Offshoreonly.com - new motor has arrived

y Mark Rotharmel
"Given the right power and size, single engine boats can be very appealing. Exciting to drive with respectable top end speeds, single engine boats usually cost less to buy and less to feed than their twin engine peers. One very hot 28 footer is this custom built boat from Nordic, a company based out of Arizona.
Powered by a single Mercruiser 496 MAG HO it appears to have charm, good looks and personality. Let’s check it out.
A quick glance at the Nordic tells you this boat is anything but common. With creative cosmetics that link the Heat’s exterior to its well appointed interior. Well known for its signature telescopic pole light that electrically extends high above the stern, Nordic’s bold graphic pattern continues to cross the sun pad seats and sides through to a simple but stylish helm.
Featuring well padded electric bolster seats, a built in console foot rest and this competition tilt steering wheel, a driver has full access to these well positioned controls, switches and instruments. Kneeling across the heat’s full aft bench seat we found a neat and tidy installation a Mercruiser mighty 425 horsepower, 496 MAG HO coupled with a robust X-drive and this 26 inch bravo one four blade propeller.
This electrically operated cabin pocket door is a nice touch opening to reveal a monochromatic contemporary area for rest and relaxation. Sporting a drop-in ice chest, galley sink, full cabin lounge seats and a sizable berth for sleeping, this 28 footer is more than just another pretty face.
We have great water conditions out here in Sarasota Bay for a test of the Nordic 28 Heat. Now Nordic is a small company, only four models in its line-up but the 28 Heat is one of the most popular. Now the boat is 28 feet, three inches long, it has 102 inch beam and weighs 4610 pounds. It should accelerate to plane pretty well, let’s see how it does. Here we go.
Up on top of the water in 5.9 seconds with tabs out. If you drop the tabs down it actually planes it about 4.44 seconds. That’s pretty good for a step bottom boat. Now Nordic is very well known for their workmanship. They have great gel coat graphics but they also have a very strongly and well constructed hull.
Now this boat has a 24 degree deadrise so it really rises up on top of the water well and cuts through the rough water. The step is a single step, it’s about eight feet forward of the transom, the transom has about a five inch notch and you’ve also got some two inch turn down reverse chine’s to help it lift so the boat gets up and running pretty quickly.
Very sensitive to steering but it feels as solid as a rock. The lay-up is all by hand naturally. This is a custom built hull. Nordic is very well known throughout the industry for their workmanship. All right, we’re gonna back off down to 30 miles an hour, slow it down. 30, hit it. Trim it up. It’s 50, it’s 7.3 seconds.
For the 496 MAG HO putting out 425 horsepower you’ve got great acceleration and great midrange. Now I’m going to set up for a turn. Accelerate up, back down a bit. Turn. Nice. Hanging right in. There’s big waves to jostle you around but it’s not really doing that. Very good. And you can accelerate right through the turn. Let’s set up for our high speed pass. We’re 4500 rpm right now. 61.7 miles an hour on GPS. We nail it.
Speed is climbing showing 65, 67, 68, 68.6 on GPS, very nice. My data finds the Nordic cruised at 45 miles an hour offering strong midrange punch. Mercruiser 496 MAG HO makes it accelerate from 30 to 50 miles an hour in seven seconds with a top speed of almost 69 miles an hour, it’s quick for a 28 foot single. You know, when you drive a boat like the 28 Heat it leaves you with a feeling of confidence, first, the workmanship is a cut above most and secondly the hull feels solid and safe in the water.
Now Nordic may not have the highest profile in the business but their quality and performance standards are as good as they get. Let the water boil with this single engine performer, the heat is definitely on. We’ll see you next time."

*this profile taken from a transcript of Mark's test of the Nordic 28 Heat for PowerBoat TV.