Another new start for Helmsman - Page 10

bowball · 10-08-2021, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom-Jill-Lilly

Cool. Lucky Helmsman. Looks like ours (51) will be starting in Nov.

The Helmsman's look great inside. So beamy without the side decks and the materials and layout appear really nice.

Helmsman · 10-08-2021, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom-Jill-Lilly

Cool. Lucky Helmsman. Looks like ours (51) will be starting in Nov.

Yes. My boat is under way. Beginning to look like a boat!

FWT · 10-09-2021, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Yes. My boat is under way. Beginning to look like a boat!

Congratulations! Exciting news.

Nancy n Larry · 10-09-2021, 11:05 AM

We are #52! Picked out all our Furuno systems last week. Getting excited. Best of luck everyone!

Tom-Jill-Lilly · 10-09-2021, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Yes. My boat is under way. Beginning to look like a boat!

Hi Helmsman, that's sure is exciting! Do you have a picture or two you can share?

Water Music · 10-09-2021, 11:40 PM

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

Nancy n Larry · 10-09-2021, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Music

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

Congratulations to you and the Helmsman team! Yay!!!

Doug_Snider · 10-10-2021, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Music

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

It’s amazing what Scott and his team did. They left Astoria yesterday morning and crossed the treacherous Astoria bar. The traveled up the coast and transited the Strait of Juan de Fuca during gale warnings. The 38E had no electronics permanently installed. A portable radar was attached with bungee cords. I’d love to see Scott do a blog post on this journey. It says a lot for the boat and for the Helmsman team. Congratulations on your new boat.

Nancy n Larry · 10-10-2021, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug_Snider

It’s amazing what Scott and his team did. They left Astoria yesterday morning and crossed the treacherous Astoria bar. The traveled up the coast and transited the Strait of Juan de Fuca during gale warnings. The 38E had no electronics permanently installed. A portable radar was attached with bungee cords. I’d love to see Scott do a blog post on this journey. It says a lot for the boat and for the Helmsman team. Congratulations on your new boat.

Yes, it would be very interesting to know how long total hours it took from Astoria to Cape Flattery. Quite a trip for sure!

Helmsman · 10-10-2021, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug_Snider

It’s amazing what Scott and his team did. They left Astoria yesterday morning and crossed the treacherous Astoria bar. The traveled up the coast and transited the Strait of Juan de Fuca during gale warnings. The 38E had no electronics permanently installed. A portable radar was attached with bungee cords. I’d love to see Scott do a blog post on this journey. It says a lot for the boat and for the Helmsman team. Congratulations on your new boat.

Crazy trip. Glad they made it in safe and sound. Good people taking care of their customers! Certainly gives me a lot of confidence in the boat.

FWT · 10-10-2021, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug_Snider

It’s amazing what Scott and his team did. They left Astoria yesterday morning and crossed the treacherous Astoria bar. The traveled up the coast and transited the Strait of Juan de Fuca during gale warnings. The 38E had no electronics permanently installed. A portable radar was attached with bungee cords. I’d love to see Scott do a blog post on this journey. It says a lot for the boat and for the Helmsman team. Congratulations on your new boat.

Just wow.

A worthy boat.

Confidence in the boat to do it.

Seamanship.

FWT · 10-10-2021, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Music

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

Congratulations!

Helmsman · 10-10-2021, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Music

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

Congratulations!

Hobomack · 10-10-2021, 05:28 PM

This will deflate the Homeric proportions established by the previous posts...

WATER MUSIC waited on the dock in Longview for nearly two weeks due to labor shortages caused by very busy port facilities. The boat was finally put into the water by a friendly and helpful crew in Longview on Wednesday morning and then towed to a place where we could connect the batteries, get the engine running, and check the systems. We then proceeded 42 nm down the Columbia for a few days in Astoria to ready the boat for the trip to Seattle. But the weather forecast looked bad and (tip of the cap to Commander's Weather Service and their personalized and very detailed trip planning forecasts) we decided to get underway on Friday to beat what could be as much as a month of prohibitive and repetitive weather systems.

Accompanying Van and myself was Dave Carleson, one of our salespeople, who has done this trip in everything but a coracle I think, and who is a hardy and pleasant watchstander too. The personalized forecast and Dave were both invaluable.

From the Columbia bar crossing at slack tide of 0815 to the turn into Juan de Fuca at Cape Flattery took about 17 hours.

Thankfully we knew from our personalized forecast to hug the coast at about 5 miles, instead of the usual distance farther offshore, so the conditions were mostly benign. The worst winds and waves were encountered in Puget Sound on Saturday afternoon, as Commander's had predicted.

The total trip from Astoria to Seattle took 34.5 hours, including the Ballard Locks and a brief stop enroute to change the transmission break-in fluid and filter.

Confidence in the boat, yes, but a lot of preparation and safety equipment too, just in case.

All-in-all a fine adventure and the boat performed and handled (hand-steered all the way) beautifully. Nonetheless, we're hoping the shipping situation allows us to get bookings to Seattle again soon.

We're looking forward to WATER MUSIC's Canadian owners taking delivery, and to hearing about their adventures. She's had a good shakedown!

Scott Helker
Helmsman Trawlers

Nancy n Larry · 10-10-2021, 05:35 PM

Oh wow! Such an incredible journey and accounting of your trip! We have been waiting for the details! Thank you so much for posting!

FWT · 10-10-2021, 06:05 PM

OK, the modesty is admirable Scott.

But the seamanship comment stands! Preparation. Acquisition of a good read on weather, the right plan, and the right crew for the trip. An important part of seamanship that avoids more "excitement."

Helmsman · 10-10-2021, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobomack

This will deflate the Homeric proportions established by the previous posts...

WATER MUSIC waited on the dock in Longview for nearly two weeks due to labor shortages caused by very busy port facilities. The boat was finally put into the water by a friendly and helpful crew in Longview on Wednesday morning and then towed to a place where we could connect the batteries, get the engine running, and check the systems. We then proceeded 42 nm down the Columbia for a few days in Astoria to ready the boat for the trip to Seattle. But the weather forecast looked bad and (tip of the cap to Commander's Weather Service and their personalized and very detailed trip planning forecasts) we decided to get underway on Friday to beat what could be as much as a month of prohibitive and repetitive weather systems.

Accompanying Van and myself was Dave Carleson, one of our salespeople, who has done this trip in everything but a coracle I think, and who is a hardy and pleasant watchstander too. The personalized forecast and Dave were both invaluable.

From the Columbia bar crossing at slack tide of 0815 to the turn into Juan de Fuca at Cape Flattery took about 17 hours.

Thankfully we knew from our personalized forecast to hug the coast at about 5 miles, instead of the usual distance farther offshore, so the conditions were mostly benign. The worst winds and waves were encountered in Puget Sound on Saturday afternoon, as Commander's had predicted.

The total trip from Astoria to Seattle took 34.5 hours, including the Ballard Locks and a brief stop enroute to change the transmission break-in fluid and filter.

Confidence in the boat, yes, but a lot of preparation and safety equipment too, just in case.

All-in-all a fine adventure and the boat performed and handled (hand-steered all the way) beautifully. Nonetheless, we're hoping the shipping situation allows us to get bookings to Seattle again soon.

We're looking forward to WATER MUSIC's Canadian owners taking delivery, and to hearing about their adventures. She's had a good shakedown!

Scott Helker
Helmsman Trawlers

Sounds like a good run to me. Would have been a fun trip.

Doug_Snider · 10-14-2021, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Music

“Water Music” hull number 44 arrived in Seattle this evening thanks to Scott and Van Helker steaming her from Longview WA on the Columbia River. Shipping from China to North America is in a mess but the Helker’s persevered and after many delays finally got the boat booked on a general cargo ship calling at Longview instead of the container ships calling Seattle. There were still delays at both ends of the voyage but she is finally here. A couple of weeks for commissioning and installation of electronics and we should take delivery before the end of October. Getting excited.

Helmsman Trawlers put some photos of the maiden voyage on Instagram today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVBp0gfP...dium=copy_link

Helmsman · 10-18-2021, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom-Jill-Lilly

Hi Helmsman, that's sure is exciting! Do you have a picture or two you can share?

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have seen some pictures, but can't produce those. When it starts "looking like a boat" I may post a couple. I believe mine is pretty close to being pulled from the molds, so Doug's will be started very soon, if not already.

Doug_Snider · 10-18-2021, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have seen some pictures, but can't produce those. When it starts "looking like a boat" I may post a couple. I believe mine is pretty close to being pulled from the molds, so Doug's will be started very soon, if not already.

On September 9, Scott said he expected our build to start by the end of that month. Halfway through October, we haven’t seen anything yet. it looks like the schedule is slipping a little.