Tom, Nordhavn's do indeed have a wing engine option and most are purchased with one. Ours will have a 40HP Lugger L844D wing engine driving its own shaft with a folding propeller. The wing also runs the hydraulic bow and stern thruster and the windlass ensuring that its run frequently and is always ready to go.

James Hamilton
jrh@mvdirona.com

Thanks for the comment Rusty. If you aren't already talking to a salesman at Nordhavn, I strongly recommend Jeff Merrill from the Dana Point office. Even if you aren't ready to buy, he'll be more than happy to help. He worked with us for 6 or 7 years before we placed our order.

James Hamilton
jrh@mvdirona.com

Hydraulics are definitely more expensive than electric thrusters on any boat. Most folks argue that unless you are using the boat daily in commercial use, it’s not worth it. For most usage, electric thrusters will outlive the boat. And for any but the hardest use, they are unlikely to cut out. However, hydraulic thrusters are technically better and will be longer lived under heavy use. They come in much larger sizes and can be run continuously without problem. The question for all of us is “do we need it”? Most feel electrics are fine and very serviceable and some argue that they don’t need thrusters at all.

I can’t say that hydraulics are better value than electric thrusters but they were worth the extra money for us. I very much doubt we’ll regret the decision.

Rough numbers they will be somewhere between 1.75x and 2x the cost of good electrics. Putting thrusters on a 52 (or a 47) is far less expensive than putting hydraulics on a 55 but will be more than electrics no matter what model you are looking at.

--jrh

That is the potential downside. If we were to use the main engine, the problem is that the two 18HP thrusters draw more power than it can supply at idle. Having to run the main engine at higher RPM doesn't work well during docking. Alternating between prop maneuvers at low speed and thruster maneuvers at higher speed would be clumsy. So, using the wing works well in this configuration and has the upside of having the wing engine used more frequently.

You are right that the wing engine should be brought up to full operating temp at least once at end of day if it is started that day.

James Hamilton, N5263
jrh@mvdirona.com

Reports from current owners suggest that 10HP thrusters for and aft on 47s is quite adequate. I suspect the same is true for a 52 but we have no experience yet. All more HP gives you is the potential to help you in close quarters docking situations in worse weather conditions. Mostly personal choice.

James Hamilton
jrh@mvdirona.com