Family Fun Aboard a Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan
The Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan is designed to be extremely livable, comfortable and capable, and the family we talked to following their cruise on the Helmsman 31 can certainly attest to that.
This young family of three ventured out on the Chesapeake for a week-long trip, exploring various waterways and charming port towns – plus taking in as much local seafood as they could. They also learned what makes this pre-owned Helmsman a really special find. We asked them some questions about their trip aboard the 2015 Helmsman Trawlers 31, and they were happy to tell us more.
What did you enjoy most about the Helmsman Trawlers 31?
There was so much space, both inside and out, for such a reasonably sized boat. That really struck us and made for a very comfortable voyage. The cockpit space is fully covered, so it was pleasant to be in the cockpit even in the middle of a bright day. We definitely took full advantage of the outside space – eating breakfast in the cockpit, and having evening happy hour topside. The inside was spacious enough that while we were underway one of us could play with our toddler son while the other took the helm.
The salon of this particular 31 Sedan was customized for the original owner and did not include the standard built in convertible settee. Instead it was appointed with two barrel chairs and a fold away table. But this unusual layout actually was perfect for us as a family. It made the interior much more flexible as a space, namely, we could set up a pack and play for our son to sleep in! While he slept we could sit just feet away, chatting on the back deck while enjoying the warm summer nights.
The stateroom accommodations provided all the creature comforts of home. The bed was comfy and easy to climb in and out of. The shower being separate from the head was appreciated as well as the abundant storage space. Though as lovely as this little yacht’s stateroom is we spent much of our time enjoying the features of the fly bridge and the cockpit.
A special memory from this trip made possible because of the boat design is when we were driving the boat from the fly bridge, with the sunlight skipping along the waves. Suddenly a Skipjack with sails full out zoomed by! Quite picturesque, it felt like we were seeing a snapshot of the past.
Where did you take this Helmsman Trawlers 31?
From the boat’s Kent Island slip we headed south along the Chesapeake Eastern Shore. We eventually ended in the town of Cambridge before circling back, stopping for nights along the way. Not being from the area, we had a great time taking in the views from the water, walking around the towns we stayed at, and learning about the area’s rich history and ecology.
Of all the stops, we were surprised at how much we enjoyed Knapp’s Narrows, which separates Tilghman Island from the rest of the Chesapeake Eastern Shore. It was peaceful and quiet, but still with plenty of amenities, like a pool and restaurant. We stayed at the outer guest pier and had the perfect sunset view.
What impressed you most about the boat’s performance?
What really impressed us were all the amenities for its relatively small size. It has a large interior and large flybridge, but still fits into a small slip. And getting in and out of tight slips was easy. It’s a very maneuverable vessel, and the bow thruster was helpful in marina situations.
With its semi-displacement full keel hull it also handled well in a variety of conditions. While we were lucky to have a lot of nice weather, we did experience windy days. Encountering the waves produced, however, was no problem. Plus, with its design, it’s very efficient, and we didn’t go through nearly as much fuel as you’d think for such a trip.
It was also just an overall very comfortable boat. Everything felt well-made, sturdy, and all the components had a warm look and feel. We feel really lucky to have had the chance to take this trip and make such wonderful memories along the way!
Helmsman Trawlers 31: Find Out More
This 2015 Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan is currently listed for sale with Waterline Boats and was recently moved from Kent Island, MD to our display docks on Lake Union in Seattle.
For complete listing details on this comfortable and capable vessel, including large format photos as well as videos and 360 Virtual Tours, please view our Boatshed presentation: Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan
You can learn more about Helmsman Trawlers and the 31 Sedan by going to helmsmantrawlers.com
