Copyright © 2006 -2009 Schulz Boat Company
SHANNON CONCEPT BOATS
Shannon 42 SRD
Shannon 48 SRD
"Shannon Builds a Boat
Fit for a Queen"
Reprint from
Bristol Phoenix,
January 23, 2007
Currently under construction is the first Shannon 52 Global, being built for one of the most experienced and interesting couples that we have built a boat for in a while. Jodi and Bob Bitchin are well-known because of their Latitudes and Attitudes magazine and their great “everyone welcome” parties at the boat shows. Walt and Bob met at the boat shows several years ago and instantly recognized each other as kindred spirits . Besides looking like ex-bikers, Bob and Walt share a love of the sea. Starting in California, Bob and Jodi have sailed extensively in both the Pacific and Atlantic on a variety of boats. In conversations with serious cruisers in anchorages all over the world, Bob and Jodi heard that everyone’s dream boat for actually going somewhere was a Shannon. When it can time after selling their boat to find a replace, an oft-hand comment by Bob at this year’s Annapolis boat show resulted in the beautiful claret red 52’ hull sitting in our shop. The new Global 52 is the perfect boat for a knowledgeable sailing couple to go anywhere in the world in comfort and safety. The interior steering station gives all-weather capability, while the helm in the cockpit is perfect for nice days and nights.
If you would like more information, or a DVD when our new video on the 53HPS is finished, contact Bill Ramos and let him know.
Until the new video is finished, we will try to keep you updated here on this site with photographs on the construction progress of the Shannon 53HPS. We hope you'll visit us again.
A pictorial record from start to completion of the Shannon 53 HPS
(click this link)
(Far Left)After a complete refit, including engine rebuild and fuel tank replacement, 1984 Shannon 38 Hull #94 "Sooloo" is on her way back into the water with a Shannon Yachts Refurbishment Certificate. To her right is 1978 Shannon 38 #22 waiting to come into the shop for refurbishment.
(Left) Walt re-christens "Sooloo" with blackberry brandy after her refurbishment
(Below) A Brendan 32 and Shannon 38 currently being refurbished
Combining the best elements of the sail design in the 19th and the 21st century, the latest rig option from Walt Schulz for the Shannon 46 is a Schooner with a Scutter headsail arrangement. Schooner rigs harken back to the days of the “Bluenose” when these boats plied the trade routes and fishing grounds of the Eastern seaboard. Schooners show exceptional speed off the wind and are probably the easiest rig of all to handle – there is an old New England adage that you all you need to sail a schooner is an old man and a boy. To offset any trade-off in performance close-hauled going to weather, Walt has added the Shannon exclusive Scutter double headsail arrangement, which provides maximum efficiency and flexibility over a wide range of wind conditions. The classic lines of the Shannon 46 combined with a schooner rig show a remarkable similarity to some of the best designs of the great John Alden. And while all Shannons are easily recognizable on the water as pretty boats, this new Shannon 46 schooner is truly beautiful. Walt would be interested in your comments and impressions of this newest Shannon 46 rig.
Aside from its beauty, the new Shannon 52 RDP design by Walt Schulz combines innovative comfort and proven seaworthiness.The comfort is provided by a new raised deck pilot concept incorporating an interior steering helm station.The seaworthiness is achieved by using the ocean tested Shannon 47/52 hull and blue water center cockpit design. MORE...
Winter is a great time to visit New England.Our shop is open for tours Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm,and any other time by appointment. Under construction this winter will be a Shannon 39, a Shoalsailer 35, a 52 Global (and hopefully a second one), and at least two 53 HPS's. As part of our Shannon refurbishment program we are restoring to new condition a 1978 Shannon 38, as well as a twenty five year old Shannon 51center cockpit, and a Brendan 28 sports fisherman. Our classic wood yacht division has two power boats (a 57' Elco and a 58' Trumpy) and a 1930 45' William Hand motorsailer being restored. We hope to see you soon in Bristol!
Bob is also interested in making his new Shannon innovative, and we will be incorporating the newest equipment from the best suppliers in the world. Bob is following the construction progress in his magazine, which is now available free online at www.latsandatts.com.
Representatives of all the different Shannon models are stored either right here or at boat yards close by, if you interest in an in-depth inspection. So if you would to schedule a Shannon shop tour anytime at your convenience, just contact Bill Ramos.
Shannon 52 Global
Shannon Classic Yacht Restoration
Shannon Refurbishment Program
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Besides Shannon's world-renowned bulletproof construction, our greatest asset for Bob is Shannon’s custom interior capabilities. As anyone who has meet him in person knows, Bob is a mountain of a man, and just like the tailors in Hong Kong, Walt used his tape measure to record Bob’s measurements. Bob does not fit in the standard spaces available on the typical production boat, but his Shannon will suit him perfectly, thanks to Walt’s custom interior layout plan.
After Bob & Jodi visited us for a few days our shop , they were thrilled with the way the interior had progressed after seeing the mock-up we built for them. As we frequently do this for our new owners, we believe that building lockers and cabinets from homosote creates real spaces so folks can get a feel for what their interior will look like before it is built. (Left) is the mock-up of Bob and Jodi's galley/ office space. There will be lots of storage in the galley, with an L-shaped high/low counter top. Across from the galley is Bob's office, where he will spend time writing for his magazine when he is not sailing.
We are investigating initiating a Fractional Ownership Program for select Shannon models. The plan will call for a small number of individuals to jointly own a Shannon, with an experienced yacht management company knowledgeable in international logistics to operate the boat in conjunction with Shannon. The boat will be moved with the seasons to select locations worldwide by a professional captain with crew, with the owners having the option to go on these offshore passages. On arrival each owner (with the option of bareboat or crewed) will have a set number of weeks to use the boat. The management company will handle all the scheduling, and Shannon will be involved with all maintenance and service. At the end of ownership period, the boat will be sold, and with the historically high resale values of Shannons, the fractional owners should get all their original costs back. The three new Shannon models – the Shannon 52 Global, Shannon 53 HPS, and Shannon 52 RDP – are especially well suited for this program, as are any of the other Shannon models. If you have interest in this fractional ownership program, please contact Bill Ramos cell 401 639 9075 or email bill@shannonyachts.com.
As the market for Shannon’s larger sailboat models continues to be strong, the future also looks bright for a larger Shannon motor yacht. Accordingly, Walt Schulz has begun preliminary design work on the Shannon 58 Offshore. The exceptionally easily driven patented hull shape will result in cruising speeds of 12-15 knots with better fuel economy than a trawler. The 1000 gallons of fuel gives a range of almost 1,700 miles. Like all Shannons the 58 Offshore will be built strong enough to cross an ocean to take advantage of this range. And the shallow draft of 3’ means that all those beautiful places like Staniel Cay in the Exumas are accessible. The ample hull shape will allow for custom accommodation plans that can include up to four staterooms and three heads. The innovative deck plan provides for both an enclosed and protected command helm and a comfortable open air lounge area. If you would like to be part of the design study group as Walt develops the newest Shannon, just contact him at Walt@shannonyachts.com to be part of the process.
