Nordic Tug 26

Built 1980–1997 by Nordic Tugs Inc.

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About the Nordic Tug 26

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Nordic Tug 26 — **Illustration, not a photo of this model.** AI-generated illustration of a typical tug-style cruiser.

Built: 1980–1997
Builder: Nordic Tugs Inc.
Designer: Lynn Senour
Length: 28.75 ft
Waterline: 25.17 ft
Beam: 9.5 ft
Draft: 3.25 ft
Displacement: 8,500 lb
Hull: fiberglass
Hull / keel: semi-displacement
Propulsion: inboard
Water: 40 gal
Holding: 20 gal
Water heater: AC + engine

Tank capacities — where the figures come from

Fuel unknown
“70 gallons - 1 tank(s)” — search excerpt (1982), edwardsyachtsales.com · “Extra-large 115 gallon long range fuel tank” — search excerpt (1991), sentoa.org

No builder source was found. A 1982 listing gives one 70 gal tank; a 1991 boat advertised on the SENTOA owners' site has an extra-large 115 gal long-range tank, implying the standard one was smaller. Our earlier 100 gal, from a spec guide, isn't confirmed; tank size may have changed or been optional.
Water 40 gal
“Water Capacity. 40 gal.” — search excerpt (2014 re-introduced NT 26), boattest.com

BoatTest's specs for the reintroduced 2014 Nordic Tug 26 agree with 40 gal; a 1991 boat is described as having three water tanks. There's no builder figure for 1980–1997 boats.
Water heater AC + engine
“HOT WATER HEATER - 10 Gallons - Engine or 120Volt” — broker listing (1984), west-yachts.com

Only one broker listing (a 1984 boat) gives a heater: 10 gal, heated by the engine or 120 V. No builder document was found for the 1980-1997 Nordic Tug 26; the builder's present-day spec sheets cover the later, different Nordic Tug 26.

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

Bow thruster unknown
“Other popular options included a bow thruster, an inverter, and a three kW genset.” — search excerpt, yachtworld.com · “a number of smart improvements have been made - like a bow thruster” — search excerpt (1980), seattle.boatshed.com

A YachtWorld research article lists a bow thruster among popular options on the original 1980-97 Nordic Tug 26, and a 1980 boat's listing shows one added later. No builder list for the original 26 was found, so this rests on one article.
Stern thruster unknown
Nothing was found for the original Nordic Tug 26.
Steering unknown
The only steering details found are for the reintroduced Nordic Tug 26 (2017 on, manual hydraulic according to builder-style listings), a different boat from the 1980-97 model here. Nothing was found on the original 26's steering.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Sources disagree on original engine hp, fuel tank — left blank rather than guessed.

Introduced at the January 1980 Seattle Boat Show; built in Woodinville, then Burlington, Washington (from 1990). Solid fiberglass full-keel semi-displacement hull. Revised 2-26 model in 1995 (raked stack, wider side decks, dinette). Out of production 1997, reintroduced as a limited model in 2009 with a 100 hp Yanmar (7-8 knots cruise). Original 50 hp diesel cruises 6-7 knots at about 1 gph; the engine make is not given in the sources read.

Engines fitted

Volvo Penta 3-cyl diesel — 36 hp, diesel, single standard
Power on the first boats (1980 Seattle show boat); very low fuel burn.

Sources: passagemaker.com · trawlerforum.com
Isuzu 54 hp diesel — 54 hp, diesel, single factory option
Owner mention only; whether factory or repower not stated.

Sources: trawlerforum.com
Yanmar 4JH-DTE / 4JH2-DTE — 88 hp, diesel, single factory option
Seen on used boats at 80 hp (1984 hull, listed as 4JHA-DTE) and 88 hp (4JH2-DTE); listings do not say original or repower.

Sources: bluewateryachtsales.com · trawlerforum.com
Yanmar 4JH2-UTE — 100 hp, diesel, single factory option
On a 1997 hull (listing spells it RJH2-UTE); late-run engine. The 2009 reintroduced 26 also used a 100 hp Yanmar.

Sources: jmys.com · hmy.com
Yanmar 4JH4-TE — 75 hp, diesel, single common repower
One documented repower (1981 hull, repowered 2009).

Sources: yachtr.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

No builder, association or review source mentions a generator on the original Nordic Tug 26; recent owners' association sale notices for 1991 boats list a diesel cabin heater and solar power but no generator.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Engines & parts

Yanmar 4JH series (4JH, 4JH2/3/4, -E, -TE, -HTE) parts: good

Factory optional engine — you entered “Yanmar 4JH-DTE / 4JH2-DTE”

Widely used and fully supported by Yanmar dealers and distributors; the mixing elbow is treated as a consumable part.

Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), Yanmar USA genuine parts

Common problems (1)

Mixing elbow failure exhaust
The exhaust mixing elbow on 4JH engines pits and fails, sometimes within a few hundred hours; owners treat roughly 1000 hours as a practical life and inspect the elbow-to-manifold joint for salt weeping.
cruisersforum.com · jeanneau.proboards.com · facebook.com

Maker’s service schedule (18)

Engine oil & filter change 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	150 hrs	“4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil. After the second oil change, the engin” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Replace engine oil filter 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	300 hrs	“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (4) Replacing the Engine Oil and Lube Oil Filter (See 4.3.1(1))” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Transmission fluid change 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	150 hrs	“4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Fuel filters & water separator 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	300 hrs	“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. (1) Replacing the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Drain fuel filter (water/dirt) 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	50 hrs or 1 mo	“4.3.2 Inspection Every 50 Hours (or Monthly) (1) Draining the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Raw-water pump impeller 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	1,000 hrs	“Note: The impeller must be replaced periodically (every 1000 hrs.).” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Air filter / intake silencer 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	300 hrs	“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (5) Cleaning the Intake Silencer” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Exhaust mixing elbow inspection 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	300 hrs	“Every 300 hrs ... Clean the exhaust/water mixing elbow” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Drive belts inspect / replace 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	300 hrs	“4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (2) Adjusting the Tension of the Cooling Water Pump Driving Belt.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Valve clearance check / adjust 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	600 hrs	“4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (3) Inspection and Adjustment of Intake/Exhaust Valve Clearance.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Injector test / service 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E	600 hrs	“4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (4) Inspecting and Adjusting the Fuel Injection Spray Condition.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org
Fuel filters & water separator 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE	300 hrs	“Replace the element every 300 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Replace engine oil filter 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE	300 hrs	“Oil filter replacement period ... Every 300 hours of engine operation” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Transmission fluid change 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE	150 hrs	“Change the oil after the first 50 hours of operation, and every 150 hours of operation thereafter.” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Air filter / intake silencer 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)	300 hrs	“Cleaning and Every 300 hours inspection of air filter” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Turbocharger inspection 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)	150 hrs	“Clean the blower: Everv 150 hours” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Turbocharger disassembly, cleaning and inspection 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo)	6,000 hrs or 1 yr	“3 months or 6 months or 12 months or 1500 hours 3000 hours 6000 hours ... Disassembly, cleaning and inspection of entire” — manufacturer, mason44.com
Thermostat: inspect every 500 h; replace every year or 2000 h 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE	2,000 hrs or 1 yr	“Replace the thermostat every year or 2000 hours of operation (whichever comes first).” — manufacturer, mason44.com

Service part numbers (11)

Oil filter	Yanmar 129150-35170 Replaces 129150-35153	“129150-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Yanmar Oil Filter 129150-35170 Marine Diesel 4JH 4JHE 4JH3” — dealer, dieselitems.com
Fuel filter non-turbo E models (4JHE, 4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4E)	Yanmar 129470-55810 Replaces 129470-55703	“129470-55810 Fuel Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “It fits Yanmar 3HM35F, 3JH2E, 4JH3, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4E, 4JHE, 4TNE84T engines. Cross Reference: 129470-55703” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com
Fuel filter 4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE (2007 on)	Yanmar 129574-55711	“Fuel Filter Element 1 129574-55711” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “4JH4-TE/HTE Basic Service Kit ... Fuel filter 129574-55711” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Raw-water impeller JH3 and JH4 generation (4JH3, 4JH4-E, -AE, -TE, -HTE)	Yanmar 129670-42531	“Impeller 1 129670-42531 / Impeller Gasket 1 119773-42570” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Impeller (129670-42531) & O-ring box kit, including face plate screws and lubricant.” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Raw-water impeller earlier 4JH and 4JH2 generation	Yanmar 129470-42532	“Impeller 1 129470-42532 / Impeller Gasket 1 24341-000600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Replaces: Impeller Numbers 129470-42530 , 129470-42531 , 129470-42532 ... Fits ... 4JHE , 4JH-TE , 4JH2E” — dealer, staycoolpumps.com
Drive belt 4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4-AE; 4JH4-TE before July 2006	Yanmar 25132-004600	“Alternator Belt 1 25132-004600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25132-004600 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Drive belt 4JH4-E	Yanmar 25152-004300	“Alternator Belt 1 25152-004300” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25152-004300 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Drive belt 4JH4-TE from July 2006 to serial E15601 (also 4JH4-HTE per Sea Sierra)	Yanmar 129671-42280	“Alternator Belt V-Belt 1 129671-42280 July 2006 > / < E15601” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Alternator Belt for Yanmar 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE (Replaces 129671-42280E, 129671-42280)” — dealer, seasierra.com
Drive belt 4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE from serial E15602 (120 A alternator)	Yanmar 129671-77680	“Alternator Belt Flat Belt 1 129671-77680 E15602 >” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “129671-77680 Serp Belt starting s/n # E15602” — dealer, oldportmarine.com
Air filter all except 4JH4-E	Yanmar 129470-12330	“Air Filter Element 1 129470-12330” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “It fits Yanmar 4JH110, 4JH2-TE, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4-TE, 4JH80, 4JHE engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com
Thermostat	Yanmar 129470-49801	“Thermostat 1 129470-49801 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129795-49551 / 129150-49811” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “compatible with ... 4JH2-E, 4JH2-HTE, 4JH2-TE, ... 4JH3-E, 4JH3-HTE, 4JH3-TE, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-E, 4JH4-TE, ... 4JH-E” — dealer, shop.marinedieselinc.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 (8)

hmy.com · nordictugs.com · passagemaker.com · trawlerforum.com · bluewateryachtsales.com · jmys.com · yachtr.com · west-yachts.com

Other Nordic Tug models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.