Lord Nelson Victory Tug (LNVT)

About the Owners (current and former)

Natalie Ambrose- is a marketing and market research consultant, whose specialty is analyzing long term trends as well as the competitive environment for organizations and corporations. She spends her time between Washington DC (where she grew up) and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Having crewed and cruised on OPB's for years, she finally took the proverbial plunge and got this her first boat, primarily to use as a moving, waterfront "retreat" on the Chesapeake Bay! Long a sailboater and loathing stink-pot "Clorox bottles", but wanting something spacious, economical, and not too dependent on the Chesapeake's dearth of wind, she saw her first Lord Nelson Tug and instantly was smitten … by its wide walk-around decks, its interior teak, the quality of its construction, its jaunty sheer! It makes her smile and of course everyone who sees them together usually smile also! As Natalie read once … "Life is too short (and boats too expensive) to own an ugly boat"! She first spied the former "Little Toot" on Yacht World. Once she acquired her, Natalie joined in the delivery from Beaufort, NC to the Chesapeake.

Happily and six years later, "ALI" swings fetchingly from a mooring ball in a peaceful cove near Annapolis, Maryland. From May to October, Natalie says she tries to spend as much time as possible with her little tugboat. Besides polishing what seems like endless amounts of 'glass, avoiding boat yards, and shoeing away nest-building Ospreys (who seem to have a particular fondness for the Lord Nelson's pitched pilothouse roof), Natalie lives the good life onboard — gunkholing, reading, writing, entertaining friends, family, and assorted pets. Probably her favorite thing is diving from the high gunwales into the water for an early morning swim … that is, before jellyfish season kicks in! And time permitting, she and "Ali" love to go cruising — last Summer they went to Philadelphia; this year the goal is Manhattan and Long Island Sound. In other words, the kind of lifestyle you too could have if you owned a Lord Nelson Victory Tug!!

Natalie is always happy to show people the boat and tell anyone who will listen why these tug-trawlers are so wonderful. And Natalie has grown alot in confidence and boat handling ability during these past 6 years — she's even getting her USCG Captain's License — and says that she will always cherish this boat-owning phase in her life, made particularly special by owning such a truly memorable, unique, and well-built boat! One other thing … Natalie and "Alegria" remain in contact with former owner Ronnie Fram and visit with him and his new "Little Toot" (a 42' Nordic Tug, with flybridge), during their annual Summer cruise from North Carolina up the Chesapeake. Natalie thinks this is a particularly good sign, especially for such a big-ticket investment … "the fact that the former owner hasn't disappeared and that he and I have actually become friends, makes me know I got a very good boat indeed!

And what does her name mean? "Alegria" means "Happiness", in Spanish … and this is oh so true! :)

Ronnie Frahm- Was in the business supplies business. Little Toot was used mostly for long weekends and cruised the ICW to Washington, DC. He made many changes and upgrades including the engine and transmission replacement, installed a water flow meter, had bug screens made, and installed fuel tank level indicators. After selling Little Toot he bought a Nordic Tug 42.

Osborn- Kept Nora Celest on a lake in Atlanta before moving her to Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head Island, SC. According to Ronnie Frahm, she was used in boat shows on the east coast.

Layout

• Stairs between Pilothouse and Salon are to starbord
• Pilot house has single engine-room floor-hatch to port
• Straight salon settee to port
• Galley to port
• Stateroom has offset double v-berth, a hanging locker to port, and a long double seat to starboard

Mechanical and Engine Detail

• Diesel Yanmar #4LHA-HTP, 154-hp turbocharged water cooled (new in 2003; current 596-hours)
• Generator: Northern Lights 4.5K-watt w/ sound shield, Model# NLTF-276K. Driven by a Lugger three cylinder, freshwater cooled diesel (new in 2003; current 123-hours)
• Transmission: Borg Warner model# 10-18-010; ratio transmission is 2.5:1
• Bow Thurster: Sleipner 12-volt Side-Power, model# SP75T Dual Prop forward, equipped with safety overload protection and joystick control
• Filters: primary are Double Racor #500 (2009); Algae-X magnetic fuel filter system
• Propeller: Michigan Workhorse — bronze 4-blade fixed 24x14
• PSS Dripless stuffing box shaft seal

Electronics & Navigation Equipment

• Garmin 3006C "All-In-One" GPS color chartplotter, with depth and speed reader, sonar and fishfinder, w/ 6.4" color LCD screen (2007)
• VHF radio(s): Icom IC-M56 VHF radio; Horizon Eclipse+
• 8" Ritchie Compass mounted in polished brass cowl
• Raytheon ST6000 12-volt autopilot w/ remote
• Million+ candlepower RayLine 10” spotlight w/ remote search light control
• Kahlenberg tug air horn w/ compressor

Electrical

• Generator: Northern Lights 4.5K-watt w/ sound shield, Model# NLTF-276K (new in 2003; current 123-hours)
• DC to AC Inverter: Prosine 1000 watt
• Battery Charger: TrueCharge 40 amp three step automatic marine-grade
• Batteries: Three (3) 4D batteries (2007)
• Alternator: Delco 108 (115 ah)
• Electric Head: Jabsco
• 12 volt DC system, lighting and outlets throughout
• 110 volt AC system, lighting and outlets throughout
• VDO duel fuel gauges and sending units

Deck & Hull

• Windlass: Maxwell Nilsson electric 12-volt windlass with deck foot switch
• Saltwater anchor wash system
• Anchors: Primary: 65-lb steel Forfjord #6, with 250-feet of 3/8” BBB galvanized chain. Secondary: aluminum Fortress FX-23 Danforth-style, with 10-feet of chain and 200-feet of three strand nylon rode
• Movable Genoa tracks along each side serve as fender anchors
• Bilge Pump(s): Primary is a manual diaphragm-style pump with suction line lead deep to the bilge area aft of the main engine. Secondary is a Rule#750 12-volt submersible, equipped with an integral automatic sensing device and manual override switch
• Smokestack (non-functioning) on upper deck serves as the propane locker
• (2) Bomar cockpit hatch-covers provide access to aft lazarette

Tankage

• Diesel Fuel: 240 gallons, stored in four separate tanks. All tanks are filled via common fills port and starboard and are equipped with VDO Fuel sending units and a common 12-volt gauge
• Water: 85 gallons, stored in four separate stainless steel tanks
• Holding: 55-liter flexible rubber holding tank
• Hot water heater: 12-gallon stainless steel, with cumulative water consumption flow meter as well as an accumulator tank

Comfort & Convenience

• Cruisair reverse cycle marine HVAC system, 16,000 BTU and SMX II microprocessor control
• Grunert (Adler Barbour) 11 cubic foot top-load refrigerator/freezer box system; 12-volt seawater cooled, with three eutectic (cold) holding plates
• Built-in liquor cabinet for wines & spirits
• All settees, chairs, and v-berth have been professionally re-upholstered with Sunbrella fabric, in nautical patterns (2006)
• Fold-out stool for helmsman in pilothouse — originally a mast-seat from a Hinkley Bermuda
• Force 10 LP propane cabin heater
• Shakespeare TV antenna
• JVC Stereo (FM/AM/CD) w/ (2) Polyplanar speakers
• (2) TV/Phone outlets
• (2) 18”x18”x24” Frigid rigid super-insulated coolers (stowed on the upper deck)

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