Nord Star 36+, VELLAMO

Broker’s Comments

This Nord Star 36+ is a real find.

This fast and seaworthy planing cruiser offers a rare and highly practical flybridge option. With a design rooted in its Finnish builder’s experience producing patrol, commercial, and military vessels, the Nord Star 36+ is built to perform in any weather. This robust pedigree shines through in this ergonomic and comfortable five-berth craft.

Every detail has been carefully considered for usability. From the hinged inspection hatch on the bathing platform and the aft cockpit rope bins to the side cutaways for easy boarding, this boat is a breeze to handle. For a shorter or even single-handed skipper, joystick docking is a welcome feature. Sliding doors on both sides of the cabin provide direct access to the wide side decks, where a solid mooring cleat is conveniently located by your feet. The over-sized guard rails are designed with a break to make embarking child’s play, and the ring deck runs around the entire boat, so there are no “dodgy” areas to worry about. The attention to detail is also evident in the anchor locker. It features a rubber protective mat to prevent the chain from hitting the hull, while a practical anchor beak extends through the open pulpit, keeping the anchor and chain away from the stem and providing straightforward access from the bow.

For sailors and powerboaters alike, the flybridge helm is a major draw. It offers a commanding view with a full set of instrumentation, joystick controls, and comfortable Todd Marine seating for both the helm and navigator, plus a wrap-around sofa for additional crew. Access to the wheelhouse from the aft cockpit is through a smooth-sliding glass door, which is protected by the flybridge overhang and includes a useful docking camera. Inside, the quality of the fit-out is immediately apparent, with varnished walnut cabinetry, polished stainless steel, deep-pile carpets, and textured wall and headliners. Practicality is a priority, with hooks for oilskins and coats right by the door, ample cupboard space, Webasto heating, engine-driven screen demisters, anti-glare coatings on the console, and bright, efficient LED lighting throughout. The forward cabin features a raised centreline double berth with easy access steps on either side, plenty of natural light and ventilation, and generous storage beneath. Moving aft, the galley is to port with a range of cupboards, easy-care surfaces, and all the appliances you need, complete with hooks for your tea towels. Across the way, the separate head compartment is clean and bright, with a wet-room area for the shower and basin—all very neat and thoughtfully designed. What’s not immediately obvious is the clever, hidden aft cabin. The aft saloon sofa cushion hinges up to reveal stairs leading to a very usable aft cabin. It has plenty of light and ventilation, a double and a single berth, a useful walnut cabinet, more storage lockers, power points, and USB charging sockets. As if that’s not enough, a small locker door opens to a transverse systems space where the electrics, reserve fuel, black water tankage, and heating systems are all neatly housed, out of the way but still very accessible.

Of course, the heart of this 36+ is its twin Volvo Penta D6 diesels, which smoothly deliver 380 horsepower. The engine room is a delight, with excellent access via a wide aft hatch in the insulated cockpit floor. The layout is tidy, with batteries in boxes to port, the fuel tank mounted centrally, and the calorifier water-heating tank to starboard.

This is a truly accomplished piece of kit. Please do call for more information.

Owner’s Comments

After over thirty years of sailing on numerous yachts, this was my first powerboat—a last-ditch attempt to get my partner to spend more time on the water. The idea was to have quick, direct routes to our destinations while staying mostly undercover, without the hassle of sails or wind direction.

Having lived in Finland for a while and spending a lot of time near where these boats are built, I pretty much only looked at Finnish patrol boats. The three main brands—Sargo, Nord Star, and Botnia Targa—are all excellent boat builders that excel at this type of vessel, so the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. I chose the Nord Star because of the wide range of options it offers and its modern aesthetic. Plus, in Finland, it’s widely seen as the preferred choice.

It’s a lovely, comfortable boat that moves quickly without burning excessive fuel. For those who can’t quite let go of the slower pace of sailing, it’s also pleasant to travel at displacement speeds from the flybridge.

On delivery, I accompanied the boat from Plymouth in horrid conditions. The boat felt completely secure and comfortable in the heavy seas. This is what the boat was designed for, as the Gulf of Finland is rarely calm, so it was reassuring to see how well it coped firsthand.

The joystick control is also a great backup while I got used to twin engines and the boat’s manoeuvrability after years on sailboats. It makes single-handed docking a breeze.

On a calm day, it’s perfect. It feels like you’re in your living room as you glide along at over 30 knots. With the extra fuel tank, a trip to Alderney and back in a single day is entirely feasible.

I cannot recommend this boat enough, especially for someone transitioning from a sailboat as I did. It’s a lot of fun and feels completely safe even in the most unforgiving of conditions.

Manufacturer’s Comments

THE LINDKVIST FAMILY STARTED BUILDING BOATS IN 1920’S, when Sivert Lindkvist mastered the art of boat building and started to craft boats also for demand. With fresh vision and passionate inspiration, each generation has been keen to save the traditional craftsmanship as well as acquire modern skills about boat construction and company development. As Simon Lindkvist, the fourth-generation boat builder and company leader, the company strives to continue providing premium handcrafted boats with top notch design and superior technical qualities. As a privately owned family company, we stand behind our products and devotion to build boats to last a lifetime.

Each Nord Star boat is handmade and customized to fulfil the demanding customer’s needs in own state-of-art factory in Finland. The superstructure is hand laminated and ensures a reliable and safe platform to build the perfect boat for each customer. Classic modern design, finished details, tested materials and high-quality workmanship have made the Nord Star boat a safe and long-lasting investment.