they likely conjure up images of long waterlines, fl ared bow
sections, skyscraper tuna towers and planing-friendly under-
carriages. Expedition-grade trawlers do not come to mind. ¶
And for good reason. Expedition vessels are built for itinerar-
ies measured in days or weeks, not in the number of hours it
takes to zip out to the canyons. Most expedition yachts strug-
gle to crack the 15-knot barrier, a speed defi ciency that most
anglers cannot abide. ¶ With Serenity, a heavily customized
Nordhavn 100, the longtime builder of world-class expedition
yachts sought to break those stereotypes. Serenity’s owner
worked with the California-based builder to create
an expedition-grade sport-fi shing yacht that’s as ad-
ept at wrangling pelagic species as she is at hosting
elegant dinners. ¶ I fi rst spied her proud silhouette
dominating the western skyline of Seattle’s Elliott
Bay Marina last fall, but I didn’t fully appreciate her
capabilities until I stepped into her steering room
with Capt. Zach Gallagher. There, on the bulkhead,
hung 30-plus custom-made fi shing rods, each slightly diff er-
ent than the next but each painted the exact same Alexseal
“Stars and Stripes” blue—perfectly matching Serenity’s c u s -
tom-painted topsides—and handsomely engraved with the
superyacht’s moniker. Gallagher also showed off dozens of
reels, including serious-looking hydraulic setups, gaff s and
fi shing tackle, all organized and stowed in custom-built cab-
inets. ¶ “If you think this is cool, wait until you see the fi shing
cockpit,” he says with a knowing smile. ¶ Serenity is a stretched
version of Nordhavn’s N96, which itself is based on the N86’s
hull, adding a 10-foot extension to the “California deck”( Nordhavn parlance for the outdoor space abaft the salon).
Serenity’s owner evolved this long-range cruising design for
his angling ambitions by requesting an additional, low-free-
board aft fi shing deck and swim step. Additionally, the owner
worked with Destry Darr Designs to create fi ve en suite state-
rooms and an enlarged galley with seating for four guests
around an island. ¶ “The owner wants to introduce his fam-
ily to a full international cultural experience,” Gallagher says
as we walk from the galley to the salon, which has a table with
seating for 10 and a drop-down screen. The table’s after end
leads to a carpeted seating area that spills out onto
the California deck. ¶ Climbing the spiral ladder and
stepping into the pilothouse, I see a helm with a mar-
ble dash, two white leather Stidd seats, four Furuno
touchscreens, and a combination of Furuno, Simrad,
FLIR and KVH equipment for long-range navigation
and security, as well as satellite communications and
entertainment. Suffi ce it to say, t h is yacht ca n cr u ise
far while staying in touch. ¶ Serenity’s propulsion comes from
twin 600 hp Caterpillar C18 Acert engines sitting atop vibra-
tion-absorbing mounts and spinning dual 48-inch propellers.
DC power comes from dual Caterpillar C4.4 generators. An
ABT-Trac stabilization system should enhance ride quality,
while a pair of 50 hp bow and stern thrusters are installed for
docking maneuvers. ¶ Serenity is a lso equ ipped wit h fou r f uel
tanks collectively holding 7,000 gallons of diesel, plus a 500-gal-
lon centerline tank that serves as her day-use dromedary, and
100 gallons of gasoline for her tender. All told, Serenity has a
3,000-nautical-mile cruising range at 10 knots. She also car-EXPERIENCE> NORDHAVN 100 SERENITYWWhen most yachtsmen think of hen most yachtsmen think of
sport-fisport-fishing yachts, shing yachts,
ELECTRONICALLY ENABLED
In addition to having a custom-built fishing cockpit, Serenity cruises with a bev y of fish-stalking electronics. The dual Furuno XN24AF X-band
radars offer Bird Mode, and the Furuno DFF3 sonar can operate on any two frequencies between 28 and 200 kHz with user-selectable power
outputs of 1, 2 or 3 kW. Additionally, Serenity’s DFF3 uses Timezero’s PBG sounder module, which helps identify bottom structure and fish habitat.100'
LENGTH
OVERALL24'5"
MAXIMUM
BEAMYACHTINGAUGUST2 0 1 9