My Journey With Allegro

A real owner’s story of choosing, customizing, cruising, and learning from life aboard a Helmsman 38E Trawler

A Real Owner’s Story

Making the Most of Life on a Helmsman 38E

My name is Mike Bushior, and I am the owner of Allegro, a Helmsman 38E Trawler built around comfort, visibility, space, and real cruising practicality.
I did not start boating until later in life, but once I did, it quickly became something I truly enjoyed. What began with a few deep sea fishing trips eventually turned into owning different boats, learning what worked for me, and discovering what I really wanted on the water.
Over time, I owned a 1988 Sea Ray Sundancer, then a 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer 310, and later a Beneteau Swift 30 Trawler named Allegro. That boat helped me realize how much I liked the trawler style of boating.
After researching Helmsman, watching many YouTube videos, reading about the boats, and traveling to Seattle to see one in person, I decided to have a new Helmsman 38E built. That boat became my new Allegro.

This website is my way of highlighting Allegro in detail. Her layout, custom upgrades, favorite features, power setup, and the everyday experience of owning and using her are all part of the story.

My goal is simple: to give visitors a closer, more personal look at Allegro from an owner’s point of view.

Comfort, Space, and Visibility

Why the Helmsman 38E Was My Choice

What I like most about Allegro is how practical and comfortable she feels in real life. The full beam cabin gives us more interior space, so the boat feels open and usable instead of cramped.

The raised pilothouse is another feature I really appreciate. It provides excellent visibility from the helm. The port and starboard doors make docking, moving around, and getting on or off the boat much easier.

Inside, Allegro has the comfort we wanted. The forward stateroom has good space, added side windows for more natural light, and a separate shower and head. The main cabin also works well for everyday use, with a practical galley, opening windows, plenty of outlets, USB ports, and even room for my recliner chair.

A Flybridge Built for Enjoying the Water

The flybridge has a lot of room. It includes a full upper helm station with seating for 5 or more, plus a large aft deck with a dock box added for storage. The best part is, there is a set of steps on the port and starboard sides. This is important for deploying fenders or tossing lines when docking. And, Austin, my German Shepherd can climb the steps with ease. A ladder would make this impossible for him.

The Pros and Cons of the Helmsman 38E

The Helmsman 38E has many features that make Allegro comfortable, practical, and enjoyable in real life. Like any boat, the full ownership experience also includes challenges, lessons, and details that only become clear after spending real time on board.

Pros:

Spacious full beam cabin
Excellent visibility from the raised pilothouse
Port and starboard doors for easier docking
Large flybridge with full second helm station
Stair access instead of a ladder
Comfortable forward stateroom with extra side windows
Separate shower and head
Full function Day Head
Practical galley with stove, oven, and microwave
Great natural light and ventilation
Plenty of outlets and USB ports
Solar and large house battery setup with inverter
No generator needed
Custom upgrades that make good sense
Comfortable layout for Mike, Christina, and Austin

Cons:

These are my experiences.