NAMAEA

All Around Winner - Norseman 400 Review by Chris Caswell

The problem with the Norseman 400, (and a pleasant problem, indeed) is to decide how to describe a yacht that is all-around fantastic. From a sailing standpoint, I can't find a fault: it sails magnificently in light as well as heavy airs. The interior is open, airy, and perfectly laid-out for both offshore work and dockside living. And the builders have obviously spent a considerable amount of time thinking about all the little details that make an already great yacht into an exceptional one. Perhaps you've already broken the code: I really liked this yacht!

The Norseman 400 is the second design (third, if you count two deck layouts on their 44-footer) from Norseman Yachts, a Southern California based builder/importer. President Wally Freeman started the company in the late 1970s when he saw a need for an offshore cruising yacht with higher performance, more usable interior room, and better aesthetics than were available. The first yacht, the 447, started life with an aft cockpit, followed by a center-cockpit version, and now the slightly smaller sister, the 400.

But the Norseman 400 doesn't have to apologize to anyone for being 40 feet long. Not when you get an aft stateroom with enough floor space so that you can actually stand and get dressed normally, or a full-sized navigational station, complete with a comfortable swivel chair, that doesn't intrude on the salon.

Freeman, with naval architect Gary Grant, came up with a clever idea in the arrangement of the forward cabin and head area. By reversing the usual head/shower arrangement, the forward stateroom has its privacy, while the shower is still available to the rest of the crew.

Certainly the most pleasing feature of the Norseman 400 is the visual openness that has been achieved without wasting space. The living areas of the boat offer an airiness that is the result of both layout and some innovative thinking. The protective sea hood for the main hatch slide is a skylight so that there is plenty of light even with the hatch closed. With six opening hatches, seven opening ports, four Dorade vents, and two light prisms in addition to the fixed cabin windows, there's no shortage of either fresh air or sunlight in this yacht.

The hull has Airex coring, while the deck uses end-grain balsa for strength. The keel has internal ballast and the sturdy skeg protects the rudder from any cruising misadventures.

On deck, the non-slip surface covers every area that a crew member might step, and a teak deck is optional. Wheel steering is standard, and the helmsman has an arched seat for comfortable sailing at all angles of heel.

The lazarette areas are truly immense, with sealed space for gas bottles and a cavernous area that easily solves the problem of sail storage as well as providing enough room for a generator.

Power is supplied by a Yanmar 75 horsepower diesel through on a V-drive with a three-bladed prop. The engine compartment is heavily insulated and, with 70 gallons of fuel, there is good cruising range under power.

Under sail, the Norseman 400 has all the attributes of a thoroughbred with none of the twitchiness of many performance cruisers that can't be left untended for a moment. Steering is light but positive, with enough sensitivity to satisfy the sailor who wants to feel the balance of the yacht. Light air and heavy air performance are equally strong - this is a yacht obviously designed for fast, easy passages.

It's no surprise that Freeman and his team have spent a lot of time offshore, because the entire yacht is engineered for utility. The overhead panels, for example, are easily removable for installation or repairs to wiring and electronics. The galley is supplied not just with pressurized hot and cold water, but with a salt water pump, a water purifier, and even a built-in soap dispenser.

The icebox is better insulated than any I've seen on a production yacht, a block of ice should be a long-term investment even in hot climates. There's even a fiberglass trash bin hidden under the galley counter.

Accommodations

The Norseman 400 was designed by Gary Grant. She is a very well-conceived and executed cruising vessel. After examining her modern lines and deck layout, one is surprised to find such a spacious and elegant interior. She is bright, airy and comfortable.

NAMAEA features a spacious salon, well-appointed galley, two comfortable staterooms and ample storage space. Her interior is finished in Light Ash with generous use of solid wood in louvered locker doors and trim. Her cabin sole is teak and headliner is white laminate with Ash trim. Hull ceilings are trimmed with Ash battens. Solid handholds and laminated Ash fiddles and doorframes create a feeling of comfort in the strength of her construction. Reading spot lights are located throughout and Ash framed Alpenglow compact lights are surface mounted in each space on the overhead.

Starting forward is the Master Stateroom with V-berth. There is ample storage space in lockers outboard along the hull side, drawers beneath the berth and aft to starboard. An opening hatch and one opening port in the hull side provide ventilation. An optional 60 gallon fresh water tank is installed below the V-berth. Access to the chain locker is conveniently positioned on the forward bulkhead.

The Head and Stall Shower are next aft to port. The head compartment is finished in easily maintained white molded fiberglass with white laminate and Ash trim. The compartment features a fresh water VacuFlush head which is clean, odor free and it maximizes holding tank capacity. A luxurious shower stall is aft with its own door to the salon. A smoked acrylic door separates the shower from the head. There's an adjustable height shower wand mounted on the forward bulkhead. A double door storage locker is outboard, beneath the deck edge. This locker contains essential water maker equipment which is sensibly arranged for easy access. The head is located at the forward end of the compartment facing aft. Another door, inboard leads to the forward cabin. There are a number of lockers outboard and beneath the sink including a mirror door medicine cabinet above the sink. The stainless steel oval sink is fitted with a single lever faucet and manual foot pump (with a dedicated faucet). A deck prism, hull side port, and small overhead hatch help ventilate and illuminate this space.

NAMAEA's comfortable Main Salon is made more spacious by large fixed coachroof windows and two opening hull side ports. To port is a U-shaped dinette with finely constructed Ash table with drop leaves and removable fiddles. There is a straight settee to starboard. The upholstery is a tasteful green fabric. The seat bottom and back cushions are sculpted for comfort. two 60 gallon fresh water tanks (120 gallons total) are located under the dinette settee and the straight settee across to starboard. Extensive lockers outboard of the settees to port and starboard provide excellent storage space.

Aft and to starboard in the salon is the forward facing Nav Station. There is a large nav table and good access to NAMAEA's instrumentation. The table lifts to reveal storage below and there is additional storage forward below the chart table in two drawers and outboard of the bench seat. Navigation and communications electronics and electrical system breakers, meters, and controls are flush mounted outboard, beneath the deck edge.

NAMAEA has a J-shaped Galley which is as big as one might expect on a larger yacht. Finished in white laminate with white laminate counters, Ash trim and locker doors, the space is easily wiped down. A tall Ash fiddle surrounds the large counter space. At the aft outboard end of the counter is the top loading access to the fridge and freezer compartments - there is also a front loading access to the fridge. There are a number of large lockers above and outboard - perfect for pantry and dish storage. Proceeding forward a bank of four drawers is beneath the counter while a cutting board and cupboards are above the counter. The four burner stove is next forward, a stainless crash bar runs across the inboard end. There is a locker for pots and pans beneath the stove. Forward and outboard there is a dry storage locker beneath the counter, a large double door locker above the counter. A deep double stainless steel sink with fresh and salt water foot pumps, hot/cold pressure water, filtered water and soap dispenser is forward. There is a large locker beneath the sink. An elegantly curved peninsula counter is inboard. A huge trash bin is conveniently located under the curved end of the galley counter while a spirits locker with bottle and glass holders is inside the forward curved door.

Aft and to starboard is the Guest Stateroom with a nice sized double berth. There are two tall hanging lockers and two drawers below the front of the berth. There is a large hatch to provide excellent access to the main engine in this stateroom. This stateroom is air conditioned by the Glacier Bay system for comfortable sleeping on hot nights in the tropics.

Galley

12V Glacier Bay cold plate top & front loading refrigerator

12V Glacier Bay cold plate top loading freezer

HRO Systems Seafari Escape 200 gallon per day fresh water maker - 8 GPH @ 9 amps 12VDC

Regal propane 3 burner gimballed stove/oven/broiler

(2) 20 lb propane tanks in a vented propane locker

Litton Go-Anywhere Microwave oven

Double stainless sink with hot/cold pressure water

Manual fresh and raw water, filtered water tap, soap dispenser

Deck prism

Electronics and Navigation Systems

COCKPIT

Raymarine E80 GPS Chartplotter / Radar at binnacle

Raymarine ST6001 Autopilot

Raymarine ST60 Wind Point Instrument

Raymarine ST60 TriData Display

NAVIGATION STATION

Raymarine E80 GPS Chartplotter / Radar

Raymarine ST6001 Autopilot

Furuno GP32 GPS / WASS Navigator

InterPhase Color TwinScope Forward Facing Sonar

Raymarine ST60 Apparent Wind Display

ICOM IC-M602 VHF Radio

ICOM IC-M802 SSB / Ham Radio

MasterVolt MASS COMBI 4000 Watt Inverter Charger System

WEMA Tank Level Indicator Gauge

Sail Inventory

Mainsail

Hood Sailmakers - 324 sq ft 7.7 Hood Vektron

With(2) deep reefs, (5) Full length RBStapered RBS vinylester fiberglass battens (batten pockets closed on aft end for batten loadingfrom luffend), Hood tosupply Antal 50 Headboard and Antal 50 intermediate luff slides provided by South Beach Riggers (Hoodto receive old Antal HB from old mainsail and intermediate luff slide ferrels), (5) BattSlide 401-10 Batten receptacles for Antal 50 batten slides, leech line over theheadboard adjustable at the tack and tack reefs, five leech teletales, sail panels laser cut- glued and stitched with three rows of five stepstitching, two rows of stitching on theluff- leech and foot tapes, cunningham, bumper rope foot with foot shelf and slides webbed on, Norseman 400 class insignia, webbed on intermediate luff slides to Antal 50 slides, sail bag.

130% Genoa

Hood Sailmakers - 539 sq ft 7.7 Hood Vektron

With White UV Dacron leech and foot furling cover, Sea Foam luffpad with reef reinforcing and reefmemory marks at 115% and 100%, sail panels laser cut-glued and stitched with three rows of five step stitching, two rows ofstitching on the luff-leech and foot tapes, three sets of luff teletales and three sets ofteletales aft ofreefed luffpositions, fairlead trim stripe on the clew, leech and foot line adjustable at the clew, sail bag.

90% Genoa

Hood Sailmakers - 377 sq ft 9.4 Hood Vektron

WithWhite UV Dacron leech and footfurling cover, Sea Foam luff padwith reef reinforcing and reef memory marks at 75% and 60%, sail panels laser cut-glued and stitched with three rows of five step stitching,two rows of stitching on the luff-leech and foot tapes, three sets of luff teletales and three sets of teletales aft of reefed luff positions, fairlead trim stripe on the clew, leech and foot line adjustable at the clew, sail bag.

Asymmetrical Spinnaker

Hood Sailmakers - 1377 sq ft .75 Nylon

With Tri-Star panel layout, choice of panel colors, Spectra luff-leech-foot lines, color coded luff-leech-foot tapes, sail panel laser cut-glued and five step stitched with one row on radial seams and two rows on horizontal seams, 40° braided rope tack pennant spliced on the tack ring, 1 1⁄2"X 5/16" SS tack-head-clew rings webbedinto corners, turtle sail bag.ATN Dousing sleeve ATN Tacker

Storm Staysail

Hood Sailmakers - 133 sq ft 11.5 Hood Storm Orange Dacron

With rope luff and bronze piston hanks-double hanks tack and head, sail panels laser cut-glued and stitched with three rows of five step stitching,two rows of stitching on the luff-leech and foot tapes, three sets of luff teletales, fairlead trim stripe on the clew, leech and foot line adjustable at the clew, tack pennant, sail bag.

Deck and Hull

NAMAEA's hull is white with a deep burgundy sheer stripe, deep burgundy boot stripe and black bottom paint. She features a hard top dodger with Barrett Glass Clear Hard Windows. The deck and cabin top are white with molded-in diamond pattern non-skid in slightly contrasting light grey. There are no Teak decks to worry about on NAMAEA. Oversized stanchions with double lifelines surround the wide side decks. The cockpit is easily entered from the side decks, there are nice handholds along the port and starboard sides of the dodger. Cockpit seating is comfortable with tall seat backs. On deck storage is ample and well conceived - a large lazarette is accessed via the port side cockpit seat or aft starboard seat. This space is nicely configured as a storage and mechanical space, with access to the refrigeration and heating systems, hot water heater, steering gear and autopilot, engine raw water sea strainer and remote oil filter and port side of the engine compartment.

Low maintenance Stainless Steel grab rails run forward along the cabin top. The decks are surrounded by a low bulwark topped with a slotted aluminum toe rail. Forward, the deck is clean and flat, providing excellent working space. The windlass is mounted flush on deck and there is a deep locker for a fluke type anchor.

NAMAEA's hull is constructed of hand laid fiberglass sandwiched Airex foam core using Knytex fiberglass and vinylester resin. The lead keel is encapsulated in fiberglass and integral with the hull eliminating the need for keelbolts. The rudder is double sandwiched fiberglass over stainless steel frame. The deck is hand laid fiberglass over end-grain balsa core and joined to the hull at a slightly raised bulward with 3M 5200 sealant, stainless steel bolts and an aluminum toe rail. Deck drains drains and genoa tracks are recessed.

Electrical System

12v DC and 120v AC electrical systems

(8) Odyssey Extreme Group 31 AGM House Batteries in 2 Banks

(1) Odyssey Extreme Group 31 AGM Engine Starting Battery

Mastervolt Mass Combi 12/4000-200 Inverter Charger System

(3) Battery Bank Isolation / Combination Switches

30 Amp Shore power receptacle

75' 30 Amp Shore Power Cord

Tankage

50 Gallons of diesel in one stainless steel tank

50 Gallon (reported) Diesel Auxiliary Tank in bow. (needs to be plumbed to primary tank)

120 Gallons of Fresh Water in two stainless steel saddle tanks (60 gal ea,) under settees

25 Gallons of waste in one FRP tank w/ deck fitting and Y valve for overboard discharge

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. Buyer should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this specification sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht, and should instruct his agents, or his surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. Buyer assumes responsibility to verify all speeds, consumptions, capacities and other measurements contained herein and otherwise provided, and agrees to instruct his surveyor to confirm such details prior to purchase. This vessel is subject to sale, price and inventory changes, and withdrawal from market without notice.