birds would be a pain, and the way I look at it is the price of fuel will not become less in the furture so a little push from behind can't hurt. i was a hvac tech for 25 years so taking care of it's systems should not be a problem.

[ChristiGrab]

NordhavnDreamers : NordhavnDreamers Group

This group is obsessed with Norhavns and know everything about them. They can tell you what they think of the sail riggings on the 46 and in what conditions sails work well. I am sure sails are not a bad thing, just not sure how useful they may be.

[moondoggie46]

Thanks