This new model from one of America's most respected builders is their latest evolution of a true shallow water sailboat. Shannon is known primarily for building traditional bluewa-ter cruisers and this is its 31st year of continuous operation. The Shoalsailer 32, introduced in 2001, took the company in an intriguing new direction. Shannons were no longer just for world cruising. The Shoalsailers take the concept of coastal cruising seriously and the new Shoalsailer 35 blends extreme thin-water access, the draft is just 30 inches, with comfortable accommodations and surprising performance both under sail and power, especially if you opt for the high-speed package.

I recently joined Bill Ramos, who's been with Shannon since 1978, for a SAILING Magazine boat test off the port of Miami. Unfortunately, the wind was on the light side as we eased along over the low Gulf Stream swell. Still, I was impressed as we skipped along on a close reach at 5 knots in true winds of about 8 knots.

The details

The Shoalsailer 35 has a unique hull design. Developed by Shannon founder Walter Schulz and by George Carter, the hull has a fine entry that quickly flares. The maximum beam of 12 feet, 9 inches is achieved amidships and is carried straight aft to a flat broad transom. The long shallow keel has a soft radius that is designed and constructed to be driven up onto a beach. The propeller is protected by a skeg extension and the twin rudders kick up. Unlike most sailboats, it's not the keel that generates lift but the slope of the hull itself. Although the Shoalsailer 35 has substantial initial stability due to its wide beam, its overall range of positive stability is not much different from a comparable deep-fin keelboat. Shannon has patented the Shoalsailer hull and keel shape.

The hull is constructed with a composite PVC foam core and includes additional reinforcing in the forward sections to endure intentional groundings and beachings. The hull is also foam cored and joined to the hull with mechanical fasteners and adhesive sealant. Shannon has always built solid boats and the Shoalsailer 35 is no exception. As is the case with most boats less than 40 feet (and some longer than), molded liners are used to support the hull and furnishings below. The Shoalsailer 35 has a full-length molded grid fiberglassed to the hull. The 2,700 pounds of lead ballast is encapsulated in the keel. The mast is keel stepped.

On deck

The cockpit of the Shoalsailer 35 is incredibly spacious. This is where the beam is most apparent. Twin wheels not only allow easy access to the swim platform but also open up the entire cockpit, making it seem like you're on a 45-footer. Shannon is one of the few builders to include dual engine controls, making it easy to dock the boat from either helm. Each helm station includes a 30-inch Edson wheel. The primary Lewmar 48 Ocean winches can be reached from either helmThe primary Lewmar 48 Ocean winches can be reached from either helm station but the mainsheet lead is on the aft end of the coachroof.

SHOALSAILER 32 REVIEWS

Since the introduction of the Shoalsailer 32 at the Fall 2000 Boat Shows, the Shoalsailer 32 has been reviewed by various magazines editors, from which we will soon post excerpts on this site as they become available to us.

The following review is by Robert H. Perry from Sailing Magazine, December 2000 issue.

.There are two daggerboards well off center and raked forward. These are short, low-aspect-ratio boards that do not increase the sailing draft of the boat when down. Walter said that you do not even need them until the breeze gets over 18 knots. This means you can really forget about draft most of the time. There are twin lifting, beachable rudders that work well with the shoal-draft approach.

The photos of the boat under sail show a good portion of the transom dragging and this is never fast. However, compared to other shoal-draft boats, I think this boat will do better than hold its own. Walter tells me that they hold their own against a deep-draft C&C 30, but they are not as fast or close-winded as a J/30. I think that indicates very respectable performance against recognized benchmarks.

The interior is well laid-out and pretty comparable to what you would find in any 32-footer. The big difference is that this boat offers 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom. There are three hanging lockers in this boat and a good-sized galley.

The deck takes advantage of the ultra-beamy stern to use a two-wheel cockpit configuration. This allows a clear walk-through to the transom swim step. Under sail you can sit well outboard and get a clear view of the jib luff.

Shoal-draft boats usually don't excite me. I know their limitations despite brochure claims. Walter and George may have a new, successful breed of shoal-draft boat here. I predict success for this effort.

The Annapolis Boat Show was sure fun this year. If you have never been to this show you should make plans to go next year. It is by far the best show in the country and a truly festive occasion for any sailor.

I came a couple of days early this year and took an afternoon to meet with the legendary guitar builder Paul Reed Smith and to tour his nearby guitar factory. Talk about being a kid in a candy shop. Walking around his guitar factory I probably had about the same feeling that you'd have wandering around the Annapolis Boat Show. So little time, so many toys.

At the show, I was happy to see Walter Schulz sitting on his newest project, the Shoalsailer 32. Now if you are reading this on the West Coast I can assure you that you probably do not have a clear appreciation of just how important shoal draft is to East Coast sailors. Shoal-draft keel versions will outsell their deep-draft brothers four to one. One the East Coast the primary cruising concern has to be "is there enough water there for me to get in?" The Shoalsailer 32 is designed to eliminate that concern.

The patent-pending hull shape was drawn by Walter with the help on the rudder and daggerboards from George Carter. This hull is no whim or arbitrary attempt at something different. There are more than five years of testing prototypes behind this final hull shape. A lot of this testing involved chined versions of the hull that had disastrous handing characteristics. The basic midsection that slowly evolved is a flared shape above the DWL, with a deep center section. The extremely slack and narrow bilges rise to a very hard turn (but not a chine) just above the DWL. It's kind of like a beamy light hull sitting on top of a deep and narrow light boat.

The L/B of 2.54 indicates a very beamy boat. From maximum beam to the transom there is almost no taper. All the ingredients are here for a really ugly boat. But surprise, one you get over the beam at the transom this is a very handsome and conventional looking boat. Bow profile, entry, sheer and cabin trunk contours are artfully drawn . The D/L is 157.

What is a Shoalsailer?

Interior and Deck Layout

Photos

Price and Specifications

Shoalsailer FAQ

Reprinted from Southern Boating Magazine, February 2001:

Shannon Shoalsailer 32

Shannon, long a byword in the boating industry for quality offshore yachts, has done a complete about-face with its Shoalsailer. With this innovative 32 footer, co-designers Walt Schulz, founder of Shannon, and George Carter have created the ultimate inshore cruiser, intended to go where no sailing vessel has gone before.

Well, not quite, but the idea of a beachable monohull that can sail in less than three feet of water is unusual, to say the least. Good on all points of sail, the most amazing thing about the performance of this very beamy vessel is its windward ability. With virtually no keel and a pair or electrically operated daggerboards, the Shoalsailer won't outpoint a 12-meter, but she will match many a conventional keelboat in windward performance.

It must be emphasized that the board-down configuration doesn't increase the overall draft, as is the case with centerboarders or multihulls. The draft remains at 30" whether the boards are in use or not. The boat is designed so the boards only need to be activated when going to weather, and only when the wind exceeds 18 knots. And if you were worried about bending the dual rudders, they swing up when necessary. The prop is protected by the shallow keel/skeg.

The spacious interior has 6'5" headroom and a tri-cabin layout to sleep six. There's a full galley, enclosed head with shower and plenty of storage. This wonderful little boat is ideal for cruising the Keys, the Bahamas or any gunkholing area.

SOUTHERN BOATING/Feb. 2001
www.southernboating.com

Unique design and innovative thinking combine in this thin-water gem

Sailing in Biscayne Bay earlier this year my daughters wondered why we couldn't pull up to the sandbar like the other boats. The sandbar is a popular swimming spot, where small sailboats, catamarans and powerboats surround it at low tide like a necklace. Unfortunately if you have more than 3 inches of draft it is off limits. In fact, even in my neck of the world three alluring cruising grounds—the shimmering flats of the Bahamas, the turquoise waters of Florida Bay, and the tea colored channels between barrier islands in Charlotte Harbor—all share one primary feature, a lack of water. You need a true shoal-draft boat to properly explore these areas, not just a shortened version of a deep keel. Unless you consider a multihull, which is a different kettle of fish altogether, your monohull options are limited to a boat with some type of lifting keel. Unfortunately, when the keel is up sailing performance is down. Most centerboard boats struggle sailing in any direction other than downwind with the board up. What's the solution? The Shannon Shoalsailer 35.

Reprinted from SAILING, July 2006
Boat Test

Shannon Shoalsailer 35
by John Kretschmer with photography by Walter Cooper

You have a genoa for reaching and light air work and a working jib for sailing upwind and when the things turn ugly. Both sails are roller furled. The other plan, called the high speed-packages, includes a larger, roachier main and a fractional rig. This option also includes a 12-horsepower diesel, which we'll discuss later.

Down below

The interior arrangement is predictable but it works. And the execution is very nice as Shannon's fine joinerwork and spare New England styling gives the cabin a friendly air. The shallow companionway steps are easy to negotiate, you don't have far to go to drop below and yet there is still 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom. Immediately to starboard is the L-shaped galley. There is a decent amount of counter space and a handsome curved fiddle that wraps around the single, stainless steel sink. A two burner Force 10 stove, and Sea Frost 12-volt refrigeration are standard. The locker above the stove accommodates the cutlery and there is additional storage under the sink and aft of the stove.

A convertible bimini, designed for protection from both the sun and seas, restricts visibility a bit, but that's a tradeoff we southern sailors are prepared to make. The cockpit table opens up to seat as many people as you'd ever want aboard a 35-foot boat.

The side decks are wide and easy to navigate and the diamond patterned nonskid offers good traction. A stainless steel handrail runs the length of the coach-roof and the stanchions and double lifelines are well supported. A single bow roller is perched at the end of the bowsprit and a Quick vertical windlass is optional. The anchor locker is below deck. Overall the deck hardware is typically Shannon— robust. The Shoalsailer is, by design, a warm weather boat and consequently the ventilation is good. Four overhead hatches and seven opening portlights keep the air flowing down below.

The rig is heavily stayed, and it needs to be, remember the Shoalsailer is designed to be beached. The aluminum section is painted white with Imron polyurethane, which looks great when newbut will be an additional maintenance item down the road.

The engine is located behind the companionway steps. The notion of making time under power is central to Schulz's design philosophy for the Shoalsailer 35. A 125-horsepower, 4-cylinder turbo Yanmar die-sel is now standard. This engine combined with the Shoalsailer's unique hull shape, a custom trim tab and high-performance prop make double digit speeds under power possible. A 40-horsepow-er Yanmar is also available, and even with this "small" diesel, the Shoalsailer approaches 8 knots under power.

Engine access is excellent. To understand the Shoalsailer 35's priorities just look at the tankage. Standard fuel is 100 gallons in three aluminum tanks while water is 60 gallons in two PVC tanks. And that makes sense. Most Shoalsailors will fit a watermaker and the 100 gallons of fuel provides for a lot of range under power, even when zooming along at 10 knots.

The fridge/freezer compartment is to port and doubles as a makeshift navigation station. Schulz, like many designers these days, contends that almost all of the navigating takes place in the cockpit these days. And while I am not quite ready to concede that point, it's probably accurate on the Shoalsailer 35. Nursing the boat into shallow water you are paying close attention to the chartplotter and depthsounder mounted at the helm, not dashing below to a chart table.

Aft of what might be called the nav station is a large head and shower. One head makes perfect sense on a 35-foot boat, even one with a lot of beam and overall interior space. The aft cabin is a bit tight, squeezed under the cockpit and accessed from behind the galley. The double bunk is just 6 feet long. A small hanging locker is the only real storage.

The saloon includes a center-line table with straight settees on either side. There are lockers above and long shelves running forward. The forward cabin features a good sized V-berth and two hanging lockers. The filler cushion and overhead hatch make this the preferred cabin.

Under sail

Back on the Atlantic we were doing our best to coax the Shoalsailer 35 along in the light air. I was impressed by the response at the helm and the overall balance of the sailplan. The boat didn't require much steering. Thankfully just when we were about to fire up the big Yanmar an offshore breeze sprang up. We hauled in the sheets on the genoa and brought the boat on the wind. Ramos explained that the jib was usually the better option upwind and we put it to the test. He was right. At less than 40 degrees apparent we were still not stalling, impressive for a genuine shoal-draft, beamy boat.

Our fun was short lived, the wind petered out. We fired up the engine and Ramos couldn't help himself. Pushing the throttle forward we took off. At 3,000 rpms we just touched 10 knots.

The mainsheet traveler is forward of the companionway, which is a midboom sheeting arrangement that can load up the boom, reducing efficiency. Still, what's the alternative, cluttering up the cockpit? Although Shannon emphasizes the 35's sailing performance, the primary function of the boat is to nibble around shallow water islands and enjoy the good life in the huge cockpit. The genoa track leads are well inboard, which not only provide nice, tight sheeting angles but keep the side decks uncluttered. The full-batten mainsail includes a single-line reefing system that is controlled from the cockpit.

The Shoalsailer 35 is available with two different sailplans. The scutter, which is Schulz's clever combination of sloop and cutter, is essentially a double-headsail sloop. Our test boat was fitted with this arrangement, including a 130-percent roller-furling genoa forward, and a 90-percent flat-cut jib set on the inner forestay. The genoa stay is led to the bowsprit and the inner stay to the stem. I like this arrangement

SHOALSAILER 32 RECEIVES CRUISING WORLD MAGAZINE'S 2001 BOAT OF THE YEAR "EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD FOR INNOVATION"

Editor's Choice for Innovation:
Shoalsailer 32

There are many amazing things about the Shoalsailer 32, the avowed "beachboat" from Shannon Yachts. Perhaps the most remarkable is the fact that this fun, smart coastal cruiser comes from a builder long known for traditional offshore voyagers. You're thinking it's impossible to teach old dogs new ticks, and here comes Shannon's patriarch, Walter Schulz, just woofin' a most unexpected tune.

Let's state right up front that the Shannon Shoalsailer isn't for everyone, particularly the narrow-minded. She's keelless, broad as a barn, and employs twin daggerboards that are controlled electronically from the twin--that's correct, twin helm stations. She's not meant to cross oceans, visit Antarctica, or win the America's Cup.

Walter Schulz conceived the boat--which, boards down, draws less than 30 inches--as a vehicle to roam around places he cherishes like Biscayne Bay, the Keys, the Chesapeake, and the Bahamas. Not coincidentally, these are waters that don't favor the large, deep-drafted Shannons with which he made his name.

With the Shoalsailer, he's succeeded (see next month's CW for a complete review of the boat). It sails surprisingly

well, and with its huge cockpit, it was made for bit groups of family or friends to while away an afternoon in the cozy confines of their own private backwater. Not so surprisingly, for sailors tend to be a conservative lot, Schulz's vision has already been harshly criticized by some who haven't taken the time to figure out what the builder meant to achieve. Primarily for that reason, Schulz said, "Who needs it?" and didn't enter Boat of the Year or copycat contests. But wandering the docks at last fall's boat shows, I found the Shoalsailer the most innovative boat for 2001 *(although the Hunter HC50, on page 48 was right up there). So although the boat wasn't reviewed by our judging panel and must be considered an "unofficial entrant" by the power vested in me by the guy who signs my paycheck, I'm pleased to honor the Shoalsailer 32 as our Most Innovative boat of the Year.

Due to its unofficial nature, the only prize that comes with the award is this: Nice going, Walter.

Herb McCormick

Reprinted from Cruising World Magazine, January 2001
www.cruisingworld.com
Reprinted from SAILING Magazine,
125 E. Main Street
Port Washington, WI 53074
(800)236-7444
www.sailingonline.com

home

Copyright © 2006-2009 Schulz Boat Co