According to Stan Streech at Nordhavn, "NO WAY!!!!!!!!! The order for hull #1 is alive and well and in fact, she is in lamination as my skinny decrepit old fingers type this. There may be some confusion because the original order for N120 hull #1 was indeed cancelled last year during the depths of the financial crisis. In October of 2009 however, a replacement Buyer stepped forward and all was well again."
Where does Nordhavn get the nerve...... to charge $20,000,000 for the N120, when for instance, Outer Reef Yachts is willing to build their 118' Expedition Yacht in steel (presumably more expensive?) for $12,000,000? I've seen other complaints on various forums regarding that price, too, so I'm not the only "crank" confused by that price. Not trying to stir the pot or nuthin', and I'm certainly not trying to get a flame war started against Nordhavn, but I truly don't understand.
First Hull It looks like Nordhavn has updated the photos of the 120 with the release of the first hull out of the molds. There are six new photos (newest at the top) under the Construction/Tooling collection. http://www.nordhavn.com/120/slideshow/
They recently added more new pics of the hull under construction on their website. The link posted above gets you there.
Look at the draft, 9'. That's pushing a lot of water around, a lot of wetted surface and drag, which takes some power, and seriously limits your cruising areas.
Nordhavn put up two videos on their website of the progress of the 120' "Aurora"...Here is one of them. N120 - Interview with Trever Smith - YouTube
I wouldn't have thought that the davit on the foredeck would already be installed at this point in the production timeline.
Enclosed flybridge? Looks like the new owner decided to have the flybridge enclosed instead of the open style shown on the concept drawings and ga plans/profiles. I suppose this is bcse they will be cruising mainly in chillier northern seas?
I must salute nordhavn for their marketing! it is one of the greatest success stories in yachting i'm sure! As for buying one, I'd much rather purchase a 40m from a reputable european yard with the same budget... (in steel/alum)... Personally i was also very unimpressed with the N86 i visited last MIBS, but this isnt on topic...
Well marketing of any yacht line furthermore the flagship of the line-offering has to be good to keep people interested in it. Showing the public multiple progress reports along the build process is a good way of doing that so they can see from start to end, how the project evolved. Rather than just seeing a finished boat and having no idea what went on behind the scenes. That is the modern way of pushing products I guess.