Our Helmsman 43E

[Helmsman]

Do some measurements first. That will be really tight, and I don’t think you will have room for your AP and the Cummins Vessel View with two 12” monitors.

 

[NSM]

I was going down the two 12s route because that’s what I had on the Ranger Tug 29 and I really liked it. But I get more total screen area with a single 17”, 131 sq in versus 115 sq in for the two 12s. I typically run a split screen with nav on the left and radar on the right. The 17 is great for that. In tight paces I run nav on left and sonar on right. I rarely run the display split into 4 charts. And I have a dozen different combo screens I can pull up in 2 seconds.

For me the extra real estate of the 17 was better than the redundancy of two 12” screens. And I always have the flybridge if the helm screen takes a dump.

 

[chanprr]

Every Captain chooses, and that's the way it should be. I will have two 8616 MFD's on the 46 PH helm, and single 8212 MFD on the FB helm. Seems like overkill but I want redundancy because of the cruising I will be doing around the PNW and up north.

 

[KDT]

Every Captain chooses, and that's the way it should be. I will have two 8616 MFD's on the 46 PH helm, and single 8212 MFD on the FB helm. Seems like overkill but I want redundancy because of the cruising I will be doing around the PNW and up north.

Redundancy is good insurance for any cruiser. I will assume the 46 will have more real estate to work with. At this point for me it is all speculative because I don't even know the dimensions of the Helm surfaces. Will need to make a mock up and try different lay outs.

 

[chanprr]

Here is an overhead of the H46 pilot house from the Helmsman website. The winged PH helm control station has ample room for MFD's, switches, gauges radios and other monitors. Directly in front of the steering wheel are engine, autopilot and thruster controls as well as analog gauges for the John Deere 6090SFM85 engine. Scott Helker should be able to send you the dimensions of the H43 helm control panel.

 

[Helmsman]

Redundancy is good insurance for any cruiser. I will assume the 46 will have more real estate to work with. At this point for me it is all speculative because I don't even know the dimensions of the Helm surfaces. Will need to make a mock up and try different lay outs.

We (“helmsman 43” on this site and I) installed a Furuno TZT 16 on both a 38e and a 43e on the lower helm. There isn’t any appreciable difference on the helm width or height between the two vessels. Here is a pic of the layout we installed on both boats. While the picture isn’t great, it can give you a sense of scale.

 

[KDT]

View attachment 154198

I ended up going with a single 17” MFD.

Thanx for the pic. Great video also. Some great choices of options on a beautiful boat. I like the clean Helm with one large display and find it very interesting that there is more usable area with one large vs two small. Next to the MFD is the auto pilot and another similar sized control which is ....? Now that you have been using it a little, are you happy with the layout or would you change it any? Magnus Master control location looks good.

 

[NSM]

Thanks

The second small display is for the Cummins.

Very happy with the layout and would do it that way again.

 

[amxr39]

Thanks

The second small display is for the Cummins.

Very happy with the layout and would do it that way again.

Does your boat have the Mercury Vessel View or the Cummins C Command?

 

[NSM]

Cummins

 

[chanprr]

Here is an overhead of the H46 pilot house from the Helmsman website. The winged PH helm control station has ample room for MFD's, switches, gauges radios and other monitors. Directly in front of the steering wheel are engine, autopilot and thruster controls as well as analog gauges for the John Deere 6090SFM85 engine. Scott Helker should be able to send you the dimensions of the H43 helm control panel.
View attachment 154233

This is the helm control station for the H46. Helmsman was happy to build as designed. It's 15" tall. The center is 38" wide, and will have two Garmin 8616's side by side. The wings are each 16" wide will have switches, gauges, remote controls, etc, etc. On the lower panel, between the thruster paddles and engine/shifter/throttle controls are engine gauges and monitors. Nothing overhead as I prefer not to reach up for anything while underway. The large cabinet doors on the starboard side allow access to the space under the helm console. Lots of storage. The build is in the final stages. A water/stability/CE A survey coming in May. Hope to see the new Kiskadee in late June in Seattle.

 

[NSM]

We were boating yesterday in the Puget Sound and conditions were burlier than forecast. Gave me the opportunity to take a couple more DMS videos.

 

[chanprr]

Can't wait to have the twin rotors on our 46!!

 

[NSM]

I suspect you’ll be pleased

 

[KMAL]

Thanks for the video’s - are you happy with the install experience and with performance. The system appears effective - is it meeting your expectations?

 

[NSM]

Thanks for the video’s - are you happy with the install experience and with performance. The system appears effective - is it meeting your expectations?

Install was easy. It will be even easier because I believe they are building in the structure into new helmsman boats. My build was probably overkill but I’m ok with that.

It also meets my expectations. Deploys in 12 seconds so if a I see a wake coming I can get it out. And it works in all conditions I’ve experienced in the Puget Sound. Had conditions strong enough to send my wife’s dishes flying when I intentionally turned beam on without the stabilizer. And after deploying the DMS the boat settled down nicely. Though my wife chastised me a bit for that move.

I have not had it out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca yet but heading there in a couple weeks. Hoping for additional beam seas for more testing (strange thing to wish for).

Would I do it again? Yes. Would I install another technology? Probably not. Do I wish I had two of them? Nope, one has been enough so far for this boat.

Cheers
Scott

 

[KMAL]

Thank you Scott - it looks like I may be able to sea trial the system up at Trawler Fest this weekend. Regardless, it seems as though the system is a great match for the boat and for our needs. Your feedback is very helpful especially given we both motor the Salish and surrounding waters. Thanks,

Kevin

 

[KMAL]

After several attempts I think I can squeeze 905 watts of solar onto the pilothouse roof. One 225 watt panel, two 200 watts and two 140 watts. I sent the sketch to Helmsman and we'll see if they concur that it will all fit.

I'm sticking with Custom Marine Products solar panels because that's what Helmsman already uses and it's easy to get their stuff installed at the yard before they ship the boat over. Path of least resistance...

And I'm getting FLIR installed too. What the heck.

Cheers

Did the yard install your FLIR - we are build 43048 and I assumed the FLIR would be installed during stateside commissioning. Also - what FLIR camera did you get and how do you like it?

 

[NSM]

Did the yard install your FLIR - we are build 43048 and I assumed the FLIR would be installed during stateside commissioning. Also - what FLIR camera did you get and how do you like it?

It’s the FLIR M232 installed by Eddie Legard stateside. I haven’t boated at night yet, but playing around with it while anchored I’d be comfortable slow boating with it at night. The image is sufficiently clear that I can see floating debris.

Cheers

 

[KMAL]

It’s the FLIR M232 installed by Eddie Legard stateside. I haven’t boated at night yet, but playing around with it while anchored I’d be comfortable slow boating with it at night. The image is sufficiently clear that I can see floating debris.

Cheers

Thanks - hope you are out and about. We are bringing our boat down to Bainbridge for a month of south sound mini trips. Then back north for September.

 

[NSM]

Thanks - hope you are out and about. We are bringing our boat down to Bainbridge for a month of south sound mini trips. Then back north for September.

Currently in Poets Cove with a two more weeks in the Gulf Islands then heading north with no plans. It’s a good life, and a great boat.

 

[Doug_Snider]

Currently in Poets Cove with a two more weeks in the Gulf Islands then heading north with no plans. It’s a good life, and a great boat.

We saw you last Tuesday headed north as we were returning from Port Browning. Always great to spot another Helmsman.

 

[amxr39]

It’s the FLIR M232 installed by Eddie Legard stateside. I haven’t boated at night yet, but playing around with it while anchored I’d be comfortable slow boating with it at night. The image is sufficiently clear that I can see floating debris.

Cheers

Check out the Syonix low like camera. A lot less money and you might like the image better. Scott has a hand held version and likes it.

 

[Helmsman]

Check out the Syonix low like camera. A lot less money and you might like the image better. Scott has a hand held version and likes it.

I have the hand held version. It works well with some ambient light. I also have an infra red flashlight which helps when it is low hanging clouds.

 

[KMAL]

Scott - I noticed you installed the reverse cycle air - do you use it/find it necessary in the NW?

 

[NSM]

Scott - I noticed you installed the reverse cycle air - do you use it/find it necessary in the NW?

Used it last night entertaining guests in Ganges. The salon got a bit warm in the afternoon despite having the shades down. Cooled the space off in a few minutes.

They’re nice to have, but probably not critical for up here given the nice flybridge space. I mostly got them in the off chance we go south. That said, knowing how often I’ve used them so far they’d be high on my options list.

Between the two diesel heaters and three reverse cycle kits I’m probably overstocked on climate control, but no regrets…

 

[KMAL]

Ha - "no regrets" is a good approach - hmmm, and not a bad boat name. Thanks for your feedback - nice to have your very recent build/experience to help in making decisions. Funny - was thinking of the heat that can build within a boat in both Ganges and Thetis when I posed the question - Usually a nice breeze in Ganges - but the sun hits you all day - Thetis, sun all day and often no breeze.

 

[rslifkin]

Reverse cycle is also nice for heat when at a dock without metered power. No point in burning expensive diesel for heat if you can use free power for it.

 

[KMAL]

Reverse cycle is also nice for heat when at a dock without metered power. No point in burning expensive diesel for heat if you can use free power for it.

Yes - thanks!

 

[KMAL]

Used it last night entertaining guests in Ganges. The salon got a bit warm in the afternoon despite having the shades down. Cooled the space off in a few minutes.

They’re nice to have, but probably not critical for up here given the nice flybridge space. I mostly got them in the off chance we go south. That said, knowing how often I’ve used them so far they’d be high on my options list.

Between the two diesel heaters and three reverse cycle kits I’m probably overstocked on climate control, but no regrets…

All very helpful - I have added to reverse cycle units to our build. Did you do anything different with your Genset or Shore Power to accommodate the RC units?