Shannon 47/52 Deck Plans

The deck configuration of the Shannon 47 fully reflects the dual reality that eighty percent of time awake on board is spent in the cockpit and that safety while underway should be of paramount importance. Special attention has been paid to designing the most comfortable and safest deck plan possible. Sailing a boat at times requires leaving the cockpit and going forward to tend sails or handle docklines and anchors. The non-skid areas in the deck are an exclusive Shannon feature. Shannon's non-skid has a custom molded-in raised diamond pattern that provides excellent traction and prevents "hydroplaning" on wet decks. This non-skid is simple to clean, and the diamond pattern can be repaired easily if the gelcoat is ever damaged.

Sidedecks

The sidedecks on the Shannon 47 offer very ample space from the trunk cabin outboard to the teak toe rail, double lifelines, and 30" tall stainless steel stanchions. Mast stays and genoa tracks are positioned outboard at the toe rail. This is a significant safety difference between the 47 and the typical combination racer/cruiser. Going forward at night or in bad weather on a boat with shrouds and genoa tracks right in the middle of the sidedeck can be difficult or even hazardous. The one or two degrees improvement in windward performance that inboard shrouds and tracks may provide does not warrant this liability, except for the daysailer or diehard racer. Accepting the premise that safety should be foremost, the Shannon 47's sidedecks allow an unobstructed passage from the cockpit to the bow

Cockpit design

Along with seaworthiness, performance and safety, another important concern in boat design is comfort. A substantial amount of time was spent prototyping the cockpit layout for the Shannon 47. Unfortunately many boatbuilders (and many inexperienced boat buyers) only focus on interior space and layouts below. Consequently they have ignored the critical design and space issues of the cockpit. A small cockpit does not provide the necessary room and comfort. The angle of the seat back and the width of the seat become critical considerations after a few hours sailing. The Shannon 47's cockpit has seats long enough to stretch out and lie down on, and the distance between the seats will permit even short people to brace themselves when the boat is heeled. Cockpit seats that are not long enough for sleeping preclude a rest in the cockpit, whether for an afternoon nap when anchored or while underway at night. The 47's cockpit was also designed for easy movement getting from behind the wheel to go forward. The primary winches, instruments, and engine panel are positioned for access and visibility from the helm, so that when sailing, it is not necessary constantly to move to see instruments or tend sails.

The cockpit of the 47 is a secure and dry place, surrounded by high coamings that keep water out. Because it is critical that the cockpit drain quickly, especially if filled by breaking waves in a storm, there are a total of nine scuppers in the cockpit, four 1 1/2" and five 3/4". Another safety feature of the cockpit design is that it permits the use of a full length emergency tiller installed directly onto the rudder post that can be used while comfortably seated. Often emergency tillers are too short and located in such awkward locations that they are very difficult to use for more than a few hours

The cockpit on the Shannon 47 has one deep sail locker and a shallow storage pan under the cockpit seats to port and starboard, plus a storage area under a hatch in the cockpit sole. Even though roller furled jibs make it a misnomer to call these sail lockers, these storage areas are rapidly filled by fenders, inflatables, lines, etc. The deep sail locker allows quick access to the back of the engine, stuffing box, rudder quadrant, and other machinery

Bow Platform

The bow platform or bowsprit on the Shannon 47 serves many functions. It extends the sail plan horizontally allowing for a double headsail rig. The bow platform allows for carrying two oversized anchors (of different designs) each with a separate anchor rode and its own deck pipe into the divided chain locker in the bow. Unlike other boats, where it may be necessary to get a second anchor out of a cockpit locker at 3 AM when the boat starts dragging during a line squall, the 47 has another anchor ready that can be set quickly and safely.

The Shannon 47 can carry either nylon line or chain anchor rodes, depending on the owner's choice, and will also accommodate virtually any type windlass. The bow platform is secured by bolts through the deck and a solid rod bobstay. The stainless steel bobstay fitting is bolted to the hull just above the waterline. It is so strong that a mooring pennant can be shackled through a special fitting so the entire boat can swing off the bobstay fitting, without any concern about chafing. This is particularly important if moored in storm conditions. Beyond rig and ground tackle considerations, the bow platform provides an ideal vantage point for spotting coral heads or bottom changes when exploring unfamiliar waters

Ventilation, portlights, & deck hatches

Proper ventilation is very important both when underway or at anchor, especially in warmer climates such as the Caribbean. There is generally some wind in an anchorage, but a boat must be able to open up and take full advantage of the breeze. On the Shannon 47 there are four 4" vents with baffled dorade boxes (one with a solar vent to keep air circulating when the boat is buttoned up), twelve opening portlights (every port on a Shannon is an opening port), and four to seven deck hatches. The 47 deck is custom configured so that that deck hatches can be positioned anywhere on the deck. This allows the ultimate flexibility when designing an interior plan as there is no need on the Shannon 47 to position cabins to allowing for deck hatches which are a permanent and immoveable part of the deck. While most larger sailboats do have 110 VAC generating systems and air conditioning, the exhaust noise produced by them can annoy your neighbors. It can be frustrating to have to run a generator and air conditioning to keep a boat cool because the ports do not open and there are not enough hatches, disturbing the tranquility of a beautiful peaceful cove in the tradewind belt. Like every other aspect of the Shannon 47, the deck plan reflects Shannon's twenty five years of experience and commitment to perfecting the cruising yacht