Helmsman 35 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Helmsman 35 means chasing a rare Danish-built Södergren design with only a handful of sisters afloat. Most used examples are owner three-cabin layouts, though both layout types appear, and ex-charter boats are a common sight on the market.
Layouts on the Used Market
The more frequently seen used configuration is the owner three-cabin plan, but the alternative layout is also available, so a buyer need not wait for one specific arrangement. Ex-charter hulls turn up often and may show harder wear in the mahogany interior and rigging than privately maintained boats, making a layout decision secondary to overall condition.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Helmsman 35s often carry a heating system and hot water, comforts that matter in Baltic-season cruising. A gennaker is a frequent addition for light-air performance, and many boats have an autopilot fitted for shorthanded sailing. These clusters — cabin heat and pressurized water on one hand, downwind sail and self-steering on the other — are the upgrades that define a usable modern example rather than a bare charter return.
What to Inspect
The deep fin keel draws 6.4 to 6.7 feet depending on load, so check the lead keel-to-hull joint and the spade rudder bearing for stress from grounding or marina contact draft is about 1.95 - 2.05 meter. The sandwich hull was built to improve cabin climate, but inspect the fibreglass skin for delamination or moisture given the age of these mid-1970s hulls. Beyond the design's inherent draft limitation, focus a survey on individual wear.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in Germany and Denmark. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm which layout suits you, expect ex-charter examples, verify heating and hot water work, and budget for a gennaker and autopilot if absent. Inspect the keel joint and rudder, and accept that sparse production means slow parts sourcing.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Helmsman 35. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 6 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 1 | $35,260 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $42,536 | +20.6% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $37,527 | -11.8% |
| May 26 | 1 | $37,527 | 0.0% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $25,745 | -31.4% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $33,581 | +30.4% |
Where they're listed
Helmsman 35 listings appear across 2 countries. Denmark has the most listings with 3 (60.0%), followed by Germany.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortina 35 | 35.83' | $ 109,266 | 27 | 10 |
| Artekno H-35 | 35' | $ 8,709 | 16 | 4 |
| Nordship 35 | 34.45' | $ 133,205 | 11 | 2 |
| Scanmar 35 | 35.1' | $ 38,000 | 10 | 4 |
| Granada 35 | 35.76' | $ 32,462 | 9 | 2 |
| Maestro 35 | 35.27' | $ 69,401 | 6 | 6 |
| Helmsman 35You are here | — | $ 37,527 | 5 | 1 |
| Baltic 35 | 34.83' | $ 65,580 | 3 | 0 |