| Nordlund 120 |  |
“There were several factors in our decision to build a larger boat,” the owner said. “Because of the way we run the boat, we wanted more stability, better performance and a bit more comfort. Not that the old boat wasn’t stable or comfortable. In fact, it was a great boat. I sold it to a friend of mine,” he added with a laugh, “and he’s still a friend, so I guess that proves the point.”Subscribing to the age-old Yankee premise, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Nordlund has employed the same successful design team for nearly every motor yacht the company has built in recent years, and Southern Way carries on the tradition. The boat’s lines and exterior styling are the work of Ed Monk Jr., while structural engineering and systems were handled by Tim Nolan. Monk’s lines for the 120-foot hull are fashioned to impart sea kindly manners in the chop-crested rollers for which the Pacific coasts of North and Central America are renowned. Southern Way’s captain, Brett Walker, has been with the owner for six years. This time has given him a highly developed knowledge of the program, thus allowing him to work closely with Nordlund during the boat’s construction.  “We’re not a yacht club boat,” Walker explained. “When the owner’s aboard, we’re moving and spend most nights at anchor in some nice place with no one around. During the day, we’re fishing and, again, we’re more likely to be somewhere remote—like up between La Paz and Loreto or over in Mag Bay—than around busy places like Cabo.” (Click image to enlarge)
The owner noted that it was because of this type of activity that he wanted the stability of a wider boat. To accommodate the design, Nordlund built an entirely new mold—the largest in its 47-year history—that includes tunnels to control draft. The boat’s additional length also enhances performance and provides increased stability under way
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 The master stateroom employs upholstered bulkhead panels to add both color and texture and to attenuate noise. (Click image to enlarge)
“It comes down to comfort,” he stated. “This boat’s only two feet wider than the last one, but it’s amazing the volume you get with the extra beam. It gives us much bigger staterooms, space for a separate dining room, lots more storage and a bigger California deck. The cockpit’s much bigger, too, and that makes the boat easier to fish.” Walker added, “You know how it can get when you’re stopped in a seaway, fishing with live bait or trolling slowly for several hours. The boat’s motion is really important. Sure, the 25-foot beam gives us more room inside, but it also gives us a nice, comfortable motion at sea and at anchor. That’s key.”
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