It's déjà vu all over again for Nordic Tugs as they reintroduce their popular NT 26, a design from almost 30 years ago that is making a new debut, seemingly fueled by popular demand.

"It just seemed like a fun little project to keep our factory busy," said Nordic Tugs President David Goehring, who cited growing demand from would-be owners as a major reason for the move.

While the company is only on the fourth hull of the new run, the 26 footer has had a long and successful history. It was first produced in 1980 and unveiled at the Seattle Boat Show, where a whopping 54 orders were placed immediately. In 1997, approximately 170 hulls later, the 26 went out of production – temporarily as it turns out.

The pocket trawler still has a cult following and older boats hold their value well. In fact, the 26 enjoyed an uptick in resale price when it was taken out of production, as the boats became harder to find. Used vessels today range from $70,000 to $150,000, depending on age and condition, and vessels don't stay on the market for long.

NORDIC TUGSThe Nordic Tug enjoys a special niche of buyers who company officials say look for "quality."The new 26s are not cheap either. The base price of the 2009 NT 26 is $187,500, a significant amount for what could be seen as an entry-level boat. But as Bob Shamek, Nordic Tugs' sales executive, put it, "Ours is a very specific niche of discerning buyers and experienced boaters looking for quality."

In any given year, 25 percent to 50 percent of Nordic Tugs buyers are current customers stepping up to a larger vessel. Many of the rest are sailors who are making the switch to power and are looking for a quality vessel with seakindly characteristics. Nordic Tugs plans to keep the 26 on its roster and expects to produce about one per month going forward.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN

Lynn Senour, who designed the original, was challenged with creating a fuel-efficient, affordable, all-weather vessel for a couple or a small family. But he hit the bull's-eye with this design. The early NT 26s were first available in two flavors – a cruising model and a sport model that had an open deck and was used primarily for fishing. Some of the first vessels were even sold as kit boats.

A faux smokestack used for storage was added a few years later and eventually the model settled into much the same version that is available today (the company retained the tooling from the boat's original run). Some modifications were made for the re-launch, including updated non-skid on the decks, new window insets for better visibility from the pilot house, a molded head liner and updated seating in the saloon.

Just like its larger siblings, the NT 26 features a solid fiberglass, semi-displacement hull with a watertight double-bottom keel. The relatively flat bottom and hard chine add stability underway and reduce roll while at anchor. The full-length keel provides precise tracking and a heavy-duty stainless steel shoe protects the propeller and rudder even if the owner wants to nose up to the beach.

In 2007, Nordic Tugs received National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Certification for its entire product line, which is built in their nearly 80,000 square foot factory in Burlington, Wash. Nordic Tugs is so confident in their construction methods that they offer a 10-year hull warranty, which includes protection against osmotic blistering. Goehring emphasized the scrupulous care that goes into tracking their warranties, adding that after 30 years warranty costs are still at less than 1 percent of revenues.

PERFORMANCE AND RANGE

Diesel might not be $5 a gallon at the moment, but that doesn't mean that saving money isn't on top of everyone's mind. The engine, a fuel-stingy 110 HP Volvo D-3, is under the pilothouse sole and is reachable either through a hatch or by removing the companionway steps. The shaft log and hydraulic steering are easily accessible too.

The number one upgrade for the NT 26 is the fuel tank, which can be taken to 100 gallons from the standard 75. This increases the range from about 250 to 330 nautical miles, with the 26 ticking off about 3.3 miles per gallon at 9.5 knots, according to the company. The 26 will burn 1.1 gph at 6.8 knots and about 2 gph at 8 knots, which is quite a bit more than the Senour's original target of .5 gallons at 6.5 knots. But the larger engine allows the boat to cruise in the low teens and top out at about 14 knots.

CI HOODSome modifications were made for the re-launch including updated seating in the saloon.LAYOUT AND OPTIONS

Accommodations are surprisingly spacious and include a fully-equipped, straight line galley with a stainless steel sink, electric Nova Kool refrigeration and a two-burner stove, which can be run on electricity at the dock or gel alcohol at anchor. A propane stove is available as an upgrade.

A convertible dinette with an African mahogany table to starboard completes the main cabin and converts to a very cozy double berth for two, comfortable as long as the crew are not too big. The cabin sides are trimmed in teak and there is plenty of light and air from the large windows.

The master cabin is in a V-berth configuration forward and located down a few steps from the pilothouse. A hanging locker sits to port and a head/shower combination with a standard electric toilet is starboard. There is 6-feet of headroom in the forward cabin, 6-feet, 2-inches in the pilot house and 6-feet, 4-inches in the saloon. With 360-degree visibility from the pilothouse and direct access to the deck on both sides, managing the boat should be simple for a couple or even a solo cruiser.

On deck aft, the 26 features a fairly spacious cockpit and a small swim step. Both the rotomolded water tank and the aluminum fuel tank are located in the lazarette. Up forward, there is room for lounging or anchoring work and a Lewmar 1000 electric windlass is an option, though most owners tend to pull up the small anchor by hand. Other popular options include a bow thruster, an inverter and a 3 kilowatt generator.

FLEXIBILITY AND EXPANSION

The NT 26 is also a versatile boat. Due to its size, it's actually trailerable, and Nordic Tugs has an agreement with a manufacturer to provide custom trailers if an owner chooses to move the boat or store it out of the water for winter. There are owners who have taken the 26 to Alaska, around the Great Loop and up and down the ICW. "These are serious cruisers who know this boat is built for rough weather and big water," Goehring said.

With its shallow draft and low clearance, Nordic Tugs feels that the model will also do well in the canals of Europe where it can cruise in tight places and get under most fixed bridges. Nordic Tugs already has dealers in England and Russia, and they are actively expanding their European network. With a few changes to meet foreign certification standards, they hope the boat will be a hit overseas.