Advertisement

Nor-Tech 392 Superfish Boat Review

High performance meets superior fishability.
Nor-Tech 392 Super Fish in the ocean
LOA: 39 ft.; Beam: 10 ft.; Transom Deadrise: 21.5 deg.; Draft: 2 ft. 6 in. (engines down); Dry Weight: 17,000 lb. (w/ engines); Fuel: 465 gal.; Max HP: 1,800; MSRP: $1,063,193 (w/ test power) Courtesy Nor-Tech Boats

Nor-Tech built this 39-foot fishing platform on a double-stepped performance hull. With 1,800 hp in the form of four Mercury Racing 450 outboards, the 392 Superfish posted a top speed of 81.9 mph in my December test, even with the heavy upper-station superstructure.

The 10-foot-beam hull, equipped with SeaStar all-electric steering and digital throttle and shift, powered around turns like a barrel-racing horse, exhibiting zero side slip—a feat not all step-bottom boats can claim. Even though the flat-running attitude of the Nor-Tech gave us a butter-smooth ride, the design can accept a gyrostabilizer to add even more comfort for the offshore fishing crew.

392 Super Fish helm
The helm features an aircraft-quality windscreen and carbon-fiber dash panels. Courtesy Nor-Tech Boats

The aircraft-quality acrylic windscreen at the helm flared out on the sides to deflect wind away from the aft passengers. Carbon-fiber dash panels complement the true carbon-fiber-Kevlar hull construction; they add strength and rigidity to the dash panels to secure dual 22-inch Garmin displays. A 12-inch Garmin display on the upper station delivers data to the captain when he or she goes aloft, and two more 17-inch screens over the rigging station face aft, keeping the anglers engaged.

Advertisement

Belowdecks, a roomy compartment with a double berth and porcelain head also offers service access to the dash and battery switches for the four starting batteries, three trolling-motor batteries for the Rhodan trolling motor—a popular virtual-anchor choice for offshore bottom-fishing—and three more batteries for the electronics and stereo system with nearly three dozen speakers.

392 Super Fish tackle station
Nor-Tech included loads of features for anglers including a tackle station, twin livewells and tuna tubes. Courtesy Nor-Tech Boats

On the transom, two 65-gallon oval livewells and two tuna tubes keep baits lively. An enormous sea chest, with pre-installed spare pumps, feeds the pressurized tanks and the onboard raw-water washdown. I counted more than 80 Gemlux rod holders on my test boat as well as a pair of carbon-fiber outriggers with internal lines to reduce tangling and drag.

In the deck I found dual gear lockers with bucket racks and thousands of pounds of fish-box capacity. Interior cockpit height measured 24 inches aft, allowing a mate or angler to reach down to wire a fish.

Advertisement

Nor-Tech’s hulls are laid up in North Fort Myers, Florida, and shipped to St. Augustine, Florida, where the fishing team, led by billfish tournament champion Alden Thornton, rigs them to the exact specifications of a serious tournament angler. When Nor-Tech’s reputation for quality engineering and layup meets the talent of a committed tournament angler, we can be assured the 392 Superfish will live up to its name.

Read Next: More Saltwater Fishing Boat Reviews

392 Super Fish bow seating
The unobstructed bow area means anglers can walk a fish to the bow unimpeded. Courtesy Nor-Tech Boats

Hull Specs

LOA:39 ft.
Beam:10 ft.
Transom Deadrise:21.5 deg.
Draft:2 ft. 6 in. (engines down)
Dry Weight:17,000 lb. (w/ engines)
Fuel:465 gal.
Max HP:1,800
MSRP:$1,063,193 (w/ test power)

Performance

  • Engines: Quad Mercury Racing 450s
  • Load: Two crew, 200 gal. fuel, 50 gal. water
  • Time to 30 mph: 6.3 sec. Top speed: 81.9 mph @ 6,400 rpm Best MPG:  0.75 mpg @ 43.8 mph (4,000 rpm)

Nor-Tech Boats – Cape Coral, Florida; 239-567-5030

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement