Another new start for Helmsman

[Helmsman]

Well, the boat is progressing with the finish on the interior moving along. As most folks know, the progress on all boat builds has been slowed with the supply chain issues, so we now expect that the boat will arrive later in the year. Here are some snapshots of the boat as of a week ago or so. The finishes are beginning to take on the well known quality of the Helmsman products!

One of the areas we needed to decide on a couple of months ago was the AC electrical capacity on the boat. We settled on the two 30 amp feeds, which is standard, as opposed to a 50 amp feed. That will provide 7,200 watts of power as opposed to the 12,000 watts a 50 amp would provide. With no 220 volt appliances, we went with the 30 amp in order to get the two Victron shore power isolators, which is also standard. This will provide some protection from the trips people are experiencing due to the upgrades to elci breakers at pedestals.

While there are 50 amp isolators available, they are much heavier and bulkier. I had the same setup on a previous boat, and it wasn't much of an issue. Power management is always a variable on a boat.

[Nick14]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Well, the boat is progressing with the finish on the interior moving along. As most folks know, the progress on all boat builds has been slowed with the supply chain issues, so we now expect that the boat will arrive later in the year. Here are some snapshots of the boat as of a week ago or so. The finishes are beginning to take on the well known quality of the Helmsman products!

One of the areas we needed to decide on a couple of months ago was the AC electrical capacity on the boat. We settled on the two 30 amp feeds, which is standard, as opposed to a 50 amp feed. That will provide 7,200 watts of power as opposed to the 12,000 watts a 50 amp would provide. With no 220 volt appliances, we went with the 30 amp in order to get the two Victron shore power isolators, which is also standard. This will provide some protection from the trips people are experiencing due to the upgrades to elci breakers at pedestals.

While there are 50 amp isolators available, they are much heavier and bulkier. I had the same setup on a previous boat, and it wasn't much of an issue. Power management is always a variable on a boat.

Is that hull color 'Kingston Grey'?

[NSM]

We toured the boat shown in the video and it sealed the deal for us. It is beautiful and we get to add our own personal touch. I added the extra house batteries and am working towards a 1kw solar set. It will be here in late May.

We decided to skip the Seakeeper after talking to Scott about the boat and where the majority of our boating will be. We can add it later if needed. Easy install.

And my wife selected a light blue stripe to make it pop.

Can’t wait

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Nick14

Is that hull color 'Kingston Grey'?

Sure is, Nick.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by NSM

We toured the boat shown in the video and it sealed the deal for us. It is beautiful and we get to add our own personal touch. I added the extra house batteries and am working towards a 1kw solar set. It will be here in late May.

We decided to skip the Seakeeper after talking to Scott about the boat and where the majority of our boating will be. We can add it later if needed. Easy install.

And my wife selected a light blue stripe to make it pop.

Can’t wait

Congratulations! Exciting times! I think the stripe looks great, too. Are you getting a 43 or 38?

[Nick14]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Sure is, Nick.

Thank you! It looks great!!

[NSM]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Congratulations! Exciting times! I think the stripe looks great, too. Are you getting a 43 or 38?

The 43. It ticks all the boxes

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by NSM

The 43. It ticks all the boxes

I really like the profile of the 43. The hull is about a foot higher, I think, than the 38. I think you will be really happy with it. Are you staying with the two stateroom layout or altering the second stateroom to another use?

[NSM]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

I really like the profile of the 43. The hull is about a foot higher, I think, than the 38. I think you will be really happy with it. Are you staying with the two stateroom layout or altering the second stateroom to another use?

We’ll keep the stateroom. That’s one of our ticked boxes. I feel bad for Roger and Scott. I pester them daily with ideas. 😃

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by NSM

We’ll keep the stateroom. That’s one of our ticked boxes. I feel bad for Roger and Scott. I pester them daily with ideas. ��

Helmsman43, a poster on this forum, and a good friend of mine, eliminated the second state room in lieu of the head opening into his state room, and I think a slightly larger master. He is having a W/D put into the area where a portion of the second bed room was.

Just another example of the ability to customize the interior with a Helmsman! When you have time, take us through the options you have decided on.

[Nancy and Rick]

Originally Posted by NSM

... working towards a 1kw solar set...

NSM how are you thinking of getting 1kw of solar on your boat? How many panels and how might you arrange them?

We are looking at 3 x 225w panels on the pilot house but haven't come up with how to add more.

Rick

[NSM]

Originally Posted by Nancy and Rick

NSM how are you thinking of getting 1kw of solar on your boat? How many panels and how might you arrange them?

We are looking at 3 x 225w panels on the pilot house but haven't come up with how to add more.

Rick

I have a 225 panel on my ranger tug and it’s not that big. I asked them to check into three larger panels. I haven’t measured yet but I suspect a 300 or 350 watt panel is available that will fit the space. Haven’t solved it yet but I think we’ll get close.

[Nancy n Larry]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Well, the boat is progressing with the finish on the interior moving along. As most folks know, the progress on all boat builds has been slowed with the supply chain issues, so we now expect that the boat will arrive later in the year. Here are some snapshots of the boat as of a week ago or so. The finishes are beginning to take on the well known quality of the Helmsman products!

One of the areas we needed to decide on a couple of months ago was the AC electrical capacity on the boat. We settled on the two 30 amp feeds, which is standard, as opposed to a 50 amp feed. That will provide 7,200 watts of power as opposed to the 12,000 watts a 50 amp would provide. With no 220 volt appliances, we went with the 30 amp in order to get the two Victron shore power isolators, which is also standard. This will provide some protection from the trips people are experiencing due to the upgrades to elci breakers at pedestals.

While there are 50 amp isolators available, they are much heavier and bulkier. I had the same setup on a previous boat, and it wasn't much of an issue. Power management is always a variable on a boat.

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing can’t wait to see ours at that stage!

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Nick14

Thank you! It looks great!!

Thank you, Nick. Scott suggested it when we were trying to decide. We really like it. The lighter gray should hold up well against the sun.

[Nick14]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Thank you, Nick. Scott suggested it when we were trying to decide. We really like it. The lighter gray should hold up well against the sun.

We went back and forth between Kingston Grey and Pastel Blue. It's very hard to pick a color for a boat just from tiny little pictures or color samples on the internet. An image on a screen can't capture what it really looks like in person.

We went with the Pastel Blue, though still think the Kingston Grey will, as you said, hold up better against the sun. Wish we could have seen boats in those colors in person.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Nick14

We went back and forth between Kingston Grey and Pastel Blue. It's very hard to pick a color for a boat just from tiny little pictures or color samples on the internet. An image on a screen can't capture what it really looks like in person.

We went with the Pastel Blue, though still think the Kingston Grey will, as you said, hold up better against the sun. Wish we could have seen boats in those colors in person.

I really like the pastel blue. If I were considering a decision today, I think I would do the stripe like the 43 in the boat test video. It just seems to really set it off. But, we are happy with what we went with.

[backinblue]

Grey will be great camoflage in the fog. I remember about 30 years ago, grey became popular with some sailboat manufacturers. Now when I see one they look very dated. Dark colors are harder to maintain, but may increase resale 10 years from now. Nobody knows for sure, just an opinion.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by backinblue

Grey will be great camoflage in the fog. I remember about 30 years ago, grey became popular with some sailboat manufacturers. Now when I see one they look very dated. Dark colors are harder to maintain, but may increase resale 10 years from now. Nobody knows for sure, just an opinion.

The deck and superstructure is white.

One of the caveats about darker colors is that gel coats are much tougher to maintain. I have that problem on a run about we own. Our experience with that boat has caused us to steer away from darker colors on boats.

I suppose it is an eye if the beholder thing.

[Nick14]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

The deck and superstructure is white.

One of the caveats about darker colors is that gel coats are much tougher to maintain. I have that problem on a run about we own. Our experience with that boat has caused us to steer away from darker colors on boats.

I suppose it is an eye if the beholder thing.

Originally Posted by backinblue

Grey will be great camoflage in the fog. I remember about 30 years ago, grey became popular with some sailboat manufacturers. Now when I see one they look very dated. Dark colors are harder to maintain, but may increase resale 10 years from now. Nobody knows for sure, just an opinion.

I love the look of classic Navy Blue or Forest Green for a hull. We've owned several of both. I've experienced first-hand just how fast they fade and need to be painted.

Despite being beyond obsessive-compulsive, and waxing the hull 3 or 4 times a year (yes, every other month), I've never been able to get more than 4 years out of a dark gelcoat hull before it faded to the point that I thought it needed to be painted (or a deep compounding that was only a very temporary band-aid).

Maybe others are luckier than I've been, or live in cloudy climates (like the PNW) where a dark hull might last longer. The only way I could imagine a dark hull lasting 10 years was if it was painted at some point along the way. The cost of a good paint job might outweigh any potential increase in resale value.

[backinblue]

You bring up a good point about paint. Seems like most dark hulls today are painted not gelcoat. Does Helmsman not paint because of the added cost or is it an option?