The Nordhavn 56 motorsailer is the proud result from legendary ocean cruising boat builder P.A.E. who, after successfully designing and building hundreds of Mason sailboats and Nordhavn trawlers, took on the motorsailer market. The Nordhavn 56 motorsailer is a proven ocean crossing yacht (2 Atlantic crossings) and a natural bridge between sail and power. Many said it would not be possible to offer the best of both worlds – you will need to get aboard Perelandra to see for yourself.
Perelandra is hull number six in the Nordhavn 56 series and by selecting the pilothouse helm layout, this larger interior option provides a more spacious layout. The handful of Nordhavn motorsailers are out actively cruising our planet. In 2022, after several years of resting the tooling, PAE/Nordhavn began construction anew for an enthusiastic buyer who signed up for hull number 10. It is estimated that the cost to order a new motorsailer today would exceed $US 2.5 million dollars.
Nordhavn 56 Perelandra will impress you. Offered for sale by her original owners, this is an incredibly well thought out yacht with details too numerous to list…she exudes pride of ownership. The owners are full time aboard and have decorated her with art* and flourishes to enhance their enjoyment. She has the good looks of a serious, ocean-going sailboat on the outside, and a lavish, finely crafted interior. Sisterships have sailed across the Atlantic. Perelandra has preferred cruising closer to shore up and down the US eastern seaboard including visits to the Bahamas. For nearly a decade she was moored in fresh water, extending her longevity. She has a well-balanced sail plan to offer excellent underway sailing performance. If the wind disappears, you can continue on course under power with her whisper quiet Lugger long range continuous duty diesel engine. The sails provide natural propulsion, drastically lowering fuel burn, and also serve as stabilization under power.
*Please review the exclusions list at the end of this brochure. All paintings, glass artwork, lamps, glass vases, many tools, galley appliances and other decorations shown in the photos and video are the sellers’ personal property and will be removed prior to closing.
Swim platform
At anchor she is easily approached from the stern where her swim platform grants you access to the aft deck. There is a stainless support rail on the swim platform and pop-up cleats for tying off your tender. The Achilles inflatable also has Weaver snap clips to quickly secure the RIB along the swim step for easy boarding. There is a bracket on the starboard side for the removable swim ladder (stored in a locker above). The steps up to the aft deck have inserts for the portable passarelle if you are Med-mooring. The passarelle and spare anchor are stored in the foredeck box. The molded hatch on the starboard side covers the Marinco shore power connections – 50-amp house, 50-amp air conditioning, 30-amp house and TV.
Aft deck
The aft deck area aboard Perelandra is an ideal outdoor patio/porch with seating on all sides. The overhead extends aft to provide sun shade and rain protection. You can enter the aft deck from the swim platform gate or from the starboard side gate. Forward is a Dutch door with window panels in both sections granting entry to the saloon.
The stainless railing forms a safety perimeter that has been designed with extended curves on the two aft sections in order to create two comfortable seating areas with the cushion bottoms and rolled bolsters, designed to be comfortable without blocking the view aft. Underneath the aft section to starboard is a double door storage locker and a hot/cold fresh water shower. Below the port aft section is a double door locker used for storage. The port side also has a custom solid teak table on that can also slide fore/aft and pivot for easy access to the bench seating along the aft rail. Positioning the two folding teak chairs facing the water, this corner becomes a cozy place to dine and chat.
Forward to starboard is a fiberglass console with a hinged lift top (stainless heat protection panel on the inside) for the Kenyon electric barbeque grill alongside a stainless sink. Behind the locker door is an Isotherm refrigerator (with a small freezer area) and inside the outboard locker door is storage for supplies.
Forward to port is a stainless ladder with fiberglass steps that allows you to climb up to a fiberglass and dogged hatch which hinges aft to make it easy to access the upper deck where the dinghy is stored for underway travel. Inside the seat locker is a boost transformer. On the railing a mount is located for convenient storage of the outboard. A tall locker for paddles and boat hooks is to port.
The teak caprail is a natural gray (less maintenance) and the sole is molded nonskid. The lazarette is accessed through the large, double hinged hatch. There are hawse pipes with cleat horns to port and starboard for dock lines.
Lazarette
You can enter the lazarette from the cockpit on deck by descending the stainless-steel ladder, or through a dogged door aft in the owner shower along the starboard side of the hull. The lazarette is neatly organized with access to various through hulls, plus storage for many tools and accessories. Included you will see an impressive assortment of equipment:
Saloon
The saloon is full beam, no side decks, which creates a large and inviting area merging the saloon with seating and dining aft into the pilothouse forward with Stidd helm chair and nav/com installations. The saloon has three Dutch doors…the aft deck door and two outboard forward doors that open out to the foredeck.
The interior of Perelandra is satin varnished teak. The soles are teak and ebony. The overhead panels are gray Majelite. The seating is covered with ebony Ultraleather.
To port is a long settee with storage under and a television lift outboard. The television is a 46” Sony XBR. This fore/aft settee is a great place to nap, especially while underway (doubling as an easy access watch berth). To starboard is a C-shaped settee with a custom granite table and gas lift pedestal. The aft window is opening, all others are fixed. The visibility all around from either side of the saloon is excellent.
Special attention was paid during the build to include additional adjustable lighting throughout. You will also notice many hand holds and hand rails to assist you in moving throughout. There are so many innovative and practical highlights (many that became more common over time) including 3M UVIR film on windows and windows in doors was applied at build to keep down heat and reduce UV deterioration. All of the lighting aboard is LED (which was unique and expensive back when she was launched). Perelandra is a luxurious home afloat imagined and embraced by a cruising couple who are happiest afloat and enjoy being surrounded by the finer things in life.
Pilothouse / helm station
The command station forward is incredibly useful for operations underway, both sailing and motoring. The Stidd helm chair on center puts you in the drivers’ seat within easy reach of controls and simple visuals to glance at monitors and gauges for quick reference. There are four windows forward, bordered by curved windows outboard that extend your view to the two side doors. To port is the stairway that leads to the lower level. The navigation console runs from the port stairs outboard to the starboard side. The console has (2) NavNet 3D displays as primary monitors for radar and chart viewing. Between the displays there is an Aquameter compass above the Simrad AP28 autopilot (there is also a Simrad WR20 portable remote). Below the autopilot are (2) Simrad IS20 displays (analog wind display to port and MFD to starboard with a menu offering various displays). The console outboard and ahead of the large chart surface houses the Samsung Blu-ray disc, Capture CCTV camera monitor selection, Fusion stereo display, and ICOM IC-M504 VHF radio. There are two 12V outlets and a chart light further outboard.
There is a large deck hatch overhead with Oceanaire screen/shade cover. The upper instrument console includes the Outback inverter display, watermaker remote, Lugger main engine panel, Murphy digital display for the main engine, Northern Lights generator panel, Sea Fire safety panel (engine room and lazarette), Racor water in fuel sensor, Tankwatch for the black water system, Ultra Safety high water alarm and Icom IC-M802 HF SSB radio with Icom SP-24 speaker.
The stainless-steel destroyer helm is leather wrapped for a more certain grip (and looks great!). The horizontal flat dash section has a switch for the compass light and a custom display panel with the Lewmar hydraulic emergency shut off, horn button, (4) windshield wiper controls and the Hundested propeller pitch control buttons with analog display. The Lugger main engine has a traditional Morse cable dual lever shift and throttle control next to the Sidepower bow thruster toggle. For convenience you may appreciate the stainless-steel drink holder. Two small drawers to port and two large chart drawers are built into the helm cabinetry (primarily used for small item loose storage).
Below the chart table on the starboard side are two wide and deep shallow drawers for paper chart storage. The (3) Wempe displays mounted to starboard, clock, barometer and thermometer were a family gift and as personal property will be removed prior to closing.
Galley
Down six steps from the entry level you enter the center of the universe aboard Perelandra. The galley area is immense and is the heart of this vessel. Immediately to port is a large access door for outboard machinery access including the water lift muffler for the main engine, 12V battery and Xantrex Truecharge2 battery charger to power the navigation and communication electronics. Aft you see several deck drain through hulls, and anti-siphon vents reachable for service. Fresh water plumbing with filter, manifold and dual Jabsco Pump Gard pumps and analog level gauges for the three fresh water tanks are also in this locker. (350 gallons of fresh water total).
The port outboard side features two large windows above. The granite counter surface fronts outboard lockers for stemware and glasses and there are two banks of four drawers each below. The SubZero model 424 dual zone wine chiller (46 quantity bottle storage). Continuing forward into the hallway you pass the ship’s electrical panel with breakers and select switches.
The large island counter has two Sub Zero cold drawers opening into the hallway. The top is primarily used as a drinks refrigerator and the bottom drawer is a freezer with an ice maker. There is a large, vented locker door forward in the island for storing pots and pans.
The center aft section of the galley has a built-in open-faced book cabinet over a granite topped bank of four drawers used for dish storage.
There are three overhead hatches with Oceanaire roller screens / shades, and the ceiling has matching gray Majelite panels. The vertical house cabin trunk windows port and starboard are fixed, let in light, offer a view of the outside, and can be concealed for privacy with some specially designed soft cushions that also help preserve the interior climate by their natural insulation with the glass.
Forward to starboard is an L-shaped upholstered seating area that faces aft for enjoying meals on the large teak dining table. This is a favorite place to start the day with coffee and breakfast. There is an Insignia 26” flat screen television forward.
The “cooking” part of the galley takes over the aft starboard section. There are two roll top storage barns for appliances on either side of the large single basin stainless steel sink. The sink has an opening portlight above, soap dispenser, and Seagull IV water purifier tap with a Grohe tall neck faucet. The sink is complete with a GE ¾ horsepower commercial garbage disposal. This working side of the galley has a practical and elegant seamless stainless steel counter surface. There are four drawers forward, with a double door opening locker beneath the sink for galley cleaning supplies.
All galley electrical appliances have matching stainless steel faces including the GE microwave (2023) and Bosch dishwasher. A clever cut out houses cookie sheets and trays. Facing aft you can take control of the Wolf five-burner induction cooking surface (with perimeter fencing to accept pot holder arms) above a Viking full size convection oven. Tiles brighten the aft bulkhead and extend up to the industrial blower installed above. There is a locker up high and a bank of four smaller drawers inboard. Facing centerline is the home sized SubZero 700TC refrigerator on top of two freezer drawers.
A full beam galley – yes! From any angle you look this is an incredible arrangement that will delight anyone with the desire to cook (and feed a happy crew)!
Engine access
Below the galley sole is access to the Lugger main engine, transmission, fuel delivery manifolds, and other propulsion related machinery. There are four access hatches in the galley sole. The forward two hatches are hinged to open to port against the island counter surface (and held up in place with a clever line and polyethylene clip securing system). The rear centerline sole hinges aft, and there is an additional sole hatch aft and outboard to port. With the sole hatches open you have access to this area with footing ledges on either side.
Forward you will see where the keel stepped mast is secured. To port, the Lewmar sailing winches’ hydraulics reservoir is positioned. To starboard is the fuel supply manifold feeding the main engine and generator. Working along the starboard side there is access to the Racor fuel filters and fuel manifold selection valves.
The aft section has a CCTV camera and the fuel transfer timer and fuel pump. The Hundested gear and Twin Disc transmission are centered.
Galley island and forward hallway
There is a walkway leading forward along the port side that is bordered by cabinetry outboard and the galley island inboard. The island side has access to (2) SubZero freezer drawers with stainless steel faces. Inboard and forward includes a large storage locker with shelves for convenient storage of galley gear and appliances. There is an opening portlight above the cabinetry forward for extra light and ventilation. Moving forward, the port side curved hallway outboard includes the ships’ electrical breakers, a large pantry locker, then a convenient hanging locker at the turn.
VIP stateroom and head
Heading towards the bow from the galley is a gentle curved hallway that leads to the guest stateroom and head. The head and shower are outboard to starboard through a door, and the front door opens up to the palatial guest VIP stateroom. The VIP guest stateroom takes over the forward section of Perelandra. As the hallway turns inboard you are directed outboard to the private head and shower, or forward to the private guest stateroom. As the head is separated from the stateroom, this also works as a day head for guests.
Below the hallway is a large machinery space that includes the Torrid hot water tank (240V/24V) and Mr. Steam components. This is a surprisingly large space that is easy to enter and move about in. A backup 120V Headhunter fresh water pump is plumbed in.
Forward, the VIP stateroom has a desk surface to port and a queen-sized bed to starboard with padded headboard. This is a spacious and private room with natural light and ventilation from the hatches and portlights. Shelves, hanging lockers and drawers provide plenty of storage. The desk has a swing out stool and large surface area for getting work done while aboard. Forward is a 32” Samsung flat screen television. The bed includes a custom HMC inner spring mattress.
The head has a granite counter with stainless steel sink outboard and a large, mirrored medicine cabinet above (the forward section special ordered with deeper space to allow for storage of clothing). The shower is much larger than in the owners’ head and with the molded fiberglass enclosure and seat there is a special ordered steam room feature.
Owner stateroom and head
Aft of the galley is a hall stairwell with two steps leading to the owner stateroom. There are large cabinets on either side of this stairwell – outboard a large hanging locker, inboard the separate laundry appliances include an Asko clothes dryer above an Asko clothes washer.
The Queen-sized island berth is built-in fore and aft with plenty of room on either side. There are drawers under the foot of the bed. To port, there is an expansive cabinetry section with lockers and drawers finished with a wide teak surface with fiddle. There are opening portlights outboard. Aft to port is a tall hanging locker. A custom cabinet with shelves was included for personal book storage. The back of the stateroom door has an elegant full-length mirror.
Working to the starboard side, the flat screen television is installed over a bank of drawers. Looking back aft you see that the bed has a padded headboard, reading lights and night stands outboard.
The en-suite head is outboard to starboard, up two steps. The Tecma freshwater head is located immediately inside, and it is conveniently positioned athwartships. There are two opening portlights. The granite counter with custom glass sink and mixer is below the mirrored medicine cabinet. The sole is also granite.
The shower has a bi-fold door and bench seat. Aft in the shower is a dogged door that provides access to the lazarette and a second point of egress.
On deck
From the pilothouse you can head outside to port or starboard to get on deck. Both Dutch doors open up to the beginning of the side deck with immediate access to the Lewmar hydraulic genoa self-tailing winches. Looking ahead you see the genoa tracks installed outboard and you will also appreciate the height of the stainless railing to assist with safe walking about.
The area just ahead of the pilothouse windows has a custom storage fiberglass deck box with upholstered seating making this a convenient outside place to relax when at rest. The passarelle and spare anchoring gear, etc. is stowed inside. You can also enjoy some harbor recreation aboard the Santee Sport 116 kayak specially mounted on the port railing.
The full batten mainsail is stowed in a Leisurefurl boom that is supported by a Navtec hydraulic rod boom vang (rebuilt July 2023). The push button controls are forward by the mast and the halyards have rope clutches. The 130% headsail is rigged onto a hydraulic furler with the sheets lead aft to hydraulic primary winches. For better visibility, the genoa has a high cut foot. Both sails were cleaned and the main bolt rope was replaced in July 2023. All sails restitched and UV Weathertech fabric applied in June 2022.
The Forespar double spreader mast is secured with stout standing rigging and massive stainless-steel chain plates. The Navtec boom vang serves as an additional topping lift to support the Leisurefurl boom. The mainsheet is led from the boom to the base of the mast and then aft along the starboard side for more convenient trimming with a self-tailing hydraulic winch and push button control.
Ahead of the mast are two Dorade vents with stainless rails. On the foredeck is a large opening hatch for access to a spacious sail locker with shelves for gear and sails and a place to stow extra lines. In the sail locker is a forward removable panel for the anchor locker.
There is a large boom tent and foredeck awnings for shade.
Anchoring is convenient and secure with a 55 KG Nordhavn stainless steel hinged plow with, 400′ of 3/8″ galvanized chain over the anchor rollers on the bow guided to the Maxwell vertical windlass. There is also a custom anchor bridle with bow tow eye above the waterline to reduce scope.
Pilothouse roof
Access is from the aft deck ladder on the port side through a large opening hatch. Once aloft, you will appreciate this deck atop the pilothouse for the view and functional layout. Aft is a fiberglass arch for nav/com antennas with the Furuno open array radar centered. Underneath are the Kahlenberg horn trumpets and a hailer. There are three large custom waterproof storage bags for bulky, lightweight gear such as fenders and life jackets.
The boom has a winch control box that serves as the means for launching and retrieving the tender. The tender, a 10’ Achilles inflatable with Torqeedo electric outboard is stowed on removable Weaver chocks. With the tender launched and chocks removed, this roof top deck opens up to enjoy your surroundings.
There are two large solar panels to support the vessels’ electrical demands.
Perelandra is more properly defined as a “trawlersailer” since, in addition to being an easily handled sailboat that gallops along across the wind spectrum. Her heritage comes from two decades of PAE experience building long range trawlers and fifteen years of Mason full displacement sailboats prior. Her sail plan is easily trimmed for a broad range of wind conditions. Her reliable Lugger main engine is coupled with the incredible Hundested variable pitch propeller for optimum rpm/burn rate and loading to match the sail plan or run independently. As the owner, you have a variety of underway options to enjoy the journey with easily furled sails and possibly the most efficient engine package ever installed on an expedition cruising yacht. Perelandra is available for inspection by appointment only as the sellers continue to enjoy her while searching for a new owner.
Exclusions: Potential purchasers should assume that items on the vessel at the time of viewing, but not specifically listed on this sheet, are not included with the sale of the yacht. These specifications are believed to be true and correct but cannot be guaranteed. The owners still enjoy time aboard and want to enjoy all of the decorations and artwork. They will be removing a lot of these personal items after the survey. Items excluded include, but are not limited to Paintings, tools, books, handheld nav gear, binoculars, Wempe clock, thermometer, and barometer in pilothouse. Folding teak chairs on aft deck. All paintings. All glass artwork, lamps, galley appliances, dishes, plates and bowls, silverware and cooking utensils. Artwork, books, tools, etc. along with owner’s personal effects and clothing will be removed prior to closing.
Disclaimer: Jeff Merrill Yacht Sales, Inc. presents the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor guarantee or warrant the condition of the vessel. Buyers should instruct their agents and their surveyors to investigate all details the buyers desire validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
Brokerage: JMYS is a US based (licensed and bonded yacht brokerage in California, Florida, Washington and Virginia) with an international emphasis specializing in ocean capable trawlers. Our brokers are experienced boaters, most are trawler owner/operators with thousands of hours and miles at sea. We treat our clients with respect, we are responsive and not pushy. Our focus is to become your loyal advocate, always looking out for your best interests. The team at JMYS has extensive trawler and motor yacht product knowledge and our skills are available for coaching after the sale has concluded.
Co-Brokerage: Fellow yacht broker association members: Perelandra is available for Co-Brokerage and JMYS is a 50/50 house, please call to discuss special listing arrangements in place. This listing specification has been approved by the sellers for accuracy. The photos, images and descriptive content are copyrighted by JMYS and may not be copied or used without specific written permission. Florida listings subject to appropriate broker licensing required by law.
Listing broker. Jeff Merrill, CPYB (Certified Professional Yacht Broker) has extensive product knowledge of the trawler market plus direct experience with the Nordhavn brand (over two decades) and is very well acquainted with the Nordhavn 56 motorsailer. Jeff is a familiar face to YouTube viewers and a regular presenter at TrawlerFest. He writes about trawlers for Ocean Navigator and PassageMaker magazines and is one of the online instructors for Boaters University. Please contact listing broker, Jeff Merrill, CPYB by phone, text or email for additional information or to schedule your personal showing. Jeff is available via Mobile + 1 949.355.4950 (call or text). You can send a detailed Email to: Jeff@JMYS.com.
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