Van De Stadt Helena 38 Aluminum Passagemaker

Positioned aft between the quarter-berths, the 70 hp Lugger engine provides propulsion (ZF 45A1 / 1.75" stainless shaft) and powers an assortment of auxiliary equipment via two Eaton 1.24 cubic inch hydraulic pump units.

The hydraulic system is plumbed to the following auxiliary equipment:

-two Lewmar hydraulic windlasses on the bow
-two Pacer 60 GPM hydraulic water pumps (one suction - for dewatering, one discharge - for keel jets and high power anchor wash down system)
-two Balmar 310 amp hydraulic alternators
-Lewmar hydraulic bow thruster
-Air compressor with a 1/2" line to each compartment

While operating under engine the owner of this vessel usually cruised at a low RPM to conserve fuel. 1250 RPM achieves ~4-5 knots with a fuel consumption of approximately 0.66 gallons per hour.

A Northern Lights 5KW genset is located beneath the forward berth and provides charging and 110V power.

The genset and main engine are configured for dry exhaust and rely on a keel cooler for cooling (42 gallon capacity). The water heater is plumbed into the keel cooler -- meaning hot water is made when either the main engine or genset is running.

The vessel is equipped with 12 Lifeline AGM batteries which date to 2007. The house bank - located beneath the saloon table (amidships above the keel) contains 8 x 105 AH batteries (840 AH).

Additional batteries include:

-Engine start (2 x 105 AH)
-Genset start (1 x 105 AH)
-Dinghy battery (1 x 80 AH)

The nav station features a power distribution and monitoring panel that offers an astounding degree of control over all aspects of the electrical system.

Charging is provided by numerous sources including built-in engine alternator, hydraulic alternators, shaft alternator, wind turbines (Aero6gen), solar panels (350 watts), 5kw genset, and shore power (120 or 240).

Vessel is equipped with two ProNautic 12-60P chargers (one primary, one spare). A Xantrex 1800 watt inverter is located at the nav station. A Charles 3.8 KVA isolation transformer is installed on the shore power system.

A heating system is not provided, however, it would be straightforward to install a hydronic heating system below the deck plumbed into the keel cooler system, which would allow the engine or the genset to heat the boat. The seller can provide an existing design for the floor heaters plumbed into the keel cooler system.

Sloop rigged Allyacht Spars Aluminium spars (2008) with stainless steel standing rigging (2008)

The aluminum mast is mounted in a tabernacle for lowering aft. The mast features oversized stainless steel rigging, mast steps, and is double wall at the tabernacle. Equipment to self-lower the mast is included. All sails are North Sails, with the exception of the riding sails. The extended stern booms provide a boom for the port and starboard riding sails. A pole on the forward end of the mast is used for flying the gennaker and lowering the mast.

12 volt battery, 110 volt generator, 110 / 240 shore power voltage, 12 batteries charged by: engine, wind generator, solar panels, shore power, generator

For moorage the total length is 40 ft.

Built by Harwood Marine in Australia, with additional upgrades made in Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Puget Sound. Construction is welded aluminum and based on the Van de Stadt 38 Helena design with a number of custom features designed by the owner to maximize safety on extended voyages and to allow for underwater research / archaeological work (plans / drawings on file with Waterline Boats).

The hull is constructed of 5 mm aluminum and the deck is constructed of 4 mm aluminum. The 1/3 WL fixed keel is constructed with 20 mm bottom plate, and contains 8,000 lbs of lead ballast in a ballast shoe. Bulkheads are constructed from 6061 Al alloy. The hull plating is constructed from 5086 Al alloy. Displacement is 28,000 lbs light, 32,000 lbs loaded.

20 dorades (at least one in, one out for each compartment), 8 hatches, and 12 port lights provide light and ventilation to below deck spaces.

Five watertight bulkheads with heavy-duty Freeman watertight doors separate the six compartments, with the design purpose of providing a safe and practically-unsinkable 38 ft vessel.

The exterior deck has non-skid applied, 36" handrails of heavy aluminum construction prevent falls overboard, and numerous handrails inside prevent falls in general.

There are a total of 4 tanks for storing diesel fuel for the main engine and genset:

-One integral aluminum tank located in the keel (120 gal)
-Two integral aluminum day tanks located in the engine room (11 gallons each)
-One integral aluminum day tank for the genset located beneath the berth in the forward cabin (~3 gallons).

The fuel day tanks are configured to fill automatically by float switch / fuel pump when needed.

-Two 75 gallon aluminum integral freshwater tanks are are located underneath the port and starboard seating in the saloon (plumbed to a pressurized and manually pumped water system)
-One 26 gallon stainless steel holding tank is located in the forward cabin.

The interior decks are made of plywood and are designed to lift up for easy access to the bilge.

The owner reports that the vessel has undergone major repairs / refits during the following periods:

2008 - 2010
2014 - 2017
2021 - 2022

~$150k of work has been put into the boat since 2014.

Numerous high resolution marine architectural drawings, including system layout plans are available upon request and visible in the listing.

Waterline Boats / Boatshed does not independently verify capacities and measures, which are reported from seller-provided information and/or literature.

If boarding this vessel from the dock then you'll step aboard through an opening in the stout aluminum safety rails that are located amidships on the port or starboard sides. A few steps aft allows entry into the cockpit.

The cockpit / pilothouse is constructed to provide good visibility and protection from the elements. In fair weather, several of the pilothouse windows can be opened to provide air flow and an opening hatch is installed overhead. The forward portion of the pilothouse roof / coachroof is of aluminum construction -- and the aft portion is configured with a canvas Bimini and sides. Solar panels are installed above the cockpit.

The helm station is located in the aft cockpit. The helm station is configured with navigation electronics and instruments/gauges for monitoring the vessel's systems. 4 winches (one of which is electric) and running rigging routed to the cockpit provide near-total control from the cockpit while underway.

The two position gimbaled helm chair provides seating for the skipper, and the bench seating in the cockpit will seat several crew, or provide a good lounging spot each to port and starboard. This is a livable space, and the sellers slept in the cockpit on their ocean crossing.

A locking companionway door and sliding hatch opens to a ladder below decks. At the base of the ladder is a water-tight compartment that contains the nav station and the galley. Each door and cabin have numerous handholds for crew safety.

The galley is located to port. A Force 10 two-burner LPG cooktop / range is located at the aft end of the galley (the propane locker near the cockpit holds a 9 gallon tank). An under-counter 12V Glacier Bay refrigerator / freezer are located forward of the range. The single basin stainless steel sink has faucets that are plumbed to pressurized potable water, manually pumped potable water, and manually pumped seawater -- and there are a number of drawers and cabinets for storing cooking utensils and provisions.

To the starboard side of this compartment is the nav station. The chart table features a built-in seat, shelf, and file cabinets containing well organized systems manuals and cruising guides, charts, and nav tools. Navigational electronics are installed above the chart table. Outboard from the chart table is an electrical panel that offers an incredible degree of control and monitoring of the ship's electrical system.

A watertight door with a large window separates the galley / nav area from the saloon. The saloon table will seat several people. The saloon seating doubles as single berths (one port, one starboard). There is an extensive amount of storage in this space for provisions or miscellaneous items, both inside the saloon table and behind the saloon seating. Potable water tanks are located below the saloon seating. Additionally, the house battery bank (840 amp hours) is located underneath the saloon table. Like all spaces, port lights and overhead hatches can be opened to provide ventilation. All interior and cockpit lights are combination white / red.

Forward of the saloon is another watertight space - which can be used as a store room for larger items. Within this store-room the head is located to port, and can be accessed from this space through another watertight door. The head has a manual marine toilet and washbasin with a pull-out faucet for showering. The Wilcox Skipper II head discharges to an Electroscan waste treatment system, a USCG type I holding tank, and overboard.

The forward cabin is another water-tight compartment, and contains an upholstered double-berth. A Northern Lights keel-cooled 5kw genset is located beneath this berth. An overhead hatch and port lights provide ventilation.

The engine is located in a watertight compartment aft of the galley / nav area. A quarter-berth abuts either side of the engine. These quarter-berths might be able to sleep two each, but would more comfortably sleep one. The engine can be accessed on the sides from the quarter berths, or forward by opening the hatch to which the companionway ladder is mounted, or through a deck hatch in the cockpit.