The Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 vs Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 at 42,4 ft versus Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 at 45,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 tips the scales at 33 069 lbs — 9 920 lbs less than the Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 at 23 149 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 carries a rated maximum of 55 hp. Engine data for the Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 displaces 33 069 lbs — a 9 920-lb difference over the Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 at 23 149 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,1 ft and 6,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 is rigged as a Sloop while the Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 carries fractional_rig_sloop rigging — a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably. The Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 has a documented auxiliary engine of 55 hp.
Bottom line: The Nordship Yachts Nordship 46 DS Custom 2012 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 33 069 lbs displacement and 45 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Nordship Yachts Nordship 40 DS 2005 at 23 149 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.