Boat Review: Nord West 370 Sports Top

Presentation

Launched in January this year Nord West's 370 Sports Top was a welcome addition to the renowned Swedish builder range, offering its second sport cruiser ideally suited for use in sunny climates. Based on all but the hard top on the 370 Sport which was launched three months before, the Sports Top version is a more of an all weather boat minimising the headache use of opening and closing canopies when the weather gets ugly. Benny Martinsson who apart of being owner of Nord West is also the designer, created an exquisite looking hard top sports cruiser with the Sports Top, using the 370 hull presented first as Flybridge in 2008, and today having four versions all offering a total different way of going to the sea. The Sports Top just as its other sisters gives high quality not only in the abundant use of wood outside and inside, but also in the fittings of each compartment you open in this boat. It is also versatile regards its propulsion being available with easy to use less maintenance IPS pods or stern drive engines, this last giving better performance and economy. For the 370 Sports Top stern drive is the choice, for reasons you can read in the Performance paragraph, but if your marina manoeuvring is not so sure try the IPS before taking my word as this will be easier.

Accommodation

Welcoming you on board the 370 Sports Top is the spacious teak laid bathing platform aft. This is among the most spacious for this size of boat. The sides of the platform are also free, good for side to mooring typical of Northern Europe marinas. Going up one step you get into the entrance of the modern flush decked cockpit, which is for two thirds of it covered by the hardtop, making this area usable in most weather situations. Here is a C-shaped settee to port, highly finished wet bar with grill opposite being more of another galley on the outside, a two person lounge settee to port, and the fully equipped dual seated helm station to starboard. Fittings outside is full of rich highly finished wood, with teak used for all the stepping surfaces in the cockpit as well as the side decks, with polished wood finishing for the wet bar and the aft rail.

A central door followed by two steps takes you to the lower accommodation deck, which again is emphasized by the huge amount of luxurious mahogany wood being used. I would say the 370 Sports Top has about double to wood fittings to that of most competitors in this size boat. The below layout is conventional offering a spacious L-shaped galley to starboard just as you walk down the steps, opposite a C-shaped which transforms to an additional double berth, and shower head. Both cabins located forward for the owners, and aft for the guests offer a double berth. The aft cabin has also a settee upon entrance, ideally suited for your guests when they want to have some private chilling time.

Performance

Coming from a hull which was designed for an IPS flybridge boat, one gets pure bliss at the performance of the 370 Sports Top, which not only has high speed of forty knots with the bigger engine but is incredibly responsive in tight turns. Handling is lively, usual characteristic of Nordic boats, with a millimetre light and responsive steering, but the Nord West also feels heavy and stuck on the water giving an assurance in rough seas navigation. Engine options are all Volvo with three stern drive choices, starting from the smaller D4 260hp, D4 300hp and the bigger D6 370hp. The IPS option is the 400 unit with D4 300hp engines. Maximum speed is 40 knots with D6 370hp, 36 knots for D4 300hp, and 31 knots on IPS400. The stern drive version gives 5 knots more in speed to the same powered IPS400 in top speed figures. Cruising is 28 knots for stern drive propulsion, and 25 knots for IPS at both 3000 rpm. The range is the best at 309 nautical miles with the D4 300hp engines. IPS400 gives 68 miles less but at a higher rpm of 3200 and 29 knots speed. Most powerful D6 370hp option has a best cruise at 28 knots which gives 271 nautical miles of range. For the smaller D4 260hp data is still not available, but I would still expect a 30 knots plus speed. Best miles to litres come always at a 29 / 28 knots cruise whatever the engine propulsion choice, showing hull proficiency at these speeds.

Positive

luxury wood use

bathing platform

IPS or stern drive choice

Negative
tight cockpit to side deck steps

Competition
This size Sport Cruiser with hard top has really picked up in recent years, having here eleven other competing choices for the 370 Sports Top. Criteria is eleven to 12.00 metres in size, open hard top with no patio door, two cabin interior, and stern drive or IPS propulsion. The Windy 37 Grand Mistral is the oldest design, presented as an open 36 in 1994 and a hard top 37 in 2000. The Tiara, Prestige and Sessa are available only with a hard top. The Sessa is the most similar to the Nord West in layout, while the Rio has the most unique interior offering a full beam owners cabin and two shower heads. The other boat offering two heads is the Spanish Moa, the longest at an exact twelve meters. Just as the 370 Sports Top, the Rio, Sessa, and wild card Marex are all new 2009 models.

Arturo Stabile 37 Stama HT - sun pad cockpit, unusual crane passarelle aft

Bavaria 37 SportHT - spacious cockpit sun pad C-shaped settee, high free board

Elan Power 35 - tight spaces, good performing Tony Castro hull

Mano M35 - hard top optional, two cockpit layout choices

Moa 40 Platinum Hard Top - two heads, 38 knots speed with D6 310hp

Prestige 38 S - double C-shaped settees in cockpit, aft cabin with scissor berth

Rio 36 Air - minimal, full beam mid cabin, 2 heads, hard top extends aft

Sealine SC35 - extended hardtop, modern minimal style inside outside
Sessa C38 - modern design, double galley outside and inside

Tiara 3500 Sovran - open plan interior, IPS only, highly fitted out

Windy 37 Grand Mistral - optional hard top, good handling, 1994 design

WILD CARD: Marex 370 Aft Cabin Cruiser - single engine shaft drive, aft guest cabin
Conclusion
Nord West has become a big player in the Motor Cruiser, Yacht market in the Northern waters on the up side part of the European continent. Proving this in the last years is that the Swedish builder won four prices and received two further nominations. With the 370 Sports Top which was launched in January 2009 in Dusseldorf, the Swedish Nord West is stretching its sights to the competitive Mediterranean market by offering a Sport Cruiser for use in sunny weather, but without forgetting its Nordic heritage for safety and practical features. The hard top is a much desired accessory today, but apart this the 370 Sports Top scores high points against the competition for its fittings being of the highest standard, its IPS or stern drive choice, and its top forty knots performance considering that the 370 is also among the heaviest over built boat in its class.
Technical Data
LOA. 11.8 metres (38.7ft)
Beam. 3.50 metres
Draft. 1.20 metres
Displacement. 9 t
Fuel Capacity. 800 litres
Water Capacity. 435 litres
Accommodation. 5 berths in 2 cabins + 2 in convertible saloon
Engines. 2 x Volvo D4 EVC 260hp, 300hp, D6 370hp, IPS400
Propulsion. Volvo DP duoprop stern drive, IPS forward looking duo prop pods
Speed. 40 knots max, 32 knots cruise with D6 370

Range. 271 nm at 32 knots with D6 370hp, 309 nm with D4

Hull Shape. variable planning vee

Project. Benny Martinsson, JIB Design tooling development
Construction. Divinycell core with vinilester resins

Certification. CE B

www.nordwest.se

Picture Copyright Nord West. Data Nord West.