The North Pacific 49 Pilothouse is a sturdy, no-nonsense, long-range coastal trawler that’s easy for an owner-operator to run – and to maintain. Indeed, there’s no exterior teak at all, although the boat has a rich teak interior, down to the teak-and-holly sole.
The standard power is a single 355-hp Cummins diesel, which produces cruising speeds in the 7- to 10-knot range. Other engines are available, including twins or get-home engines. With a single, the boat has a hefty skeg to protect the running gear. The large rudder and bow thruster make dockside maneuvering easy, and a stern thruster is optional.
The heart of the North Pacific 49 is the raised pilothouse. It has a raked windshield, twin adjustable helm chairs, and an L-shaped settee that can be converted to a pilot berth while underway. Side doors open to the foredeck and to stairs that lead aft up to the fly bridge.
Up there, the hardtop is standard, and the helm is centered with a seat for two. An L-shaped settee and table are on the starboard side; a bench seat is to port. The boat deck is aft.
The salon, with a first-class fit and finish, is full beam, which is unusual in this size boat. The side windows are large, so it’s filled with light. The galley is forward to port and it’s made for cruising, with a full-sized fridge, lots of storage, and granite counters. A large bar area is aft.
A centerline door leads to the cockpit. It has twin boarding doors and a center transom walkthrough to the integral swim platform.
The 49 comes with three layout options on the accommodations deck: Two staterooms with two heads; three staterooms with two heads, and a full-beam midship master with the VIP cabin forward, with two heads.
North Pacific Yachts was founded in 2003 by John Brice and his son Trevor, who knew what they wanted in a new trawler and couldn’t find it on the market. They decided to build their own. Since then the company has built more than 130 yachts; the fleet now runs from 44 to 59 feet.
Several years ago, I tested a new North Pacific with Trevor, who now runs the company, in Vancouver, and I was impressed by the quality of the build, inside and out. North Pacific knows how to build a solid, comfortable cruising boat.
Specs.: LOA: 51’4”; Beam: 15’5”; Draft: 4’10”; Disp.: 48,000 lbs.; Fuel: 500 gals.; Water: 350 gals.: Power: 1×355-hp Cummins QSB diesel. Read more:
