Here today, gone tomorrow. What a multi-layered statement that is, especially so when put in the context of Nordhavn. Our owners love to use their boats so if you happen to catch one at a marina, the chances are pretty good that it’ll be vacating its slip at any minute for parts unknown. The same could be said for Nordhavns on the brokerage market. One model enjoying a a particularly hot streak at the moment is the oft-referred “Goldilocks” of the Nordhavn old regime: the Nordhavn 43. In mid-September, Curandera, a 2006 model was listed in anticipation of making its debut at the Newport International Boat Show in Rhode Island. A day before it moved into its show spot, it had an accepted offer. The sale closed about a month afterward and a couple of days later, the fantastic 2006 N43 Could Be Worse was listed at an astonishing $749,000. Mind you, the asking price for this boat is considerably more than what the base price of the same hull – brand new – was 17 years ago. “Buyers are not shying away,” said Northwest sales manager Devin Zwick. “They recognize the value of the model and the brand.”
Part of the appeal of this boat is its size. At 43 feet it is compact enough for those who are looking for a “small” passagemaker. Inside it is plenty roomy, but what sets her apart from her smaller, old-generation sistership, the N40, is the highly coveted second full head with stand-up shower. “For a lot of people, that second head is a game changer,” said Dave Balfour, a broker up in Nordhavn’s Northeast office in East Greenwich, RI. Balfour, who co-sold Curandera said having en-suites in both cabins is a valuable feature when it’s just two on board, but the convenience and privacy factor is paramount when hosting guests.
The other slam dunk trait of the Nordhavn 43: there were only 43 hulls built, which makes them a hot commodity when they hit the market. Forty-three may seem like a big number, but consider the totals of the under 60-foot Nordhavns that were built:
N40 – 69 hulls
N46 – 82 hulls
N47 – 59 hulls
N55 – 51 hulls
Even the Nordhavn 41, which only launched three years ago, has 41 orders already.
![](https://nordhavn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wanderer-3-Edgartown-9-2023-225x300.jpg)
“A brokerage Nordhavn 43 almost has this elusive quality to it,” says Balfour. He’s on a bit of a roll with the model, having just listed Wanderer, another one of those so-called rare gems. A 2004 N43, Wanderer has been impeccably kept by her owner, a Bostonian who loved traveling all around New England and New York with her. Over the years, he has made continuous upgrades including electronics and new upholstery and appliances. “Talk about a boat that is turnkey and ready to go,” Balfour said. “This boat has so many redundancies. A buyer could feel completely at ease taking off for literally anywhere.” Among those redundancies are fin stabilizers and paravanes and two sets of electronics.
The current owner has loved her for the past five years, but a lifestyle change has required him to sell.
Perhaps another draw to the Nordhavn 43 is her quiet superstar status. She often plays second fiddle to the achievements of the Nordhavn 40, but the N43 also circumnavigated the globe via Kosmos. She’s also featured on the very popular MV Freedom blog and Instagram page of Working Re-Boatly. Both sets of owners live full-time (or nearly full-time) aboard and will tell you that the size is ideal, they’ve got plenty of room to themselves, and nice accommodations to host guests when the occasion calls for it. In other words, she’s just right.