Traditional pilothouse cruising yachts have long been popular in Pacific Northwest waters, where adverse weather conditions often stress the importance of a secure inside helm position. A handsome boat, the Nordic 500 Motor Yacht is a true raised pilothouse design with good all-around cruising capabilities. Because these boats were built on a semi-custom basis, each Nordic 500 is to some extent a personalized yacht reflecting the tastes and priorities of her owner. The standard interior layout called for three staterooms and two heads forward (both with stall showers) with the pilothouse raised five steps up from the salon level. The level of finish throughout is very good. A practical and versatile yacht, a few of the more notable features found aboard the 500 include wide, protected side decks, a very large cockpit with a transom door, flybridge storage for a Whaler, and an efficient and notably seaworthy hull. With the optional 450hp 6-71 diesels, the cruising speed of the Nordic 500 is a respectable 20 knots and the top speed is 23–24 knots.