Halvorsen 38 Gourmet Cruiser

If there is one name in the boatbuilding world that needs little or no introduction, it would have to be Halvorsen. Since 1870 the Halvorsen family has been building boats, with five generations of Halvorsens continuing the tradition.

Halvorsen played a major part in Australia's boatbuilding history also, and from 1925 to 1980 the company built nearly 1300 craft on Australian soil. After selling its Ryde, NSW boatyard to the Navy, the company saw Asia as a more economical location to build its craft - and to this day, the company builds the majority of its models in southern China.

We are happy to report, however, that the Halvorsen name has rejoined the Australian boatbuilding community. Harvey Halvorsen has designed and is building the all-new Halvorsen 38 Gourmet Cruiser in Sydney.

It is the new 38 that is the subject of this review, and we were fortunate enough to test hull numbers one and two, which feature different internal layouts.

Hull number one, Jennifer, was built for Richard Cavill - owner of Cav's Steakhouse [DG: If you are ever on the Gold Coast, drop in to Cav's for a steak; they are the best in Australia] - and hull number two, Ruby Blue, was built for hotel-owner Greg Fitzgibbon.

POWER AND GLORY
The main differences between the two boats are that Richard's boat features a single 440hp Yanmar diesel engine, extended hardtop and two-cabin layout with galley up, while Greg's boat is fitted with twin 240hp Yanmar diesels, has the standard hardtop and features a single stateroom with galley down.

Considering that the owners of both boats are in the hospitality industry, it's not surprising to hear that they love entertaining - and the 38 Gourmet Cruiser is certainly designed with this in mind.

Both Richard and Greg commented that while they were attracted to the timeless lines of a classic timber Bay Cruiser, the maintenance and lack of speed steered them away from owning such a boat. But the Halvorsen 38 met their requirements with its stylish-yet-classic lines, open and spacious interior, minimal maintenance required with a GRP hull and, of course, a good turn of speed.

Indeed, for the busy boat owner, making the most of his or her time is paramount. Therefore being able to get to a chosen location at 20kt-plus makes a lot more sense that pottering around at 8kt.

When comparing the two boats, it's impossible to say one is better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference.

If you had a couple of kids, it would make sense to go for the layout with the galley up and the two bunks in the starboard cabin. However, if it's just you and your loved one, the single cabin layout with a nice big galley down and a bit more space in the saloon makes sense.

Being childless, this writer found the layout on Greg's boat slightly more appealing - the twin engine setup, which provides excellent manoeuvrability, was also a plus.

With a bowthruster fitted though, Richard's single-engine model was far from hard to park.

A feature of Richard's boat that did appeal was the extended hardtop. Although it probably does detract from the boat's overall looks, it certainly makes a lot of sense to create that extra shade and entice you to spend more time in the cockpit. Richard confesses that he is an outdoors man and couldn't live without the extended hardtop.

Another option that Richard has fitted is teak decking on the cockpit and swim platform. This is a nice touch, and complements the other teak throughout the boat.

OPTIONS BELOW
Both boats feature a master stateroom forward with a double island berth that incorporates storage drawers below. Teak cabinetry is used throughout, which offers both practicality and timeless charm. Wardrobes are located on either side, and ample lighting is also provided.

Aft of the master stateroom on the port side is the head, which incorporates a separate shower stall, vanity unit with Corian washbasin and countertop, and a Raritan electric loo linked to a holding tank. There is also an exhaust fan and appropriate lighting.

Opposite, the head on the starboard side is one area where the two boats differ. Richard's boat features a guest cabin with twin bunks, wardrobe and drawers, while Greg's boat features a fully-cocked galley in this location.

The U-shaped galley is very functional and incorporates a Corian countertop, sink and splashback, three-burner gas cooktop, LG household microwave as well as under-bench icebox, Eutectic fridge and rubbish bin. Drop-down plate storage and mug racks are nice touches.

It's three steps up from the forward companionway to the saloon. Polished teak and holly floors feature throughout the boat, however Richard has opted to install removable carpet in his saloon. We did notice that the carpet in the saloon on Richard's boat provided additional insulation, with engine noise being noticeably quieter. Although the polished teak and holly floors look spectacular, they can get a bit slippery when wet.

Both boats feature the helm station to starboard at the forward end of the saloon with an L-shaped lounge and dinette to port. The helm seat is a small bench style that could seat two at a pinch. Vision from the helm is excellent with nice big windows right around the boat. Three separate windscreen panels ensure strength, and all feature their own wipers.

Helm setups on both boats are fairly similar, although Greg has opted for a full electronics package from Raymarine, incorporating an RL80C 10in screen that displays his chartplotter, sounder and radar. There is also a Raymarine autopilot and VHF radio.

Richard, on the other hand, has gone for a full PC-based system supplied by TMQ, which also incorporates his sounder and plotter as well as giving him fax, email and internet capabilities. Together with the remote keyboard this is one very sweet package. There is also a TMQ autopilot and Icom VHF.

The galley on Richard's boat is located directly behind the helm and continues down the starboard side. The helm seat folds forward to reveal a huge Eutectic freezer, while a similar-sized fridge is aft of that. Other galley features include a Corian sink and countertop, gas oven with cooktop and plenty of cupboard space.

At the aft end of the saloon on the port side, Richard has a built-in bar with wine and glass storage, while Greg has installed an optional Eutectic fridge and freezer in this location. You can never have too much refrigeration on a boat, and this setup is another smart inclusion that complements the already well-appointed galley.

Both boats were fitted with Bose entertainment systems linked to a flatscreen TV for playing DVDs, CDs and MP3s. These sound systems are second to none, and the fact that they are installed on a boat is again testament to the love of partying these guys possess.

Access to the engineroom is via the saloon floor. Large hatches rise on gas struts and do provide good access, but unfortunately the dinette table has to be removed to raise the port engine hatch effectively. You can still access the port engine on Greg's boat from the starboard hatch, but of course it would be much better if you could easily raise both hatches.

GREAT OUTDOORS
A big centre door with sliding panels leads you from the saloon to the cockpit. The cockpit is self draining by way of a scupper system incorporated in the floor rather than the transom. This is a smart inclusion - the four big drains remove water quickly.

Two aft-facing seats are located at the forward end of the cockpit on either side and feature storage space below. These are good places to store ropes, fenders, cleaning gear and the like, although they do need some form of drainage.

A centrally-located transom door provides easy access to the swim platform, and a freshwater shower adjacent to the door allows you to get the salt off after a swim. Heavy-duty reinforced cleats and stainless-steel hawsepipes are other cockpit highlights.

Steps on either side of the cockpit provide easy access to the sidedecks, but the sidedecks themselves could be a bit wider. The polished teak cap rail that runs along the sidedecks is a stylish addition, but it reduces the area available to walk on. When walking along the sidedecks to tie fenders to the roof rail, I found myself walking on the teak cap rail.

Richard has tried to eliminate the problem by fitting handrails to the top of the roof rather than the side. It's always a hard call - the compromise between internal volume and sidedeck width. Another issue I had with the cap rail was that when the fenders were tied to the roof rail, the fender ropes were rubbing on the cap rail. This is an area where I can see frequent sanding and varnishing required.

We tested the Halvorsen 38s on a very choppy Moreton Bay. I was very impressed by how well the boats handled the short, sharp chop. Sure, there was plenty of water getting thrown around, but the softness of ride was really quite remarkable.

It is obviously a very efficient hull design with its sharp entry made to cut through the waves rather than ride over them. With the single 440 or the twin 240s, both boats cruised comfortably at around 20kt and reached a top speed of about 25kt. That's a good turn of speed for a 38-footer with less than 500hp. Efficient cruising too when you're only burning about 40lt/h total at 20kt.

The Halvorsen 38 Gourmet Cruiser is a real headturner. It's got all the style and grace of a classic timber cruiser but without the headaches of constant maintenance. It would be right at home on any of our major bays or harbours, but still has the construction and seaworthiness to travel the coast.

If you see yourself in a classic cruiser but have more important things to do with your weekends than sand and paint, the Halvorsen 38 Gourmet Cruiser might just be worth a closer look.

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