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Helms 24
The Helms 24 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Stuart Windley as a cruiser and first built in 1977.[1][2][3] ProductionThe design was built by Jack A. Helms Co., a furniture maker in Irmo, South Carolina, United States. Production was started in 1977 with 750 boats completed in total, but it is now out of production.[1][3][4] DesignThe Helms 24 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel or optional shoal draft keel. It displaces 4,200 lb (1,905 kg) and carries 1,850 lb (839 kg) of ballast.[1][3] The boat has a draft of 4.17 ft (1.27 m) with the standard keel and 3.00 ft (0.91 m) with the optional shoal draft keel.[1][3] The boat is normally fitted with a small 4 to 8 hp (3 to 6 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering. A Yanmar 1GM10 diesel inboard engine was optional.[1][3] The design has sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settees in the main cabin, with the port one able to be converted into a double. The galley is located on the starboard side at the companionway ladder. The galley is L-shaped and is equipped with a two-burner stove, icebox and a sink. The head is located just aft of the bow cabin on both sides and includes a sink. Cabin headroom is 68 in (173 cm).[1][3] The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 234 and a hull speed of 6.1 kn (11.3 km/h).[3] Operational historyIn a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "the brochure says she sleeps five, with the port settee converting to a double. But even assuming the starboard settee extends aft under the stove for foot room, it's hard to imagine five full-sized humans sleeping aboard comfortably, especially with the kiddy-sized V-berth forward. Best features: With her wide beam and high sheer, her space ... and headroom are much better than her comp[etitor]s. Her longer waterline and higher B/D ratio also help in the speed department, as indicated by her lower PHRF rating. Worst features: There may have been problems with leakage around the external lead keel seam..."[3] See alsoReferences
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