If a custom high-performance powerboat company is really custom, it stands to reason that a few new models—maybe more than a few—will be customer-driven. Such was the case, for example, with the Nor-Tech 50 Sport center console, which the byproduct of demand of demand from clients Jesse and Stephanie Neumann and the creative team led by Nils Johnsen at the Cape Coral, Fla., company. Such also holds true for the 55 Flyer, which though always part of the builder’s long-term plan for the series was driven my repeat Nor-Tech Red Reynolds.
But first, a little background on Reynolds, who original hails from Wisconsin but spends most of his time in Southwest Florida. In 2011, he took delivery of the Lady Lisa, Nor-Tech’s first 80-foot sport yacht. Some 12 years after he ordered the 80-footer, he commissioned Nor-Tech to build the first 55 Flyer, which is powered by four 600-hp V-12 outboard engines from Mercury Marine. So equipped, the 55-footer tops delivers impressive performance.
“The 600s are the perfect power package for this platform,” explained Trond Schou, the co-founder of the company. “It’s essentially a mini yacht with joystick controls, and yet still performs in the high 70’s speed-wise.
“We have equipped nine of our larger boats—450, 500 and 552s models—with the 600-hp V-12 packages,” he added. “But the vast majority of our boats will get Mercury Racing product…