The boat featured is not currently for sale by Boatshed. The boat information and images presented are part of Boatshed’s back catalogue of the 25,000+ boats we have listed in the last 20 years and appear here for general information and guidance purposes about Boatshed and our boat selling systems and services

Van De Stadt Helena 38 Aluminum Passagemaker

Built w/ many safety features
£0 Sold / Unavailable
  • Boat REF#  ·  312600
  • Length  ·  38'0"
  • Year  ·  2008
  • Construction  ·  Aluminium
  • Underwater profile  ·  Other
  • Sleeping berths  ·  6
  • Engine  ·  1 x diesel 70hp, Lugger L984D (2008)
  • Lying  ·  Port Townsend, WA USA By Appt
Boatshed Port Townsend
Boatshed Port Townsend
Van Helker

The boat featured is not currently for sale by Boatshed. The boat information and images presented are part of Boatshed’s back catalogue of the 25,000+ boats we have listed in the last 20 years and appear here for general information and guidance purposes about Boatshed and our boat selling systems and services

Extra Details

Designer Van De Stadt & Bob Page
Builder Harwood Marine
Lying Port Townsend, WA USA By Appt
Fuel capacity 145.0 USG Total - 4 Tanks
Water capacity 150.0 USG Total - 2 Tanks
Holding tank capacity 26.0 USG Total - 1 Tanks

Mechanical

Engine 1 x diesel 70hp
Engine make and model Lugger L984D (2008)
Engine Hours engine1= 1559
Engine Cooled Indirect
Steering wheel
Drive shaft
Prop(s) 24" PYI Max feathering propeller (Rope Cutters)
Fuel consumption (approx) 1.0 USG /hour At Cruising Speed
Cruising speed (approx) 6 knots
Max speed (approx) 7.5 knots
Generator output 5KVA
Generator Hours 119

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.

Dimensions

Length 38'0"
LOD 37'11"
LWL 32'11"
Beam 12'5"
Draft Min 5'6"
Displacement 28,004.8lbs
Headroom 6'2"
Storage On marina

Rig

Sloop rigged Allyacht Spars Aluminium spars (2008) with Stainless Steel standing rigging (2008)

Sails

Reefing mainsail North Sails - roller boom (2008)
Headsail North Sails - Furling (2008)
Other sails Storm jib (2008)
Hurricane jib (2008)
G2 Gennaker (2008)
Riding sails (2008)
Spinnaker gear

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.

Electrical Systems

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

Construction

Construction Aluminium
Underwater profile Other
Finish Aluminium finish

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.

Accommodation

Total # of berths 6
No. of double berths 1
No. of single berths 4
Cabin(s) 1
Sink 1
Shower 1
Heads 1 heads (Manual)

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.

Accommodation

Oven
Sink
Refrigerator
Freezer
Manual water system
Pressurised water system
Hot water system
Raw water wash
Cockpit shower

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.

Deck Gear

Sail cover
Cockpit cover
Fenders
Davits
Swim Ladder
Instrument Covers
Cockpit Enclosure
Bow Thruster

2 halyard winches
4 sheet winches
Lewmar windlass
4 anchors
(2 x Delta galvanized 25kg, 2 x Delta galvanized 20kg)
300'0" of chain
Cape Horn windvane self-steering system
Avon dinghy (2008)
(Inflatable)
29 lines lead to the cockpit for near total control of the sails from within the cockpit.

Vessel is equipped with four anchors. Two 25 kg anchors are located on the foredeck. Two 20 kg anchors are located astern with one on the port quarter and one on the starboard quarter. Four anchors allow for precise positioning of the boat for underwater research. Note that the vessel is currently operating with the port stern anchor removed. This is to facilitate the deployment and retrieval of the Gale Rider. Two fold-up boarding ladders are positioned on the transom between the stern anchors. A 24 ft para anchor can be deployed from the bow.

The innovative heavy duty stern booms are manually operated and serve as a dry stack exhaust, boom for the riding sails, mount for wind generators, as a means of craning equipment or crew aboard, and can be rigged to carry the tender.

A chain locker on the boat houses anchor rode and other miscellaneous gear. A stern locker provides a good amount of additional storage, and houses the air compressor a Pacer water pump, and the SSB antenna.

Bow and stern dagger board slots permit use of dagger boards to self steer when balanced with sales.

Extra items to note include:
-Gimbaled helm seat, gimbaled mast chair, gimbaled stern chair, and gimbaled cockpit table.
-Mountings for twenty 5 gallons diesel jugs
-Hydraulic fittings in the stern locker for powering underwater research equipment
-24 ft Para-tech Sea Anchor
-36" Galerider drogue w/ 400 ft of 7/8" line

Archaeological research and recovery can be accomplished using:
-one of the stern anchors in combination with the keel jets (to wash away sediments) and bow thruster to explore a large diameter area.
-A high pressure water pump output connection in the lazarette can be connected to a hose and nozzle for blowing away sediments in a more precise fashion.
-The prop wash can be deflected downward using a prop-wash elbow that can be fabricated and installed on the elbow. The four anchors can hold the boat in position and can be adjusted to change position as needed.
-Hydraulic connections in the lazarette can be used to power underwater equipment or for setting helical anchors.
-A creative explorer could identify other possibilities for search and recovery of underwater artifacts. With some modifications the vessel may possibly be suited towards recovery of underwater placer gold deposits (e.g., Bering Sea -- Nome, Alaska).

The contents of a 20 ft shipping container are also included with the sale of this vessel -- items included in that container not listed elsewhere in this listing include:

-Avon inflatable dinghy
-Docklines
-Hundreds of feet of floating towline
-Stern anchors and chain
-Safety equipment
-Engine spares
-Tarps
-PVC plumbing
-Bottom Paint
-Plywood
-Foldable sawhorses
-Miscellaneous items and supplies

Nav Equipment

Compass
Speed
Wind
Radar
VHF DSC radio
SSB
GPS
Chart plotter
Autopilot
Navigation lights
AIS Receiver
Depth sounder
Radar Reflector

Icom IC-M504 VHF Radio with DSC
Icom IC- M802 HF Radio with DSC
Raymarine AIS650 AIS Transciever
Raymarine S3G Smart Pilot
Raymarine E120 Multi Function Display w/ Chartplotter, MARPA, & AIS
Raymarine 4kw / 48 nm RADAR
Interphase Twin Scope Sonar

Safety Equipment

Fume detector
Carbon Monoxide detector
Liferaft
Life jackets
Life buoys
Safety harnesses
EPIRB 406MHz
Swim ladder
Emergency steering

7 bilge pumps (1 manual / 5 electric)

Each compartment has a 12V electric bilge pump. A 60 GPM hydraulic Pacer pump is plumbed to intakes in each compartment for de-watering. A manual bilge pump in the cockpit is plumbed to a foot valve in each compartment, and provides another backup.

In the event that the hull is breached the affected compartment(s) can be sealed off with water-tight doors. A hydraulically driven air compressor located in the lazarette can be used, in combination with existing piping, to direct air into the flooded space which would force seawater out (the same compressor can also be used for dinghy inflation). The air compressor can also be used in combination with the hydraulically driven Pacer 60 GPM discharge pump to direct high volumes of water and air from six 1.5" jets located at the bottom of the keel. This would under certain circumstances allow the vessel to unground herself by blowing away sediments and other material.

The head door is an emergency rudder which can be mounted outboard and controlled from the cockpit.

There is also an emergency tiller that can be fitted to the top of the rudder shaft under the helm seat. Lines can be led to aft winches if needed.

Broker's Comments

This 38 ft LOA Van de Stadt design incorporates an array of innovative concepts to produce a one-of-a-kind solidly-built aluminum passage maker, capable of crossing any ocean. This vessel was built in Australia and crossed the Pacific shortly after completion in 2008.

Built with safety top-of-mind, she features six water-tight compartments. This boat feels like a submarine below decks - but with natural light and good ventilation.

I like the cockpit / pilothouse arrangement above deck. It is built to offer full protection from sun, wind, rain, or boarding seas -- and has several opening windows and hatches for air flow and ventilation. The helm station is well-equipped with navigational electronics and system monitors. Both the main and jib are furling, and 29 lines lead to the cockpit for near-total control of the sails. Very solid, but removable, 36" aluminum rails run the perimeter of the deck.

This vessel is outfitted with numerous backup/failsafe systems for redundancy. For instance, charging the 1200+ amp hours of batteries is provided by solar panels, wind turbines (x2), shaft alternator, engine alternator, hydraulic alternator (x2), genset, or shore power. Two hydraulic pump units driven by the main engine provides hydraulic power throughout the boat for usual equipment – like the bow-thruster and windlasses. The hydraulics also power two 60 GPM pumps and an air compressor which are cleverly plumbed to de-water flooded compartments or to free the vessel if grounded via six keel jets. Additional information on these, and other unique systems are in the full listing.

This vessel was not built to be glamorous or luxurious, either inside or out. Instead, she’s built to be tough and self-sufficient -- like a Coast Guard cutter. Exposed frames, insulation, and plywood interior decking are offset by the elegant utility of this boat, and so many of her astoundingly impressive systems.

Many features were designed and installed for marine archaeological exploration and recovery (think Mel Fisher and the $400 million Atocha find). Four anchors allow for pinpoint anchoring – and preparations have been made to the rudder to allow for a prop wash deflector to be mounted for blowing away sediments / overburden.

Bottom line – if you are looking for an impressive and proven platform that can accomplish the extraordinary, then this just might be the boat for you.

These boat details are subject to contract.
Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.

Where the particulars herein give details of a boat, whether new or used, they are intended to give a fair description of the vessel but are not guaranteed as accurate or complete. They shall not form part of any offer or contract for the sale of the vessel. The prospective purchaser is recommended to independently check the particulars and the vessel. The vendor is not selling in the course of a business unless otherwise stated. Personal property is excluded from the sale of the vessel unless specifically included in the listing specification above or in a purchase contract. Personal property may be equipment or gear not permanently attached to the vessel including but not limited to: artwork, entertainment equipment, fishing equipment, TV receivers, recreational equipment, kayaks, tools, and personal appliances. Photos that may incidentally depict owners' personal property do not convey that such items are included in the sale of the vessel unless such items are specifically listed herein. At all times, where the particulars herein give details of a new boat and/or a new boat to be supplied/built by a builder/manufacturer, or a boat to be chartered, via our introduction, we do not guarantee or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered by third-party companies in respect thereof including without limitation new boat builders/manufacturers, charter companies and/or companies/businesses which are ‘Friends of Boatshed’. We shall not be responsible for, or party to, any transactions, contracts or agreements between you and such third-party providers of products or services and it is incumbent upon you to verify such details direct with such entities and contract with them at your sole discretion and on terms that you agree.