Lives of the Rich and Famous

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PAE Introduces the new flagship: the Nordhavn 86

Dana Point, CA – (December 7, 2004) – Is bigger always better? In the case of many Nordhavn owners, it is. Since the first Nordhavn was built nearly two decades ago, we’ve seen countless Nordhavn owners move up to bigger Nordhavns. So it’s no surprise that Pacific Asian Enterprises, Inc. (PAE) is announcing a brand new larger model: the Nordhavn 86. Heeding current Nordhavn customers’ requests as well as a heavy market demand for a larger boat, the design team put together lines for a gorgeous yacht that will take over as Nordhavn’s new flagship in 2006.

The most significant difference between the new 86 and the current flagship, the 72/76 model, will be the overall girth of the boat. The 86 will be more than 1 ½ times greater in displacement and volume. It will reflect the layout of the aft wheelhouse-configured Nordhavn 76, but feature a larger flybridge, a more spacious wheelhouse, an exceptional sky lounge and a six-stateroom interior. The standard configuration will include twin engines with keel coolers and a dry stack exhaust. “This new boat will be based on the specifications and standards of the 72,” said PAE President Dan Streech. “It will use the ideas, concepts and systems that were developed for the 72 and carry them to the next level.”

In truth, the birth of the 86 was just a matter of time. Over the years, PAE focused on smaller-sized vessels, but there was always a call for Nordhavn to delve into the mega-yacht market. “There is a demand for a larger boat with greater capabilities,” Streech said. “Our existing Nordhavn owners have shown a propensity to move into larger boats and so we’ve felt that demand within our own owner’s group alone.”

But timing is crucial. And the fact that the Nordhavn 86 is being introduced now is no coincidence. Yes, it is a logical progression from the 72/76 model. But producing these complex, large-scale boats is a challenging endeavor – one that PAE heads feel their partner factory in the Far East, as well as their own skilled project management, engineering and design teams, are ready for.

“We made the decision to proceed with the new Nordhavn 86 after almost nine years of working through numerous designs from 80 to 95 feet,” said PAE Vice President Jim Leishman. “Our own expert team of designers and engineers are up to the task as is our new big boat facility in Xiamen, China. Within this facility, we have the capability to build vessels well over 100 feet with crane capacity, a tank testing facility and the experienced manpower to manage our new flagship.”

As with all Nordhavns, this new 86-foot passagemaker will be built from a complete set of precision, high-polished female molds. The deck structure will be a single seamless molding for maximum strength and will possess surfaces of gleaming, low maintenance gel coat that will reflect an exceptional finish.

Tooling is scheduled to commence next month with the first boat completing toward the end of 2006. PAE intends to package the base boat with extensive equipment and systems as standard, and is aiming for a selling price of around $5 million.

“This boat will be a marvel of technology, elegance, and seaworthiness,” said Streech. “It will carry forward our tradition of ocean crossing capability.”

And with the first three hulls already having been reserved, it should prove to be a popular-selling vessel like all the Nordhavns before it.

No, I am not the new Nordhavn dealer, yet...but with this posting I am putting myself in the running to become Orland's only yacht broker and I want to deal in Nordhavn's! It's true that the ocean is 88 miles away (as the seagull flies...) but that shouldn't stop me from marketing this fine craft. I can guarantee that it will cross and re-cross Lake Almanor with ease. Even when it's iced over...

Actually, we saw a few of these fine yachts when we were down in Vista, at my sister's house. My nephew is a project manager for PAE and so we got a tour of two of them; a 57' and a 62' model.

So take a look at the website for Nordhavn...pick out the model you want and just mention my name when you order it...Thanks!

I will send up an image of the new 86' in just a second or two.