Nordic Tug 32 / 34
Built 1985–? by Nordic Tugs Inc.
About the Nordic Tug 32 / 34
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1985–?
- Builder
- Nordic Tugs Inc.
- Length
- 34.17 ft
- Waterline
- 32.67 ft
- Beam
- 11 ft
- Draft
- 3.5 ft
- Displacement
- 16,000 lb
- Hull / keel
- semi-displacement
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- varies by year
- Water
- 100 gal
- Holding
- 30 gal
- Water heater
- 6 gal · AC + engine · standard
- Generator
- factory option
- Bow thruster
- standard
- Stern thruster
- factory option
- Steering
- hydraulic
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
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Fuel varies by year
“FUEL CAPACITY 205USG” — builder (NT 34 (current production)), nordictugs.com · “Fuel capacity 200 gallons” — search excerpt (NT 32), boats.com · “Fuel capacity 200 gallons” — search excerpt (NT 32+), boats.comThe builder's spec page for the Nordic Tug 34 gives 205 US gal; reviews of the earlier 32 and 32+ give 200 gal, our earlier figure. Two different hulls share this page, so there's no single figure.
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Water 100 gal
“FRESH WATER 100 USG” — builder (NT 34), nordictugs.com · “Water capacity 100 gallons” — search excerpt (NT 32), boats.comThe builder's page for the 34 and a review of the 32 agree.
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Holding 30 gal
“BLACK WATER 30 USG” — builder (NT 34), nordictugs.comBuilder figure for the Nordic Tug 34, which also has a separate 26 US gal tank for sink and shower (gray) water, not counted here. The 32's holding tank isn't confirmed.
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Water heater 6 gal · AC + engine · standard
“Heater, Water - 6-gallon electric/engine heat” — builder (2013), uploads.boatshowavenue.com · “Heater, Water - 6-gallon electric/engine heat” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com · “6 Gallon hot water tank, heated by engine & 110 volt” — search excerpt (2000), boattrader.comThe builder's standard-equipment lists for the Nordic Tug 34 (2013 and 2023 model years) give a 6 gal electric and engine-heat heater as standard. A 2000 Nordic Tug 32 listing shows the same size and heating, but no builder document for the 1985-2010 Nordic Tug 32 was found.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
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Bow thruster standard
“Bow Thruster - SIDE-POWER SE60/185S-12V, 132lb thrust (Model Year Standard Equipment, Nordic Tug 34)” — builder (NT34, model year not printed), uploads.boatshowavenue.com · “Bow Thruster - SIDE-POWER SE60/185S-12V, 132lb thrust (standard equipment)” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com · “Side Power bow thruster” — search excerpt, denisonyachtsales.com · “Side Power Bow Thruster with Recently Bow Thruster Motor” — search excerpt (2000), boattrader.comStandard on the Nordic Tug 34 (builder lists). No builder list was found for the older Nordic Tug 32; several 32 listings (1990s-2001) have bow thrusters, Side-Power on at least two and Vetus on one, so they were common, but whether factory-fitted or added later isn't documented.Side-Power SE60/185S-12V (132 lbf) — Standard on the Nordic Tug 34 per builder standard-equipment lists.“Bow Thruster - SIDE-POWER SE60/185S-12V, 132lb thrust” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com
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Stern thruster factory option
“Side Power Stern Thruster in Keel, w/ SM8909 Controller ... Chariot Bridge Model - Side Power SE40/125 Stern Thruster in” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.comA keel-mounted stern thruster is a factory option on the 2023 Nordic Tug 34. Nothing was found for earlier 34s or the 32.Side-Power SE40/125 — Listed for the Chariot Bridge model; the thruster offered on the standard model is not given a model number.“Chariot Bridge Model - Side Power SE40/125 Stern Thruster in Keel, w/ (2) SM8909 Controllers” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com
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Steering hydraulic
“STEERING SYSTEM - Steering System - manual hydraulic” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com · “Steering System - manual hydraulic ... Valves and fitting for autopilot hydraulic pump connection” — builder (NT34, model year not printed), uploads.boatshowavenue.comManual hydraulic steering is standard on the Nordic Tug 34; the 2023 option sheet also offers hydraulic steering in place of standard electric, apparently for the Chariot Bridge variant, which has electric steering. Several 32 listings also show hydraulic steering, one naming Teleflex SeaStar, too few to set a brand.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Renamed Nordic Tug 34 in 2013 and still built. Reworked 32+ in 2002 with island berth and integral swim platform that lengthens the waterline; prop-pocket hull from 2008. Over 300 built (a minimum). Cruises about 12 knots with the 220 hp Cummins, 14 knots with 270 hp. Owners' association: SENTOA.
Engines fitted
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Cummins 6BT5.9M — 220 hp, diesel, single
standard
Long-time power for the original 32 per PassageMaker and HMY (220 hp, about 12 kn cruise). A 1989 hull is listed with a 210 hp 6BT5.9, so early boats may carry the 210 hp rating.Sources: passagemaker.com · hmy.com · curtisstokes.net
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Cummins 6BTA5.9M — 270 hp, diesel, single
standard
PassageMaker: the 220 hp Cummins was raised to 270 hp on the redesigned 32+ (2002 on); HMY gives about 14 kn cruise with the 270.Sources: passagemaker.com · hmy.com
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Volvo Penta D4-260 — 260 hp, diesel, single
standard
BoatTEST lists the D4-260 as standard power on the later Nordic Tug 34 (2014 on).Sources: boattest.com
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Yanmar 6BY2-260 — 260 hp, diesel, single
factory option
Engine on the BoatTEST test boat (Nordic Tug 34, 2014 on).Sources: boattest.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
factory option
The Nordic Tug 34 standard list has no generator; a 5 kW set was optional in 2023. Nordic Tug 32 listings show Northern Lights diesel sets of different sizes (4 kW on a 2000 boat; 6 kW on 1998 boats that may be the same hull), so no generator is listed for the 32.
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Generator (make not stated) — 5 kW
factory option
Make and fuel not named on the builder's 2023 Nordic Tug 34 option list.“Generator - 5kW 60Hz/110/220V” — builder (2023), wildeyachts.com
Generators are often replaced or added — check the unit's own plate before ordering parts.
Manuals and brochures online
- Spec sheet Nordic Tugs NT34 model page with specifications (current) — nordictugs.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
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Cracking fiberglass wet-exhaust pipe exhaust
On roughly 1998-2002 NT32s with the 220 hp Cummins, the fiberglass exhaust tube after the 90-degree elbow runs too hot and becomes brittle and leaks. Owner fixes include a better water-injection mixer, high-temperature silicone hose in place of the FRP, and a larger raw-water pump.sentoa.org
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Marginal raw-water flow cooling
The stock raw-water pump is described as marginal for the 220 hp Cummins, especially with a raised exhaust elbow, contributing to exhaust overheating.sentoa.org
Engines & parts
Cummins 6BT / 6BTA 5.9 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Cummins 6BT5.9M”
Mechanically injected 5.9 L inline six from the Cummins B-series truck/industrial family, so base-engine parts are everywhere. Cummins still sells factory ReCon (remanufactured) marine 6BT/6BTA engines (152–210 hp ratings) with a 2-year/2000-hour warranty. Seaboard Marine is the best-known marine specialist, selling aftercooler/heat-exchanger service kits, upgraded raw water pumps and technical guidance; TAD also sells Cummins packages.
Parts sources: Seaboard Marine, Cummins (ReCon 6BT/6BTA), Diesel Pro Power
Common problems (2)
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Aftercooler corrosion letting seawater into the intake cooling
On the turbo-aftercooled 6BTA the seawater-cooled aftercooler core has vertical tubes and an aluminum housing that corrodes from condensate; a leak can put salt water into the cylinders and wreck the engine. Owners pull, clean, grease and pressure-test the core every few years and fit new O-rings.trawlerforum.com · sbmar.com
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Heat exchanger and aftercooler service cooling
Routine seawater-side service (O-rings, gaskets, zincs) is a recurring owner job; kits are sold for it and refilling coolant without trapping air is a common question.sbmar.com · sbmar.com
Service part numbers (5)
| Oil filter | Cummins 3937743 | “| Oil Filter | 3937743 |” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Cummins Oil Filter 3937743 Spin-on type, 3.66" outside diameter, 6.95" height” — dealer, dieselpro.com |
| Fuel filter 6BT 5.9 210 hp (CPL 742) |
Fleetguard FF5052 Replaces FF42000, FS1251 |
“on-engine fuel filter with drain for all 6BT 210 B’s (CPL 742). Replaces the FF42000, FS1251.” — dealer, sbmar.com · “Cummins 6BT Fuel Filter 3931063 FF5052” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au |
| Fuel filter late 6BTA (also late 4BTA and 6CTA) |
Fleetguard FF5285 | “Fleetguard FF5285 Fuel Filter – late 4BTA 6BTA and 6CTA’s” — dealer, sbmar.com · “Cummins 6BTA Fuel Filter 3890017 FF5285 ... suits late model Cummins 6BTA's, 6CTA8.3-M” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au |
| Raw-water impeller seawater pump with 1-1/4 in hose ports (Sherwood M70/M71 type, early 4BT/6BT) |
Sherwood 10615K | “Seawater Pump Impeller | **1-1/4" PORTS** 3908220 10615K” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Cummins Marine Water Pump Impeller 10615K 2 9/16" diameter, 1 5/8" length” — dealer, dieselpro.com |
| Raw-water impeller keyway-shaft pump, 2 in inlet / 1-3/4 in outlet, 11° offset flange (e.g. P1716/P1730 on 6BTA) |
Sherwood 17000K | “**2" inlet & 1-3/4" outlet ports with 11° OFFSET flange** 17000K” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au · “Cummins Impeller for Key Shaft 17000K” — dealer, dieselpro.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (10)
hmy.com · nordictugs.com · sentoa.org · passagemaker.com · curtisstokes.net · boattest.com · nordictugs.com · uploads.boatshowavenue.com · wildeyachts.com · wildeyachts.com
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Other Nordic Tug models
- Nordic Tug 26 1980–1997
- Nordic Tug 37 / 39 1998–2015
- Nordic Tug 42 / 44 1996–2019
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.