NEWS & NOTES
TOOT, TOOT! THE 26 IS BACK
The littlest tug—the one that
launched the tug-yacht fleet nearly
30 years ago—is coming back.
The 26-foot Nordic Tug, out of
production since 1997, will get a
second chance when it returns to
the market in 2009.
David Goehring, chief operating
officer of Burlington, Washington-based Nordic Tugs ( nordictugs.com),
said the company’s decision to
resume production of the 26 was
Nordic Tug 26
driven partially by public demand.
Another factor was the growing
appeal of the Nordic Tugs line in
Europe, where several dealers now
represent the company.
“The Nordic Tug is as popular
today as it was in the ’80s,”
Goehring said. “We consistently
received inquiries about whether we
would consider building the boat
again and, with the current state of
the economy, we’re seeing a shift in
consumer interest from our larger to
our smaller models.
“The 26 is the ideal size to
navigate the shallow canals and low
bridge clearances in Europe,” he
added. “All things considered, we
felt the timing was right.”
Nordic Tugs President Jim
Cress said production had been
halted because the cost of building
the 26 was about the same as for
the 32-foot tug yacht. The new
26 will be less luxurious than the
original, with a simpler galley and
less interior wood.
Cress said the 26 will be priced
at about $200,000. The 32 lists at
around $300,000.
On a recent visit to the Nordic
Tugs plant, I watched workers
prep old molds for the new boat,
with special attention being given
to improving the tug’s nonskid
deck surfaces.
As this was written, the
company had not chosen the
engine for the 26. It seemed,
however, to be favoring the Volvo
D3, a 110hp, five-cylinder diesel
that would give the
small boat a top speed
of about 14 knots.
Throttled back,
the engine delivers
excellent fuel
economy, burning
less than 2gph at
2650 rpm, according
to Volvo specifications.
Jerry Husted, founder of
Nordic Tugs, introduced the Lynn
Senour-designed 26 at the Seattle
Boat Show in 1980, believing a
slow, low-powered boat with
jaunty styling would win some
market in an economy marked by
rising fuel prices and oil shortages.
Expecting to sell a few of the
boats, Husted instead wrote orders
for dozens.—R.M.L.
MAPTECH FINDS A NEW HOME
Richardsons’ Chartbooks and
Cruising Guides, based in New
Bedford, Massachusetts, has
acquired Maptech Inc.’s marine
printed products division,
publishers of ChartKits, Embassy
Cruising Guides, and Maptech
Waterproof Charts.
Richardsons’, known mostly
for its Great Lakes products, has
expanded in the last decade to
include charts and guides covering
the U.S. East Coast. Maptech Inc.
announced it was for sale in
February, less than 18 months
after the death of the company’s
owner, Gary Comer, founder of
Lands’ End, an avid boater, and a
beloved philanthropist. Maptech’s
printed products business is one
of several divisions that the firm
sold recently.
Lee Estes, president of
Richardsons’, says he jumped at
the chance to buy Maptech’s paper
division when he heard it was for
sale because he loves the products.
“For the immediate future, the
plan is to run Richardsons’
and Maptech as two separate
divisions,” said Estes, noting that
shipping, sales, and operations will
be conducted from the company’s
New Bedford headquarters,
while production will remain in
Amesbury, Massachusetts.
“We have retained the majority
of the Maptech paper production
staff and a portion of the sales
group, all of whom I am happy to
have aboard,” Estes added.—C.A.
DRY AND COMFY
CUSHION TECHNOLOGY
Part of the process of making
a boat your own is finding
decorative elements and
accessories that match your
style and make your boat more
comfortable. Often, flybridge and
cockpit seating areas come with
built-in settees, but it’s up to the
owner to make them a cozy place
to sit. Simply adding cushions is a
start, but adding cushions with
quick-dry technology integrated
into their design is really smart.
EZ-Dri cushions dry out almost
immediately after exposure to rain,
salt spray, melting snow, morning
dew, washing, or other forms of
moisture and humidity. Their
large, open pores encourage
maximum water drainage and air
circulation, allowing them to be
