The name Norseman 500 might ring a bell for the wrong reason. In vintage off-road motorcycle circles, particularly Swedish motocross history, Norseman is a name from a completely different era of custom-built machinery. It’s easy to see why the name catches the eye.
But there’s no motorcycle here. And I was a little disappointed to find no Scandinavian heritage either, being part of my own. By this point, though, my curiosity was well and truly piqued. The Norseman 500C, more commonly known simply as the Norseman 500, is a 15.9-metre fast trawler motor yacht built by Hyshen Ship Building in Taiwan. It draws its name and its rugged offshore character from the Bob Perry-designed Norseman sailing yachts of the 1980s, reimagined here as a long-range, luxury motor yacht rather than a sailboat. Not quite the vintage machinery the name suggests, but there’s a traditional spirit to it all the same.
This particular 2012 example is currently for sale in Auckland through 36 Degrees Brokerage, priced at NZD $549,000.
The boat
Finished in white with blue and timber trim, this Norseman presents as clean, tidy and well cared for. It’s built for serious bluewater work: a generous 4.57m beam gives it the volume and stability long-distance cruisers look for, while a modest 1.15m draft opens up anchorages that deeper-drafted offshore yachts simply can’t reach.
At the stern, a good sized transom area leads to a deep diving platform, with access up either side rather than through the centre. A step up into the cockpit helps keep water out of the transom area, and each entryway has its own gate that closes off once underway. The teak throughout is nicely maintained. Seating here is practical enough for a party, with a table fitted with multiple cup holders that can also be dismantled and stowed when the rods come out.
Walkarounds are safe and easy, with high sides and rails the full length of the boat. Comfortable stairs with handholds all the way up lead from the transom area to the flybridge, with handy storage tucked under the stairs.
Flybridge
The flybridge is a genuine entertaining space, with seating easily for eight or more around a table, plus a handbasin and storage to the side. A lifting arm brings the tender up to flybridge level for stowage, an easy operation for cruising. The helm station up top is well equipped and comfortable, giving the skipper a commanding view over the boat.
Living areas
Down in the main living level, the interior takes on a distinctly Norse feel. The galley is well appointed with plenty of storage, and the seating area comfortably fits six or more around a fold-out table. Just forward of the galley sits the main helm, an excellent position to skipper the boat from with great visibility, and one that keeps the skipper part of the action rather than tucked away.
Forward again, the accommodation deck sleeps up to seven across a master cabin with a double island bed and dedicated storage, plus two further staterooms typically set up as a VIP double and a twin bunk room. Two separate, fully enclosed electric heads with hot water showers serve the cabins.
The pitch
The 2012 Norseman 500C is serious bluewater cruising built by a yard, Hyshen Ship Building, long respected for producing robust, well-engineered vessels for ocean passages. Twin Cummins engines and a protected lower helm mean heavy weather can be run from inside when needed, while the flybridge and cockpit cater to fair weather cruising and entertaining. With Auckland as its current base – New Zealand is its oyster – it’s ideally placed for Hauraki Gulf cruising or as a jumping-off point for the Sounds, Northland, or even the Pacific.
| Norseman 500C — Specs at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Length Overall | 15.9m |
| Beam | 4.57m |
| Draft | 1.15m |
| Accommodation | 3 cabins, sleeps 7 |
| Hull Type | Monohull |
| Price | NZD $549,000 |
| Location | Auckland |
| Broker | Trent Stillwell, 36 Degrees Brokerage +64 21 424 905 — trent@36degrees.nz |
Learn more: https://www.36degrees.nz/yacht-boat-sales-auckland-new-zealand/boat/norseman-500c
