The Nahoa 55 is built for exploration, designed to be reliable, and crafted for low maintenance. She is an expedition machine eager to stretch her legs. From the icy waters of Alaska to the balmy tropics, this vessel is engineered to transport her occupants with unparalleled safety and comfort.
By reducing the number of moving parts, we’ve significantly increased redundancy and reliability, ensuring smooth sailing even in the most challenging conditions. Features such as skegged rudders and a forward cockpit prioritize the safety of both the vessel and the crew. Speed is a close second, with narrow hulls and high bridge deck clearance contributing to swift and efficient passage.
NAHOA 55
A ticket to uncharted adventures.
Priorities
When sailing around the world, you spend approximately 80% of the time at anchor. Leaning too heavily towards performance is a double-edged sword; performance vessels have narrow hulls and less space aboard. You arrive at destinations even earlier, spending more time at anchor, all while having less space.
Comfort
Crossing oceans is an endurance test, not a race. Therefore, priority needs to be a balance of speed and comfort. While long, dark, squally nights cannot be avoided, enhancing the crew's alertness and reactivity through comfort and rest is essential.
Safety
Having completed one circumnavigation, Ben & Ashley prioritize crew safety above all else. The forward cockpit, skegged rudders, and aluminum's extreme ductility reinforce the Nahoa 55's commitment to safety at sea.
Speed
Living conditions aboard become uncomfortable with boat speeds over 12 knots. So it only makes sense to design a vessel that takes advantage of the load carrying capacity while optimized for 10-12 knots of boat speed. The Nahoa 55 will easily exceed 200 mile days offshore.
Fun
The worlds oceans are a vast playground. Whether kiting, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, or simply exploring with a full-sized capable dinghy, being able to carry a load is essential. The whole point of sailing the world is to have fun which requires toys and equipment.
Want to own a Nahoa 55?
Why Aluminum
Sailing around the world is a monumental task, from navigating foreign waters to procuring broken parts; it’s a full-time job and more. The Nahoa 55 is born from all the lessons we’ve learned over the past nine years and 50,000+ nautical miles from our first circumnavigation.
Aluminum is the ultimate material for long-range, expedition-style cruising yachts due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and ductility (deforms before it breaks). Unlike fiberglass, aluminum doesn’t require constant polishing, and deck hardware such as cleats and stations are welded on, eliminating leaks from above.
Maintaining a boat is a constant, but aluminum significantly minimizes those efforts. Most great expedition vessels are still built in aluminum to this day.
Carbon Fiber
Upon impact, carbon fiber tends to splinter, creating sharp, jagged edges. This splintering can compromise the structural integrity of the hull. Despite its strength, the brittleness of carbon fiber means it can be more susceptible to catastrophic failure when subjected to high-impact forces.
Fiberglass
When impacted, fiberglass tends to crack and can develop a network of fractures radiating from the point of impact.
Aluminum
Aluminum hulls are extremely ductile, allowing them to absorb and distribute impact forces effectively. Instead of cracking or splintering, aluminum hulls typically deform, showing dents and bends rather than punctures.
Ductility (noun): The ability of a material to undergo significant plastic deformation before rupture, often characterized by its capacity to be stretched or bent without breaking.
Learn more about the benefits and history of aluminum expedition-style yachts by exploring our detailed page discussing why an aluminum catamaran is the ideal choice.
Quality & Certification
The Nahoa 55 has been crafted not merely to comply with Lloyd’s SCC and relevant ISO rules for stability, buoyancy, and watertight compartments, but to surpass them. Given that the Nahoa 55 is conceived as an Expedition-style catamaran, having a design that not only meets but exceeds certifiable standards is of paramount importance. David de Villiers’ expertise and commitment to excellence are evident in every aspect of this vessel’s design, ensuring that the Nahoa 55 sets a new benchmark for quality and performance in the industry.
Specifications
| Length | 16 meter (55'9") |
| Beam OA | 8.050m (26′ 5″) |
| Draught (Fixed Keel) | 1.250m (4′ 1.2″) |
| Displacement | 16160 KG (35626 LBS) |
| Hull Speed under power | 10 Knots approx. |
| Engines | 114 HP 2 x Yanmar 4JH57 |
| Air Draft | 23.03m |
| Sail Area Upwind | 166.0m² (177sq ft.) |
| Bridgedeck Clearance | 845mm (2′ 9.29″) |
| Fuel Capacity | 1110 litres (239 USG) |
| Fresh Water Capacity | 900 litres (238 USG) |
| Solar Capacity | 3150 Watts |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I purchase a Nahoa 55 ?
First and foremost, we are still in the process of finalizing the details for the stock Nahoa 55. This phase is expected to be completed in the next few months. Currently, we are focusing on ironing out the remaining interior and exterior fit-out details.
What is the build time?
When it comes to the build time at a professional yard, we anticipate it to range from 18 months to 24 months. In the upcoming months, we will share our insights on various yards, considering factors such as price, expertise, import/export duties, political stability, interior fit-out, and more. Rest assured, we already have one exceptional yard that ticks all the boxes, and we are confident it will be an excellent choice. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
What are the trade-offs?
The Nahoa 55 is not for everyone. Every boat is a series of compromises. Too performant and you loose on comfort. Too comfortable and you loose on performance. After eight years of sailing around the world and countless conversations with fellow cruisers and delivery captains, we have arrived at this performant yet practical expedition catamaran. Emphasis has been given to durability and safety yet not compromising too much on speed. She will be able to exceed 200 mile days at a 10 knot average.
Summary
We understand your anticipation and eagerness to plan your future adventures, and we promise to provide regular updates via email on the finalized design, base build price, recommended yards, and other exciting details. If you sign up above, you will be the first to receive this exclusive information.