Need info on Helsen 22

[Treetipper]

I am looking at a Helsen 22 as my first sailboat. The boat is certainly a project boat and needs work. (Don't they all.:cussing My quandry is that I am having a difficult time locating information on this brand of boat. I know the price is great, but I do not know where to be able to locate parts, extras and replacements, as needed. I would also like information regarding how the interior should have appeared and a basic overview of the recommended maintenance and an operating guide, if possible. Any information would be extremely helpful. Thank you.

 

[Ron20324]

Did you google Helsen 22? And contact those people?

 

[Treetipper]

I have Googled Helsen 22 and attempted to contact the owners I could locate. The owners I spoke to were not able to provide much info aside from a weblink on how to rig the sails.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Projects or Passions?

Tipper, you mentioned that this is your first boat but didn't say anything about your sailing skills or your mechanical and fabricating skills.
If you are new to this sport I would strongly encourage you to look for a boat that you can simply put in the water and enjoy. The fastest way to burnout and financial ruin is to purchase a project boat. If you are a family man then a project boat is akin to triplets in time and needs.
If you are new to the skills of sailing a project boat and lack of experence can truly be a risk to your safety that should be avoided if at all easily done.
I sailed a sound, well found, Catalina 22 for 4 years. It worked well for the wife and I to spend up to a week on the water in relative comfort. The C22 and many other boats under 25 feet are out there for very fair prices and with parts and repair information still available.
If your skills and desires are to rebuild or modify a vessel to your own standards and style then please chuck this post in the same pile that my wife usually puts most my crap in. If not, get a boat that puts you on the water this summer and enjoy. The ability to resale your boat when you want to move up is also better served with a more common and popular model.
Ray

 

[Treetipper]

Ray,

You bring up excellent points. Those are the reasons I was asking for information or a reference point. I do not mind putting some time into the boat, I just need to confirm that the parts and information are available if I am willing to do the work. The asking price for the boat is under $600 with a trailer.

When I say project boat, I mean that it is going to require a lot of elbow grease and cleaning. The hull, mast, boom and keel are all in good or better condition. I will need to replace the tiller, which I plan to build with stainless steel and wood. The majority of the work outside of scrubbing, rubbing and waxing is in the interior. The cushions have some minor tears and the interior may need some woodwork in the galley area. All of the fiberglass is sound. The sails and boom have been kept in a dry, enclosed area and appear to be in excellent condiition.

I am new to sailing, however, I am a union pipefitter and my mechanical and fabricating skills are up to snuff. With this additional information, do you still recommend purchasing a more popular make that needs no immediate work?

 

[Rick Sylvester]

Hey Ray, Jopie Helsen designed and built that boat

I don't know if he can help you but he's owner of the Sailor's Wharf in St. Pete.

http://www.sailorswharf.com/

Ph: (727) 823-1155 or Toll Free (800) 879-2244

 

[sailingdog]

Not many parts on a boat are custom specific to the boat, at least in terms of the gear that makes the boat sail. Winches, line clutches, sheaves, etc... are all pretty generic. The mast and boom, while specific to the boat are usually available as few boat makers made their own spars. The tiller and rudder are often in need of refurbishment and are usually specific to the boat, but many of the parts they are made up of, like the pintles, gudgeons, are not.

Given your description of the boat and your skills, I think you should be fine.

Ray,

You bring up excellent points. Those are the reasons I was asking for information or a reference point. I do not mind putting some time into the boat, I just need to confirm that the parts and information are available if I am willing to do the work. The asking price for the boat is under $600 with a trailer.

When I say project boat, I mean that it is going to require a lot of elbow grease and cleaning. The hull, mast, boom and keel are all in good or better condition. I will need to replace the tiller, which I plan to build with stainless steel and wood. The majority of the work outside of scrubbing, rubbing and waxing is in the interior. The cushions have some minor tears and the interior may need some woodwork in the galley area. All of the fiberglass is sound. The sails and boom have been kept in a dry, enclosed area and appear to be in excellent condiition.

I am new to sailing, however, I am a union pipefitter and my mechanical and fabricating skills are up to snuff. With this additional information, do you still recommend purchasing a more popular make that needs no immediate work?

 

[Ray Bowles]

For $600 and with a trailer to boot it would be real hard to find a way to lose on that boat. You certainly have the skills to put the boat safely on the water. Find a GOOD book, or books, that will help you fitting out the controls, lines and parts that make a sailboat work. Try out everything at home before you try it out at the lake. That will help the confidence factor alot.
My hope was that project boat didn't dampen you enjoyment of this sport. You've thought it out very well.
Any questions you have as you put her together just ask. Someone will have the answer. Don't worry about how the questions will be received. When I started out back in the dark ages this site helped us beyond my wildest expectations. So much so that 3 years after we started out with our first 26 foot boat my wife said, as we sat dead still without any wind, if we sold the house we could go buy a big boat and go cruising.
10 months later we drove from Washington State to Florida, bought a 1990 38' Island Packet and went cruising. We have never looked back.
That 26 footer was a 1995 Hunter and it sold in 2 days. That was the reason I mentioned moving up to your next boat. The boat you are putting together will allow you to move up later on as your investment is fantasticily right.
Enjoy, Ray