Express Yourself

Henriques is known for creating rugged offshore boats with an emphasis placed on fishability. This philosophy appealed to many who wanted either a larger boat than the company’s 28 Express, or did not need the accommodations of the 38 Flying Bridge design. To answer these requests, Henriques introduced the 35 Express Fisherman.

The 35 hull is a scaled down version of the Henriques 38, a venerable offshore performer. The wide beam, deep-V forward, and flat sections aft have endowed this design with a good blend of speed, smooth running, and stable trolling. Eliminating the cabin and bridge reduces weight and lowers the center of gravity, further improving performance and stability.

The large bridgedeck area is more spacious than a flying bridge would be on a similar boat. The 35 includes a long bench seat down the port side, an athwartships seat aft to starboard, and swivel chairs for the helmsman and navigator. The entire area is protected from the elements with a high windshield and hardtop. Our test boat, which had already been delivered to a customer, was loaded with electronics and still had room to spare. The radar, plotter, and fishfinder were centered in front of the helm just below the skipper’s normal line of sight, effectively integrating electronic information with visual observation. The VHF and SSB radios were close at hand, just to the right of the helm. For servicing the electronics, the entire console hinges out. The helm seat sits atop a short pedestal mounted to a storage cabinet, making use of the space under the captain’s chair. Additional storage lockers, cabinets, and drawers occupy every nook and cranny.

Fishing comes first with Henriques, as the large, well-configured cockpit emphasizes. The boat comes out of the mold with the ability to tailor the tackle center to the purchaser’s requirements. Space is provided for a large freezer, bait prep sink, drink cooler, cutting board, and an assortment of drawers and cabinets. The transom door and livewell are both a little larger than average, and the two fishboxes in the cockpit sole are huge.

The cabin is entered via a sliding companionway door just to the left of the helm console. The light-colored wood and open arrangement impart a spacious feel. The boat can comfortably sleep five, although not with any privacy. In addition to the V-berth forward, the dinette table lowers to form an additional double, and the outboard dinette backrest hinges up to form a Pullman bed. On the port side across from the dinette, the galley includes a sink and stove recessed into Corian countertops, a refrigerator, microwave, and a TV/VCR. Aft of the galley, the spacious head includes a curtain and retractable faucet for showering. Provisions for storage are above average. Rod lockers above the V-berth are extended into the anchor locker, providing enough length for full-sized boat rods for use with a fighting chair. The V-berth includes cabinet doors and drawers underneath, much easier to access than the typical routine of lifting a mattress and a hatch cover. Even the companionway stairs are fitted with deep drawers to better utilize the space.

The engineroom is equally well apportioned. A large hatch in the bridgedeck opens to reveal aluminum stairs with fiberglass diamond-plate patterned treds, rather than the usual small ladder. The bilge between the engines is also covered with a fiberglass diamond-plate patterned insert. By placing the fuel tanks and batteries under the cockpit, which are easily accessed with the fishboxes removed, Henriques is able to provide outstanding access to all sides of the engines. Sea strainers, fuel filters, and other maintenance items are also close at hand, and the generator is out of the way yet accessible beneath the removable stairs.

Henriques offers at least seven engine options from Caterpillar, Cummins, Volvo, and Yanmar. Our test boat was equipped with twin 420 horsepower Yanmars, which propelled us to a top speed of 35.4 miles-per-hour at 3400 RPM. Test results showed a remarkably flat curve when comparing speed and fuel consumption, averaging about one mile-per-gallon from twelve to thirty-one miles-per-hour. Peak economy was at 2500 RPM, making 24.9 miles-per-hour and traveling 1.07 miles-per-gallon. At 3000 RPM we made 31.6 miles-per-hour at 0.92 gallons-per-mile for a range of 302 miles. For long distance passages, a speed of 10 miles-per-hour resulted in a range of 961 miles, perfect for trolling for big Blue Marlin all the way to Bermuda.

For anglers who don’t require a large salon, express fishermen offer an attractive option. The 35 Express from Henriques is able to fish offshore with the best of the fleet for considerably less expense than a similar convertible. If you desire an affordable package for serious offshore fishing, express yourself.

By Capt. Vince Daniello

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Henriques 35 Express Sportfisherman is 34.9 mph (56.2 kph), burning 47.7 gallons per hour (gph) or 180.54 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Henriques 35 Express Sportfisherman is 24.9 mph (40.1 kph), and the boat gets 1.07 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.45 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 352 miles (566.49 kilometers).


• Tested power is 2 x 420-hp Yanmar 6LY2-STE - Diesel.