The N44 Concept: Pleasing Proportions, Longer Range, Enhanced 'Liveability'

1/9/2020

The Great Harbour N37 is arguably the perfect expedition and cruising vessel for owners that want the ability to cruise safely and economically “off the grid” carrying with them all the comforts of home. N37s feature huge staterooms, a “home kitchen” galley, stand-up engine rooms, massive bosun’s locker, and a comfortable pilothouse with plenty of entertaining space.

But as perfect as the boat may seem, some of our N37 owners have expressed the wish for a larger aft cockpit, wanting the perfect place for outdoor entertaining, alfresco dining, or just relaxing. This was the genesis for the new Great Harbour N44 concept, which we have sketched on the equivalent of a cocktail napkin above.

The N44 is based on the proven 47-foot hull used in the Great Harbour GH47 and N47. But the deck and living portions of the boat are all N37--a large pilothouse/saloon with folding helm seat, double navigator bench, starboard side settee that lifts into upper and lower berths, and portside L-settee with dining table that drops to form an oversized queen berth (or optional fore and aft dinette that folds to a berth.)

Below, we find a forward master stateroom with queen bed and great storage, large head with separate stall shower, second stateroom with double bed, storage and available separate washer and dryer, and a huge galley with full-size refrigerator, 4-burner cooktop, double sink, and available dishwasher and trash compactor.

The N44 differences begin below decks: Located farther forwards in the hull, the engine room and bosun’s locker have more headroom, and the fuel, water, and waste tankage is all increased dramatically over that of the N37. What does this get you? Well, greatly increased range, first of all, plus the ability to stay off the grid longer.

But the differences really begin to show once you exit the aft door of the pilothouse. That’s where you enter the huge 11 by 14-foot cockpit with available wing doors and canvas/isinglass, giving you the option to turn it into an all-weather entertaining area. Summer kitchen and entertainment center options further enhance the livability of this space.

Improvements continue as you head aft; Instead of a bolt-on swim platform like other Great Harbours, the N44 integrates the 4 x 16-foot swim platform right into the hull itself, Euro-style. Then there is the long, wide coach roof, with space for a large center console RIB, folding deck crane, and enough solar capacity to keep you comfortable and off the grid almost indefinitely. An optional flybridge with fiberglass hardtop can be fitted as well.

So move over N37. The N44 may well be the new perfect couples cruising boat. Easily handled, economical to operate, simple to maintain, storage for all your toys, and the space for almost any activity imaginable. What more could you want in a personal trawler?

20 Comments

David Breeden

1/9/2020 12:34:44 pm

What will your new N44 cost and what size will the engines be?

Eric Kraft

1/9/2020 01:36:10 pm

Just a bit of a typo. The cockpit dimensions are not "11 x 4" feet. They are "11 x 14" feet!

Jon Bernegger

1/9/2020 04:39:01 pm

I have been a huge fan of the N37 and N47 design and when my wife and I are eventually ready to retire, our plan was to hopefully find a used one to purchase. But the design of this new N44 looks great! I hope to see this become a reality as I love the idea of a truely usable cockpit for entertaining on a nice day. Couple questions...Because it is based off the 47' hull, is it safe to assume that the tankage would be the same as the 47's? Hope so! Also, with the living space the same as the N37, that puts the door to the engine room ~10' further forward than it would be in a N47 hull. Does that make the engine room and bosun's locker ~10' larger than an N37 or is that space filled with something else? Looks like a great idea with minimal changes to the existing molds.

Ken Fickett

1/24/2020 10:21:44 am

Hey Jon, Yep, the tankage will be pretty much the same as the 47. There are still a few questions about just exactly how we are going to handle the engine room area but be assured that it will still offer excellent access to all of the mechanical equipment and carry on that great tradition from the N37 and N47.

Chuck Truthan

1/9/2020 05:16:11 pm

Great idea, BUT, PLEASE add one foot to the master cabin and 6 inches to the head. I've grown tired of my fat a.s meeting the door knobs in both areas while toweling off or dressing.
Watch the "weight and balance" because with the exiting bosn's locker, it makes the vessel ride stern low, due to the huge volume of "stuff" brought aboard and stored there!
Hopefully the swim platform in the "European style" also means that it is part of the hull and "lifting surface". That might help with the overloading of the Bosn's lockers.
Looks good on the napkin! Can't wait to see it afloat!

Jon Tanner

1/10/2020 02:45:53 pm

Looks like you have managed to improve upon an already stellar vessel! How long before we can get some technical specs. Draft, engine hp, overall dimensions and my most needed... bridge clearance height. Anxiously awaiting more information.

Ken Fickett

1/24/2020 10:26:34 am

Hey Jon, dimensional specs will pretty much be identical to the N47 in terms of beam, draft, HP, and tankage. We think that more people will opt for the boat without the flybridge since it has such a huge outside entertainment area in way of the cockpit. As a "flat top" the bridge clearance will be the same as an N37 which is under 11 feet, a foot shorter than the N47 flat top.

Gary Pitts link

1/12/2020 01:10:29 pm

Hi Ken. With the larger cockpit does this mean that an actual staircase to the bridge would be possible? What is the expected cruise speed and what size engines would be used? This looks like an awesome design. Looking forward to seeing it come to fruition. What size will the fuel, water and holding tanks be?

Ken Fickett

1/24/2020 10:16:21 am

Hey Gary! Right now the "N44" is in the "Imagining" phase. As avid divers and fishermen our family always wanted more cockpit space on an N37 or N47 (the cockpit space on both is identical). Right now the cockpit space is pretty much blank paper and we may pretty much leave it that way to customize for the way various folks may choose to use their boats. Several have talked about enclosing that area with Canvas and Isenglas to use as living space others want to keep it open for gear and working space. We have even talked to a commercial fisherman that thinks a big fish hold in the middle of the cockpit with fishing around the perimeter is perfect!

The hull is actually our 47 hull with our 37 interior in it, the front 33 feet or so is all N37. We cut the swim platform into the N47 hull instead of using a bolt on swim platform and that raises cruise speed by a solid ten percent. We will use the Yanmar 75hp engines which are exactly what we use in the standard N47. Tankage will be similar in size to the N47 capacities.

David Moczygemba

1/16/2020 11:00:54 am

Looking forward to this being a reality. Is there a projected base cost yet? Hopefully interior will be updated as well.

Ken Fickett

1/24/2020 10:34:15 am

Hey David, The interiors of the Ns have undergone constant tweaking. I am not sure what the last boat you saw was but we are very happy with the current layout and so are our customers. Final pricing is still be calculated but we are hoping that we can bring a standard N44 to market for very similar pricing as an N37 with a flybridge. All of us here think that is a great trade off and one we would make. Send Eric Kraft and email and he can give you exact pricing as it is available.

Steven Stanley

7/22/2020 04:53:49 pm

Nice boat! We're very interested in the N44 with the flybridge. What is the approximate air draft (we want to do The Great Loop)? We live in the San Francisco Bay Area and we'd love to see a Great Harbour. Are there any on the West Coast that we could view?

Andre Paquin

2/18/2021 05:37:23 am

Personaly the N37 is almost perfect and I would not change much. From your actual desing I would remove the swim platform and extend the aft deck to the actual size of the swim platform. All of the interior would remain the same. The bosun's locker would be extend by the lenght of the swim platform same as the aft deck. That giving you additional room in the bosun's locker for more storage water or fuel thank giving you more range. Lenghtening the LWL will give you just a bit more theorical speed. The engine room could stay the exact same just extending the shafts and changing the angle. And last I wpould remove the achor bow sprit and relocate the anchors lower on each side of the bow. Doing so with very little modifications you would have a new N37 with identical interior, more bosun's room, more fuel capacity, more range, a bit more speed and a larger aft deck for the same LOA. If you go with the 44, when I will be ready I will have to go for a used N37 because the marina where I'm since 21 year will not let me in with more than 40 feet. Plus that the 44 will cost more to buy, in insurance, more fuel, more at the docks and ... I dont think you have to create a new boat because some ( including myself ) would like a larger aft deck. You have a very good boat you could just implove this one.

bill streever

2/18/2021 02:50:33 pm

From the department of for what it's worth: I like Andre's ideas--especially getting rid of the bowsprit and increasing the cockpit space without increasing total length.

Charles Frey

8/3/2021 04:16:21 pm

Have you ever considered a smaller version of the N37 in the 30 to 32 ft range still with twin inboard diesels

Gary Pitts

9/21/2021 10:37:34 am

Hi Ken. How are the plans for the N 44 progressing? I think it is a great boat. I would be interested in knowing the pricing (with the options list if it’s available. I fell in love with the n37 when I chartered it a couple of times about a decade ago. Also what would delivery be? I hope you are doing well and look forward to hearing from you.

Hunter

6/28/2023 02:42:51 pm

It has been a while since your post about a possible N44. Is this boat in the works? Is so I would very much like to see more drawings and details about this model. If not then is this a likely model for the future?

What about any of the 37 or 47 models, are you still producing them?
Thanks

Ken Fickett link

6/28/2023 04:18:02 pm

Hey Hunter, we have been up to our ears with orders and just have not had any time to work on the 44 project. We are back ordered over two years here right now and need at least another15 employees to address the 44. The 37 has been such a timeless success and it has been a real joy to keep building them!

Don Milton link

7/14/2023 04:01:57 am

I don't think you would remember, but back in 2005 or 06 I sent you an E-mail suggesting a GH37 on the 47 foot hull so you'd have a deep sea fishing version of the GH37/47. With the extended rear cockpit serving as the fishing deck and the fly bridge on the pilot house serving as a more comfortable tuna tower than most.
Don Milton

Kent Georgeson

6/22/2024 04:21:26 pm

Love the sketch… have you thought about filling the flat top roof with solar and installing hybrid engines? Having a larger back deck would solve one of my biggest concerns about current model.. I work from home and looking to take advantage of that probably 3-4 years from now by making that home a boat.

Wondering about different layout options in guest room. I love the extra dining space on the N47. But you lose that on N37. In that guest room could you put a bench outside port wall and a bench on inside wall with a table between them? Then when you have guests it could convert to double and be closed off. When you don’t have guests wife and you could use as a breakfast nook dining space close to kitchen…. I’d also try to double the space as my home office when guests weren’t onboard

The N44 Concept: Pleasing Proportions, Longer Range, Enhanced 'Liveability'

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