Shannon 51' Center cockpit

Rarely do we see a Shannon restoration that looks as good as if it was done by Walt Schulz and the Shannon crew. This is the case here with the Shannon 51’ center cockit ketch “Shamrock”.   All it took to complete such a stunning accomplishment was an owner who through hard work had his own world-renowned woodworking shop plus a lifetime of boating experience.  This owner had the patience not to rush this project and the good sense to use all the local Shannon original equipment suppliers.  While the hull identification number indicates that “Shamrock” is a 1984 model year, this boat truly deserves to be designated as a 2025.   Come inspect “Shamrock” to appreciate the epitome of New England nautical excellence. The only sad thing here is while the owner took the time to do the job right (like he has done his entire life), time did catch up with him (like it does with all of us), and he is no longer able to take “Shamrock” on the world-wide bluewater cruising adventures that he had planned.  The Shannon 51 is ICW friendly with a draft and mast height of 5'9" (centerboard up/9'9" centerboard down) and under 64' respectively.  Like all the models in the Shannon line, the 51 is a legendary passagemaker (200 mile days in the right conditions thanks to the 42'6" waterline and the ketch rig's 1227 square feet of sail) with luxurious accommodations for living aboard. The center cockpit layout provides for a magnificent owners cabin aft with en suite head, plus a great guest cabin forward with a second head, and a great sea cabin amidships with over/under single berths. With all everything so perfect and ready to go,  you can feel how unhappy this Shannon 51 center cockpit ketch is tied to the dock.   All she needs is new owners – hopefully that is where you will come in.  

This restoration from 2015 – 2025 was observed by marine surveyor James Hilton and here are his highlights of the work done:

1.  Remove and replace new teak eyebrows
2. Remove and replace new teak handrails
3. Remove , repair, and refinish all dorade boxes
4. Remove, repair, and refinish all teak hatches
5. Remove & replace, and refinish cockpit coaming caps
6. Remove & re-bed 20 opening portlights
7. Remove & replace inside Formica cabin trunks
8. Remove & replace inside Formica trunk returns to ceiling boards
9. Remove, replace, & refinish all associated trim
10. Clean all exposed bilge areas
11. Sand & refinish all exterior brightwork
12. Remove, clean, re-build 5 deck winches & reinstall
13. Remove & re-bed all deck hardware
14. Install 2 new Life sling bags
15. Remove water heater & replace with new
16. Remove & re-bed all hawse pipes
17. Remove all fuel tanks and replace with all new fuel tanks (all coated with 2 coats of clear finish & mounted on closed cell foam
18. All tank fittings and senders replaced with new with all new fuel lines
19. Remove & replace holding tank
20. Remove Fisher Panda generator and send to manufacturer for evaluation and repair – condemned
21. Replace failed generator with new Northern Lights 6 Kw diesel generator
22. Provided 12 new Type I offshore PFD’s
23. Installed 5 new cockpit drain fittings
24. Remove & refinish bunk tops
25. Clean, buff, & wax topsides
26. Extensive rewiring & replacement and reconfiguring of batteries, replacement of failed or aged fixtures
27. Remove & replace 3 8D AGM batteries & associated cabling
28. Remove & replace 2 Group 31 AGM batteries & associated cabling
29. Remove & install new battery selector switch & fusing to bow thruster Remove & replace all grounding wires to all tanks
30. Remove old unused wiring
31. Install new inverter charger & installed 2nd backup charger
32. Install new Flow-Jet booster pump with expansion tank
33. New water tank switching system
34. New hot & cold water manifold system
35. Replace copper water lines with braided nylon style
36. Replace bilge pumps with new Rule 2000 & 3800 w/new auto float switches
37.  Rebuild Racor filters
38. Replace fuel supply and return lines
39. Replace fuel lines for fuel polishing system
40. Rebuild fuel manifold Service all seacocks
41. Rebuild shower and sink regulators
42. Clean & polish all brass chafe plates
43. Remove, polish, & reinstall all deck cleats
44. Remove, clean & polish bow & stern rails, re-bed & reinstall
45. Remove, clean & polish emergency tiller port, re-bed & reinstall
46. Remove, clean & polish inspection ports for crash compartment, re-bed & reinstall
47. Sand & repair all doors, drawers, & associated hardware
48. Sand & repair bulwark caps
49. Remove, polish & reinstall stainless steel rub rails
50. Clean, compound & wax topsides
51. Replace sole in engine space
52. Replace hoses to water heater
53. Perform flush of engine cooling system
54. Remove & replace both heads with new
55. Refinish painted surfaces adjacent to heads
56. Refinish cabin sole
57. Clean, sand, & paint crew’s quarters
58. Fabricate shelf & hose cover in engine room
59. Replace lift top chart table & varnish to match surrounding surfaces
60. Remove & refinish book racks
61. Reinstall rebuilt companionway slider
62. Strip, sand main & mizzen masts & booms in preparation for re-painting
63. Replaced sacrificial anodes
64. Service mast winches
65. Replace ventilation fans in heads & shower
66. Remove & replace propane tanks for galley stove with new
67. Replace all outlets with duplex & GFCI’s
68. Rebuild all overhead lighting fixtures
69. Replace all engine space lighting
70. Rebuild fuel & water sender switching & gauges
71. Install all new navigation and sailing electronics
72. Install new stereo, amplifier, and speakers
73. Prime & re-paint main & mizzen masts and both booms
74. Replace all fasteners for all attachments on both masts and both booms
75. Replace all standing rigging
76. Replace all running rigging
77. Replace all exterior cushions with new
78. Replace all interior cushions with new
79. Fabricated all new fitted sheets
80. Replace dodger with new
81. Sails all new made in 2021 but not installed until 2025: 120% furling genoa Cross cut Dacron fully battened mainsail with 2 reef points Cross cut hank Dacron on staysail Cross cut Dacron fully battened mizzen with 2 reef points
82. Sail covers new 2021
83. Cockpit cover new 2025
84. Created charging system schematic 2025 Xantrex 40 amp charger new 2024
85. New inverter 2025
86. Replaced two alternators with new battery isolator
87. New propeller, bottom paint, zincs 2025

              SHANNON 51 “SHAMROCK” CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT

Hull: FRP composite with Airex linear foam core to the turn of the bilge and solid biaxial laminate keel and rudder skeg. 15,500 lbs. internal lead ballast.  The flawless exterior hull paint job of is done in white Awlgrip with single blue boot stripe

Decks: FRP composite with Divinylcell cross-linked foam core and newly rolled-on non-skid

Interior: Three sleeping cabin interior plan with spacious owner's stateroom aft with centerline queen berth. Two heads with showers. Exceptional main salon with two settee transom berths.  Seagoing galley and nav station. Joinerwork: Solid teak cabinetry. Oak faced bulkheads. Painted hull ceilings.  FRP laminate overhead.  Solid teak and holly cabin sole.

Engine: Yanmar 4JH3-DTE 125 hp diesel E30627 122 Propeller & Shaft: 3 bladed fixed Nibral on an 1 ½” Aquamet 22 stainless steel shaft. 130 hours.  The entire engine has been redone with new Soundown insulation, ventilation blowers, etc.

Fuel Tanks: 180 gallons aluminum - all new

Water tanks: 160 gallons 316 stainless steel – all new

Holding tanks: 24 gallon plastic new

 Generator: Northern Lights 6.0 Kw new 47 hours

Batteries: Two Group 31 AGMs  and  three 8D AGMs – new. Xantrex battery charger/inverter - new

 AC System: Two 30 amp 120 volt shore power input with 2 - 50’ 30 amp cords

 Anchors: Two 60# galvanized CQR’s to ½” galvanized all chain rodes

Windlass: Nilsson 12 volt windlass with bow foot switches

Pumps: Rule 2000 automatic bilge pump with Ultra automatic float switch (new) Rule 3700 automatic bilge pump with Ultra automatic float switch (new) Whale Gushermanual – cockpit Whale Gusher manual in aft cabin

Compass: Ritchie 6” Globemaster – pedestal Ritchie Navigator FN201 – forward helm VHF Radio: Icom IC-M506 DSC VHF - helm Standard Horizon Infinity – Chart table GPS: B&G Zeus3 12” at aft helm with 4Kw mast mounted radome B&G Zeus3 9” at the forward helm and chart table below Knotmeter: B&G Triton2 MFD’s at forward helm and chart table below Wind: B&G Triton2 MFD’s at forward helm and chart table below Fathometer: B&G Triton2 MFD’s at forward helm and chart table below.   Autopilot: Robertson AP10.  All new.

 Refrigeration: Seafrost 120 volt refrigerator – new 2020 Seafrost 120 volt freezer with holding plates

Microwave: 2020 Kenmore 700 watt.

Freshly varnished exterior teak trim including hatches, toe rails, hand rails, etc.

Portlights: Spartan Marine polished bronze. The 20 opening ports have all been removed, re-bedded, and re-installed. All of the gaskets have been replaced.

Exterior hardware:  All stainless steel hardware included bow and stern lines, life lines stanchions, chainplates, etc. have been rebedded. The new lifelines are 3/16-inch 1 x 19 stainless steel un-coated wire that have lifeline gates on the port & starboard sides.

Winches: all have been removed, re-bedded, serviced, greased, and re-installed.

Center cockpit: There are port and starboard benches that are 5-feet long and are in good condition.  The aft steering pedestal has a stainless steel handrail with an instrument pod mounted. Varnished spoked destroyer style steering wheel.

Canvas: Sunbrella/ising glass dodger with side curtains – new.

Dorades: Varnished teak dorade boxes with chrome bronze cowls recently cleaned and repainted on the inside.

Lighting: New/refurbished overhead dome and reading lightings.

Interior and exterior cushions:  All new/refurbished.

Stove: Recent gimballed three burner propane stovetop with oven. The propane system with two 10# tanks and propane solenoid shutoff.

Plumbing: Two marine heads with holding tanks with Y-valves and overboard macerator pumpouts.  New hoses.  New Raritan 20 gallon hot water heater

Air conditioners:  New and reconditioned Dometic and Mermaid units.   

Mast, rigging and sails: Double headsail ketch rig with club boom staysail.  The masts and booms have just been repainted with white Awlgrip.  The wire rigging, swaged terminal fittings, spreaders, and turnbuckles were just replaced. The running rigging is all new. The genoa, staysail, main, and mizzen built in 2021 and installed first time 2025. Boom vang.

Complete and highest quality safety gear, first aid kit, docklines, fenders, etc. as you would expect with a refit of such an excellent caliber.