Nordhavn 63 Review (2017 Edition)

The N63, designed by Nordhavn's Jeff Leishman, proves the shipyard’s dedication to classic and practical design. Taking the tried-and-tested hull of the Nordhavn 55, the yard has built upon this foundation with significant enhancements. While it shares the same hull as the N55 and N60, the N63 now benefits from an entirely new deck and engine room mould, giving the boat an increased interior volume.

One of the key design differences on the N63 is the aft-based wheelhouse, which places the boat deck forward. This contrasts with the more traditional Nordhavn designs like the N60, where the situation is reversed with the wheelhouse forward, and the boat deck aft. This new setup offers great views over the bow and tenders from the helm position.

Inside, the layout has seen a few changes. Just forward of the engine room door, the utility room on the N55/60 - equipped with a washer, dryer, and freezer - has been expanded on the N63 to include crew quarters to port. This area now features a fixed berth and pipe berth at the forward end (a pipe berth is like a high-up camp bed that folds away when not in use). Additionally, the N63 boasts a centreline guest stateroom with four large opening port lights, both of which come standard.

Practicality is a hallmark of Nordhavn, and the N63 doesn’t disappoint. Every exterior door is a Dutch door, which allows you to pin open just the top half for communication and natural ventilation or open fully for access. Big, thick fiddles prevent items from sliding off surfaces if the boat rolls and handholds are placed throughout to keep all onboard steady.

The N63 also has loads of panelled cherry wood and spruce provided as standard, and it makes the interior feel snug and cosy.

On the main deck, the galley is the heart of the living area, and it gives a real home-from-home feel. It’s impressively spacious for a yacht of this size and equipped with all the essentials. There's the usual array of cooling space (huge Sub-Zero fridge/freezer) and a dishwasher but it's the trash compactor to stop rubbish building up that hints at the N63's long-legged cruising intentions. Another essential for long trips is cooling space and this is well provided for, with large Sub-Zero fridge freezers integrated into the timber cabinets.

Aft, the main living space of the Nordhavn 63 splits into a lounging area and a dining space. The lounging area features a couple of footstools and a cosy armchair positioned in the corner. The curvature of the seating around the woodwork is very nice and it’s all set to face the TV mounted on the bulkhead. Across from this, the dining area boasts a movable table, allowing easy passage through the middle when necessary.  

Guest Accommodation

The bulk of the accommodation is downstairs. To starboard, there's a twin-bunked guest cabin, while opposite lies the owner's stateroom. This cabin is spacious and has good headroom, with enough space to walk comfortably around the double bed. The large hatch above gives some natural light and ventilation. Storage includes a hanging wardrobe and drawers, complemented by a private ensuite.

Located forward, the VIP cabin is not as glamorous as the owner’s cabin, but it’s certainly comfortable. Twin berths and ample floor space make it easy to move around and get changed. Twin portholes and a large overhead vent give light and air. 

The cabins are comfortable but basic in fit-out in comparison to more leisure-focussed boats of this size. But the Nordhavn is about functional luxury and reliability, you won't spot anything approaching a gimmick anywhere near this boat.

The wheelhouse on the Nordhavn 63 is where the magic happens during those long passages it's designed for. It's all business here, with a proper ship's wheel of substantial diameter, single throttle, and triple MFDs for navigation and radar.

The skipper has eyes on all areas as there are cameras placed all around the boat, including in the machinery space. Engine instrumentation is neatly divided: wing engine on one side, main engine on the other. It's no frills but entirely fit for purpose. 

Elevated views from the comfortable dinette just behind the helm allow passengers to fully enjoy the boat’s capabilities; an ideal spot to keep the skipper company during long passages. It also offers somewhere for the person on watch to do paper/chart work on passage and have something to eat.  

Captain’s Cabin

The captain's cabin, an addition seen on lots of trawlers, has been put here so the captain is never far from the helm on long watches - but it's more than just functional. It's a genuinely nice living space. It could easily double as a guest cabin or even for the owner-operator, with its own TV and separate bathroom including a shower cubicle - and the elevated view from this cabin is a real treat.

If you want decks laden with sunbathing space then you're reading the wrong review. Like the rest of the boat, the deck spaces are designed with safety and practicality in mind.

The bathing platform on the Nordhavn 63 doesn't need to handle a tender, as the boat deck forward takes care of that. This fixed platform is purely for getting in and out of the water safely. The boarding ladder here is enormous and sets the tone for the platform's functionality and toughness. 

There's a single accessway up into the cockpit via a transom gate with hinges that look like they could withstand a direct hit from a missile. The cockpit is incredibly spacious and well-protected, thanks to an overhang from the deck above. It's a proper setup with rod holders, big cleats, and fairleads. There’s plenty of space for a dining table and a few free-standing chairs, providing a versatile area for socialising. Next to the dining area is a bar with a sink and cooling space.

The Nordhavn 63 has an asymmetric wheelhouse, resulting in a single starboard side deck. It's well-protected, with high bulwarks and overhead inset lighting, ensuring safe passage day or night. A boarding gate here allows access to docks from the side, not just the aft end. It’s positioned right near a side door leading directly into the saloon and down to the technical spaces, making transitions from deck to engine room easy in a hurry.

Moving up to the boat deck, the forward design is a standout feature. Handholds are plentiful, with a sturdy overhead grip and substantial railings. The area provides ample space for various tenders, supported by a crane with an impressive 1,100kg capacity. The crane allows easy deployment, with tenders running down the side for boarding.

The boat deck integrates a Portuguese bridge with inwardly raked windows, for symmetrical, easy navigation around the wheelhouse. This design is great for mooring, as there’s also a wing station with throttle and thruster controls, along with excellent sightlines forward, aft, and alongside. It simplifies docking significantly.

One of the design’s real gems is the elevated, sheltered seating area past the wheelhouse. This space offers some of the best views and keeps you connected with the deck below, perfect for watching over the kids swimming. A ladder here provides access to the top of the wheelhouse for maintenance tasks and access to navigation and communication equipment.  

Unlike many yachts where you might find a cramped side door off a side deck, the N63 has a proper internal door leading down a beautifully constructed wooden staircase. 

Before you even reach the engine room, you'll find an anteroom that offers extra cooling space and houses a washer-dryer unit. Again, Nordhavn provides for those who intend to live aboard for extended periods. Additionally, there's an extra berth here, almost like an engineer's berth so someone can sleep nearby.  

Now, stepping into the engine room, you enter what can only be described as a cathedral to ease of maintenance and reliability. The boat we toured had logged 30,000nm, but the space didn't show it - the engine room was completely spotless. There is a single John Deere 325hp diesel engine, complete with a keel-cooled exhaust and dry stack exhaust system. This configuration should eliminate the need for raw water components like strainers and pumps.

For added redundancy, the N63 includes a 100hp John Deere wing engine. This secondary engine is connected via a shaft to a propeller for emergency propulsion and also powering critical hydraulics such as the bow and stern thrusters, windlass, and stabilisers. The technical space also boasts two generators - a 20kW main generator and a 9kW backup.

Everything is well labelled, from filters for the generators and fuel tanks to sight levels that allow you to check fuel quality and quantity at a glance. Designed to cover thousands of miles, the N63 makes maintenance straightforward and hassle-free. If something does go wrong, fixing it is relatively easy, proving that the N63 is built with practical, long-distance cruising in mind.