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A day later, when the rain abated, I had another chance to go aboard the Fjord 40 and to admire her features in a whole new light. As I studied the handsome teak decking on the aft deck, swim platform, side decks, and foredeck, Harrison pointed out that it was vacuum-bagged to the decks, leaving no holes for water intrusion or bungs that might need to be replaced. The aft deck is dominated by a substantial drop-leaf, hi-lo table and a pair of facing settees that can accommodate up to eight guests. The seatbacks are reversible, so both settees can face either forward or aft; for dining, they can both face the table between them. With the table lowered, the whole shebang converts to a sunpad that's about seven feet long and eight feet wide. And if that isn't enough, the deck beneath lifts on hydraulic rams, offering open access to the remarkably uncluttered engine room below. Unfortunately there's no ladder down to the engine room, making for an awkward climb into and out of the space, especially if the motors are too hot to touch.
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Speaking of hot, the bright, warm Florida sun made the on-deck galley area all the more appealing. Located just forward of the dinette (and abaft the helm area), the galley sports a stainless steel sink and a two-burner cooktop fueled by diesel rather than propane or electricity, so there's no need to have a genset or a second fuel source for cooking. Beneath the sink is a teak drawer for bottle stowage, while under the cooktop a stack of teak drawers with adjustable pegs securely stows dishes and glasses of varying sizes. Clever, but what really caught my eye was the magnetic closure on each drawer; push it almost closed and a magnetic piston pulls it tight, ensuring a soft but secure closure every time.
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The Fjord 40's facing settees form a pleasant alfresco area. |
With all the open deck space on the Fjord 40, I had no great expectations for the lower deck area, and was therefore not too disappointed when I went below. To port is a modest but nicely appointed head with wet shower, while on the starboard side there's a small settee and a berth for wee ones. The main berth is in the bow, flanked by stowage lockers but no hanging locker.
But hey, she was not designed as a cruising yacht. She's a dayboat, and a real classy one at that. She's also fast, well built, and a great performer. But maybe best of all, wherever she goes, she'll turn heads.
For more information on Fjord Boats, including contact information, click here.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Wallas Stove
If you want to cook aboard, you generally have two choices. On boats with a genset, electric cooktops are customary, while those without a genset usually carry some other fuel for cooking: propane or alcohol in tanks or maybe charcoal for a grill.
But if your boat burns diesel fuel, you can use the Wallas stove, which has a ceramic surface like an electric cooktop and is fueled by the same diesel your engines use. Flush-mounted and vented, it can also be fitted with a lid that transforms it into a forced-air heating unit.—G.L.P.
Scan Marine Equipment
(206) 285-3675
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This article originally appeared in the June 2008
issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
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