The Helmsman Trawler 38E just won the People’s Choice Award at Seattle Trawlerfest, quite an honor considering there were 45 other boats, from 23 to 72 feet, lining the docks there. The 38E is Helmsman’s most popular model, with a raised pilothouse, flybridge, large master cabin and a full-beam salon.
Helmsman Trawlers are built in Fuzhou, China, and are designed for owners who want a quality cruising boat but don’t want to overpay for one. The Helmsman line runs from 31 to 43 feet, and the boats all provide classic trawler amenities and coastal cruising possibilities. They are particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest, although they are growing in numbers on the East Coast as well.
The 38E has what the company calls a “low rise” pilothouse, meaning it’s only two steps up from the salon, with open access between the two. The pilothouse is designed for long-range cruising, with an L-shaped settee that can double as a pilot berth on the port side, with a table. Two doors open out to the side decks.
In the salon, a U-shaped settee converts to a bed on the starboard side, and there are two occasional chairs to port. The galley is forward, to port. An appealing feature of the Helmsman is that the dinette and the day head can be enclosed to create a private suite. An optional layout includes a dedicated second stateroom. The master stateroom is forward, with its own head and shower. 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.
The flybridge is set aft a bit to maintain a lower profile, and the overhang from the boat deck protects the cockpit aft. Wide stairs leading to the flybridge from the sidedecks are practical and safe.
Most owners cruise the Helmsman 38 at trawler speeds of 7 or 8 knots. The boat is powered by a single 250-hp Cummins electronically controlled common rail diesel. A Vetus bow thruster is standard.
Specs.: LOA: 40’10”; Beam: 13’11”; Draft: 4’0”; Disp.: 30,000 lbs.; Fuel: 400 gals.; Water: 145 gals.; Power: 1×250-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 diesel.
