Nordic Tug 37 / 39
Built 1998–2015 by Nordic Tugs Inc.
About the Nordic Tug 37 / 39
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1998–2015
- Builder
- Nordic Tugs Inc.
- Length
- 39.17 ft
- Waterline
- 37.33 ft
- Beam
- 12.92 ft
- Draft
- 4.33 ft
- Displacement
- 22,600 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- semi-displacement
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 320 gal
- Water
- 144 gal
- Holding
- 32 gal
- Bow thruster
- standard
- Steering
- hydraulic
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 320 gal
“Fuel Capacity 320 gal. 1,211 L” — review (NT 39 (2014)), boattest.com · “Fuel Capacity: 320 Gallons” — search excerpt (2001 NT 37), shestakovyachtsales.com · “Fuel Capacity: 324 Gallons” — search excerpt (2007 NT 37), hmy.com · “Fuel Capacity: 350 Gallons” — search excerpt (2001 NT 37), mzyachts.comNo builder document; the 37/39 is no longer on the builder's website. BoatTest and most listings agree on 320 gal; the 324 and 350 figures are single listings.
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Water 144 gal
“Water Capacity 144 gal. 545 L” — review (NT 39 (2014)), boattest.com · “Total Water Capacity of 144 Gallons” — search excerpt (2005 NT 37), specialty-yachts.com · “Fresh Water Capacity (Gallons): 140” — search excerpt (2004 NT 37), seattleyachts.com · “Fresh Water: 150 Gallons (567.81 Liters)” — search excerpt (2009 NT 37), yachtworld.comBoatTest and one listing support 144 gal; other listings give 140–150. There's no builder source.
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Holding 32 gal
“Holding Tank: 32 Gallons (121.13 Liters)” — search excerpt (2009 NT 37), yachtworld.comOne listing supports our earlier figure of 32 gal.
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Water heater unknown
“Hot water heater capacity 7 gallons” — broker listing, trawlersgreatlakes.com · “Water Heater Capacity 11 gallons.” — broker listing, trawlersgreatlakes.comOnly broker spec sheets give sizes: 7 gal on a Nordic Tug 37 (hull 113) and 11 gal on a Nordic Tug 39, and the two lengths may simply differ. No builder standard-equipment list for the 37 or 39 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
“Handling is nearly effortless thanks to the well-arranged instrument panel, Morse single-lever control, hydraulic steeri” — review (2001), boats.com · “Base Price (delivered West Coast w/ Cumins 330B engine Northern Lights 5.5 KW genset bow thruster) $313,850” — review (2001), boats.comOne 2001 review calls the bow thruster standard and includes it in the base price, and a Mad Mariner test boat (reprinted by a broker) had one with its own AGM 4D battery. No builder list for the 37/39 or second review confirming it was found, so this rests on one review; the unit maker isn't stated.
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Stern thruster unknown
No source found mentions a stern thruster on the Nordic Tug 37/39.
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Steering hydraulic
“Morse single-lever control, hydraulic steering and the standard bow thruster” — review (2001), boats.comOne magazine review gives hydraulic steering, and a 2026 broker listing for a 37 mentions resealed hydraulic steering connections. The builder's later lists for the 34 and 44 specify manual hydraulic steering, consistent with this.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on standard engine (Nordic Tug 39) — left blank rather than guessed.
Over 200 built (minimum); called the 39 from 2013-15. Solid fiberglass hull with full prop-protecting keel. Single-stateroom layout added 2003; flybridge option from 2004. Bow thruster listed among standard features. Cruise 12-14 knots on a single 330 hp Cummins.
Engines fitted
-
Cummins 6BTA 5.9-M3 — 330 hp, diesel, single
standard
Single 330 hp Cummins on the 37 (12-14 kn cruise per HMY); Denison notes many older 37s have the 330 hp Cummins and its test boat named the 6BTA 5.9 M3.Sources: hmy.com · denisonyachtsales.com
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Cummins QSB 5.9 HO — 380 hp, diesel, single
standard
Later 37s: Denison's review calls the 380 hp QSB 5.9 the standard and only engine offered, with no twin option; BoatTEST tested the 39 with a single 380 hp QSB.Sources: denisonyachtsales.com · boattest.com
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Volvo Penta D6-370 — 370 hp, diesel, single
factory option
BoatTEST lists a single 370 hp Volvo D6 as the 39's standard power; only one source, so treated as an alternative to the Cummins until confirmed.Sources: boattest.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
Broker listings mostly show Northern Lights diesel sets, but sizes differ: 5 kW (a 37, hull 113), 5.5 kW (a 2000 37) and 9 kW (a 39). An owners' association sale notice lists an upgraded Onan 12 kW on a 2002 Nordic Tug 37, and no builder source says whether a generator was standard or optional.
Known problems for this model
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Wet exhaust overheating on older tugs exhaust
The Nordic Tug owners' association flags exhaust cracking and leaking on older 32 and 37 tugs; inspect fiberglass exhaust sections for brittleness and weeping.sentoa.org
Engines & parts
Cummins 6BT / 6BTA 5.9 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Cummins 6BTA 5.9-M3”
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.
Cummins QSB 5.9 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Cummins QSB 5.9 HO”
Electronically controlled (common-rail) successor to the mechanical 6BTA; current Cummins dealer network plus marine specialists such as Seaboard Marine supply parts. Electronic diagnostics require dealer tools more often than on the 6BTA.
Parts sources: Seaboard Marine, Diesel Pro Power
Common problems (3)
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Raw water pump leaks cooling
Owners most often report the seawater pump leaking or being replaced around 1000 hours; an improved pump version is available. Some also updated fuel coolers as a precaution.forums.ybw.com
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Aftercooler service and cracking cooling
As with the 6BTA, the aftercooler needs periodic removal and resealing; a cracked aftercooler is generally replaced rather than repaired.trawlerforum.com · facebook.com
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Burnt intake valves / loss of power engine
Seaboard Marine forum threads describe burnt valves and high-rpm power loss on some QSB 5.9s.sbmar.com
Service part numbers (5)
| Oil filter | Fleetguard (Cummins-specified) LF3959 Also: Cummins 3937743 |
“MMK001SK59 QSB5.9 Marine Service Kit ... LF3959 Oil Filter 1” — manufacturer, cummins.com |
| Fuel filter | Fleetguard (Cummins-specified) FF5488 | “MMK001SK59 QSB5.9 Marine Service Kit ... FF5488 Fuel Filter 1” — manufacturer, cummins.com |
| Fuel pre-filter / separator | Fleetguard (Cummins-specified) FS20402 | “MMK001SK59 QSB5.9 Marine Service Kit ... FS20402 FS Filter 1” — manufacturer, cummins.com |
| Drive belt serpentine belt, post-Jan 2008 QSB 5.9 with 21/22SI or 24SI alternator (brown belt) |
Cummins 4981117 | “Cummins Serpentine Belt for QSB 5.9 (post January 2008) 21/22 SI Alternator CPN 4981117 (BROWN)” — dealer, sbmar.com · “4981117 Alternator Belt for Cummins® QSB 5.9 Engine” — dealer, seapowermarine.com |
| Cummins QSB5.9 marine service kit (zincs, oil, fuel and FS filters, minor water-pump kit) | Cummins MMK001SK59 | “MMK001SK59 QSB5.9 Marine Service Kit” — manufacturer, cummins.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 · sentoa.org · denisonyachtsales.com · denisonyachtsales.com · boattest.com · trawlersgreatlakes.com · trawlersgreatlakes.com · boats.com
Other Nordic Tug models
- Nordic Tug 26 1980–1997
- Nordic Tug 32 / 34 1985–?
- Nordic Tug 42 / 44 1996–2019
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.