Helmsman Trawlers, single-engine cruisers built in China and popular on the West Coast, now have a demo boat for sale in the Chesapeake area. The new Helmsman Trawlers 38E will be at Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island, across the bay from Annapolis; it will be displayed at the Annapolis power show in October.
Built in Fuzhou, China, Helmsman are designed for owners who want a quality cruising boat but don’t want to overpay for one. They are sold factory direct, to reduce costs to consumers. The Helmsman line runs from 31 to 43 feet.
The 38E has a unique “low rise” pilothouse, with great visibility; it’s open to the full-beam salon. A convertible settee in the pilothouse doubles as a pilot berth; an L-shaped settee in the salon converts to a bed. An appealing feature of the Helmsman 38E is that the dinette and day head can be enclosed to create a private suite; an optional layout includes a dedicated second stateroom for guests. The interior is filled with warm teak, and there’s a teak and holly sole, although there is no exterior teak in order to reduce maintenance.
Up top, the flybridge is set back on the boat a bit to maintain a lower profile and reduce windage. The cockpit aft is protected by the overhang from the boat deck. Wide stairs leading to the flybridge from both sides of the cockpit are practical and safe.
The boat is powered by a single 250-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 electronically controlled common rail diesel. Other engine options go up to 480-hp. A Vetus bow thruster is standard.
Specs.: LOA: 40’10”; Beam: 13’9”; Draft: 3’6”; Disp.: 32,000 lbs.; Fuel: 400 gals.; Water: 145 gals.; Power: 1x 250-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 diesel; Base Price: $409,000. For more:
