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I am deeply saddened to hear this and my thoughts go out to Patti. It seems tragic--Doug was so excited about the adventures to come on their cherished Alba Bella.

Thanks Tom--this is helpful. About older fuel accumulating in the tanks: I assume the feed is from the bottom of the tank, and getting knocked around a bit by waves helps to mix old and new fuel, so I hadn't given this much thought. I also hadn't considered transferring fuel between tanks via...

This is not a hack but a question for H38 owners about the fuel gauges for the diesel tanks. (This seemed as good a place as any to post it, and it doesn't seem to warrant a new thread.) From my calculations over numerous trips, when the gauges for the tanks both read about 1/4 full, I estimate...

Is the price you mention just for the hull or for the fiberglass on the deck and superstructure as well?

This was taken a few weeks back in Forward Harbour, on our way north. Heading back to our boat after dinner on our friends' GB.

So far, in the two years we have owned our H38, we haven’t used the FB that much, for all the reasons familiar to PNW cruisers. Having a comfy, warm, and dry place from which to drive the boat was one of the reasons we went from sail to power for the PNW. However, the times we did take advantage...

On our H38E, there is space on the floor of the flybridge just between the storage doors on the left of the helm station, and the port-side settee. I keep my extra gas tank there (tied down to the rail at the back of the settee.) It is quite secure there, and out of the way.

I am not sure where one would put the Ultra flat web reel on a H38. Has anyone done this? As for length, we are new to stern tying, so as we improve it may turn out that we could do with much less. But here are my calculations: If we want to end up one or two boat lengths from shore (and...

If you mean the size of the line, I purchased a 600' spool of 1/2" line, which is about the same price of buying 450' by the foot: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/samson-rope-mfp-float-line/461-032-106-020 If you mean the bag, here is an Amazon link...

I purchased a 600' reel of Samson braided polypropylene line, and keep it flaked in an Ikea "Frakta" bag, which is dirt cheap on Amazon (2 for $7). It worked perfectly last summer, and is easily stored in the cockpit lazarette. I was not interested in the bag system seen on Youtube, for a few...

Here are my two cents for those thinking about pilot-house versus sedan layouts (whether Helmsman or not). Coming from sailboats, I used to think that walk-around side decks would be a high priority for me—on a sailboat, where you are helming from the rear cockpit, you have to be able to move...

Margaux Graphics did our boat as well, and we are quite pleased.

As long as you flake the line into the bag without introducing any twists, and as long as you keep the working end of the line out of the bag at the end, there is no danger of anything becoming tangled. I tie the working end to one of the handles of the bag, to make sure it doesn't fall into the...

I have cruised my H38 for two seasons now and still think of myself as a beginner. My advice to new owners is to live with the boat for a while before making adjustments that are not immediately necessary. For example, our boat didn’t have a shower curtain and we now know that we wouldn't want...

Doug--we don't have a TV or a shower curtain/rod (which we don't find necessary), so can't help you there. I couldn't figure out a good place to mount a stern tie reel. So following a recommendation I found somewhere online, I flaked our line (all 600' of 1/2" polypropylene line) into an Ikea...

Thanks for all the suggestions. For some reason, auto-calibrate is not an option on my setup. The compass is mounted under the stairs to my forward berth, which places it 4 or 5 or so feet from the engine. (Is that close enough to have an effect?) And the only metal close to it is a small round...

I have a Simrad electronics package with the B&G Precision 9 solid-state compass (circa 2018). When the system is calibrated it works just fine, and the calibration process (rotating the boat) is simple and quick when you get used to it. Problem is, I find the boat has to be recalibrated every...

We have used a Vulcan 25kg on our H38E with a Mantus Swivel for one season now. (The boat came with a Mantus M1 65lb, purchased by the previous owners, but I swapped it out for the Vulcan--see the separate thread: Bad fitting anchor on Helmsman). I don't know if the swivel is doing much or not...

No, 10"6' is the measurement of the length of the RIB itself without outboard (according to the AB brochure). The outboard extends beyond that. (I am not on my boat so can't take the measurement.) Together they just fit between the rails. BTW, I estimate the AB 10VSX (which has a steering...

My H38E came with an AB10VSX RIB with a 20hp Tohatsu outboard; the AB10VSX is actually 10'6" and sitting crosswise on chocks with the engine raised on the upper deck, it just barely fits between the rails--maybe an inch or so to spare on each size. This is absolutely the largest size dinghy I...

We will be there, and on our boat. It will be the start of our summer cruise to Desolation Sound and the Broughtons.

I leave them down all the time. There is really no reason to bring them up--they are visually unobtrusive, especially as they sit right at the accent stripe. (They don't "read" as a fender.)

When entering or exiting a marina, docking, anchoring in crowded anchorages, and so on—anywhere where I am moving slowly through restricted space—I want to know wind strength and direction. I suspect that most folks who come to trawlers from a sailing background would feel the same.

The 38H I purchased does not have boarding doors at the cockpit, and I am short and often dock the boat by myself. I use FenderSteps to help get up and down--have them on both sides. See pic. Not as good as a door, but does the trick.

I love boat. Bought it last March (it was less than 3 years old) and managed to spend a couple of months on it over the spring and summer. (We were planning a winter cruise this past week, but the freezing weather defeated us.) As for electronics, I am a lifelong sailor--this is the first...