Helms 32
Description
The Helms 32 (also known as the Helms 32 Scow or Helms 32 Cruiser) is a rare, American-built fiberglass sailboat produced in very limited numbers by Jack A. Helms Co. around 1980–1982, with fewer than 20 hulls believed to have been completed. Designed as a larger development of the popular Helms 27, the Helms 32 stretches to 31 feet 9 inches LOA with a generous 11-foot beam, shallow fixed keel (3 ft 6 in draft), and distinctive hard-chine hull form that gives it a somewhat scow-like appearance. It carries a masthead sloop rig with a tall fractional-style sail plan, 6,800 lbs. displacement, and 2,800 lbs. of ballast, resulting in a very stiff, stable platform that excels in light to moderate air and is notably roomy below decks for its length (sleeping 6, full standing headroom, large galley, and enclosed head). While comfortable for coastal and Intracoastal cruising with surprisingly good performance for a shallow-draft cruiser, the Helms 32 remains obscure today due to its tiny production run and is considered a quirky, spacious hidden gem among 1980s American production sailboats.
Construction Details
| Designer | Stuart Windley |
|---|---|
| Builder | Jack A Helms Co. |
| Length | 32.000 ft |
| LOA | 32.000 ft |
| LWL | 25.500 ft |
| Beam | 10.500 ft |
| Displacement | 9500 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.830 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 40 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13 ft |
| p | 35 ft |
| e | 11 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 ft | 13 ft | 35 ft | 11 ft | - | - | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
Helms 32 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 35 ft - (10668 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 11 ft - (3353 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.19 ft - (11031 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 36.32 ft - (11070 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | 192.29 ft² |
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Helms 32 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 33.65 ft - (10257 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.26 ft - (5261 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.14 ft - (8882 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.95 ft - (4557 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 251.45 ft² |
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Helms 32 - GENOA
| Luff | * 39.96 ft - (12180 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.03 ft - (6410 mm) |
| Leech | * 37.54 ft - (11442 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19.5 ft - (5944 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 389.56 ft² |
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Helms 32 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 39.96 ft - (12180 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 23.4 ft - (7132 mm) |
| Foot | * 23.4 ft - (7132 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 794.8 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.