User-submitted Stories

PassageMaker is unique in that many of our stories come directly from our readers. Whether you have a story idea that you think is worth covering and you’d like to submit it, or you have a story that you’d like to tell, we are always open to ideas from our readers. A great example of this is the currently running three-part story about cruising Cuba’s northern coast by the Leshaw family (the finale starts on page 34 of this issue).

The Camano 31 is no longer, but its tradition in the cruising market lives on, to some degree, with the Helmsman Trawlers 31 Sedan. Built on the same semi-displacement hullform, this little single-stateroom cruiser still bears plenty of resemblance, at least aesthetically, to its predecessor. But inside is where the action is. Waterline Boats, which bought the tooling for the Camano line, has made a concerted effort in the redesign to bring the new 31 up to modern-day standards of premium fit-and-finish, amenities, and performance.

CONSTRUCTION

When the tooling for the Camano was acquired by Waterline Boats, one of the only things that they didn’t change was the hull design. Proven and time-tested, the 31 Sedan sits on the same 1990 Bob Wurman-designed semi-displacement hull as all Camano-branded boats. “There was no need to change a good thing,” said Scott Helker, Waterline’s owner. “The hull is stable underway and versatile in a wide range of speeds up to 13 knots.” The hull construction is solid fiberglass below the waterline; vacuum-bagged, resin-infused in the topsides and superstructure. Total dry weight is just 12,000 pounds. The most significant changes to the original design were made to the house in order to improve headroom and overall interior volume. Additional changes were made to how water drains from the flybridge, and the interior windows and frames were re-configured to enhance visibility from the helm and saloon.

PERFORMANCE

While re-engineering other parts of the Camano, Waterline found a perfect power pairing for the 31 Sedan. Hyundai may not be a recognized leader in marine propulsion in the United States, but the Korean company is a leading supplier of motors for commercial markets in Europe, and even supplies the power for 40 boats in the Venetian vaporetti fleet. After becoming enamored with the quiet-running engine, Helker signed up to install the Seasall S270 V-6, electronically-controlled commonrail 3.0-liter diesel in the first few 31s. Hyundai configured the 270-horsepower motor specifically for this application (see sidebar on page 14 for more on the Seasall motor).

PROS:

> Great interior space, headroom, flybridge, and overall volume for a 31-foot cruiser > Visibility due to flat running attitude > Quiet running, both from the Hyundai motor (see sidebar) and from wave slap > Efficient, proven hull form that is versatile enough for a wide range of cruising speeds > Overall presentation is yacht-like: a pretty significant departure from the Camano 31, but with a fairly reasonable sticker price. > Black tank increased from the 12 gallons of the original design to 30 gallons due to the size and placement of the Hyundai powerplant.

CONS:

> Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I’m not crazy about the proportion of the house to the hull topsides. Granted, this is how superb interior volume and headroom are achieved. So, it’s a trade-off that many are willing to make. > Already being improved for future hulls, the companion helm seat to port is too shallow. I had to sit at an angle to fit. Scott and Lisa said that fix is already underway for future hulls.

The engine is quiet and sits in a smartly-designed engine space under the sole. Easy access to the impeller, along with a built-in oil pump, make routine maintenance and pre-trip engine checks a smooth operation. Although you may not expect to find an easily accessible engine aboard any 31-foot trawler, space on the 31 Sedan is generous.

On our test boat, wave and sea noise is well-attenuated despite the boat’s light displacement, and due to the smoothrunning engine, the decibel levels in the saloon were fairly consistent throughout the speed range. At a reasonable cruising speed, our 2,300 rpm test yielded 8.5 knots with a fuel burn of 3.5 gph and 77 decibels at the helm. Drop down to 6 knots, and the consumption sits around 1 gallon per hour.

ACCOMMODATIONS WOT: RANGE @ SLOW CRUISE:

The 31’s sedan style offers owners a continuous level from the boarding cockpit to the helm. Should you opt to not take your morning coffee on the flybridge, the cockpit would fit two deck chairs and a small table—and not too much more. Onboard space is optimized to lean toward maximizing interior volume, though side decks are scalable for the agile, helped by a generously long stainless handrail that runs the length of the house. A cockpit ladder, best scaled in calm seas, leads to the flybridge, and once there, you’ll discover space for up to three pedestal chairs, one at the centerline helm, and two flanked to port and starboard. There is no built-in furniture up top, but there is ample room for freestanding deck chairs. Since the flybridge is set far forward, visibility from the helm is good, whether you’re up top or in the house. Combined with a flat running attitude, you’ll never be lacking sightlines.

Stepping inside, headroom and interior volume are the most obvious wins with the new boat. To starboard lies an L-shape settee opposite a bench seat. The settee table drops to allow sleeping accommodations for two more adults, and the berth itself is plenty long for that purpose. Like on many vessels of this size, the head is wet but well-designed and uncramped. The only cabin on the boat is really the shining star, offering an off-center queen berth that provides room for hanging lockers to starboard. An oversize egress/ hatch and portlights shed plenty of natural light in the cabin, and the fit-and-finish is on par with yachts with much greater sticker prices.

Other interior features include a propane cooktop and a separate fridge/freezer that is another upgrade from the original.