1984 Shannon Aegean 51

The Shannon Aegean 51 ketch represents the purpose of Walter Schulz’s designs and Shannon Boat Company’s craftsmanship: an exceptionally strong bluewater passagemaker built for world cruising and living aboard with comfort, safety and speed. Conmara pairs a sea-kindly hull with a shoal-draft keel/centerboard (5 ft 9 in board up) and a full skeg protecting the rudder, with her four-blade feathering propeller set in the aperture between skeg and rudder.

A built-in pilothouse forward of the cockpit shelters a forward hydraulic helm, and an aft cable-steered helm serves the open cockpit. A separate hydraulic arm is dedicated to the Garmin autopilot, giving three independent ways to steer. All sails furl from the deep, comfortable cockpit, and the versatile ketch plan makes short-handed sailing easy while her 64 ft air draft keeps the Intracoastal Waterway open.

Below, light oak stavings, varnished teak trim, hand-picked mahogany hull ceilings and teak-and-holly soles are finished to a high standard and in great condition. The current owner has invested steadily since 2013 in new rigging, engine, generator, lithium power, electronics, canvas and systems, all documented by year and vendor below. Conmara is Irish Gaelic for “Hound of the Sea.”

Key highlights

•     Walter Schulz–designed Shannon Aegean 51 center-cockpit ketch with built-in pilothouse and hard cockpit enclosure

•     Keel/centerboard hull: 5 ft 9 in draft board-up for shoal cruising, 9.9 ft board-down for windward performance; 64 ft air draft for the ICW

•     Airex- and Divinycell-cored biaxial laminate hull and deck (no balsa); hull, deck and masts Awlgrip painted

•     All new Selden standing and running rigging (2021/22); both masts pulled, rewired for LED and repainted

•     Every sail furls from the cockpit: electric in-mast main, electric Furlex genoa, furling mizzen, self-tending staysail, top-down asymmetric; Mack sails (2016/17)

•     Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110 HP turbo diesel and MaxProp 4-blade; new Yanmar Paguro 4000 generator (2026)

•     Two UL 1973–rated LiFePO4 banks totaling 1,256 Ah (2026), Xantrex 3000W inverter/charger, Victron charging and monitoring, solar

•     Twin helms (forward hydraulic in pilothouse, aft Edson cable); Garmin Reactor 40 autopilot on independent hydraulic arm; Fantom radar, AIS 600, SSB, Starlink

•     Dometic reverse-cycle air conditioning/heat (16K + 12K), Sea Frost refrigeration, Cruise RO watermaker, bow thruster

Design & Pedigree

Walter Schulz design; Shannon Boat Company

Hull number / production run

NHN50120583S

Ownership history

Current owner since approx. 2013 (upgrade history begins 2013/14)

How she has been used

Designed and equipped for world cruising and liveaboard

Cruising grounds & water

US East Coast & Bahamas

Storage & care

Maintained with extensive professional service (K/L Marine, Holland Marine, Hutton Marine, Mack Sails and others)

Reason for sale

Blue water days are coming to an end. I am returning to land. 

Identification & Construction

Designer

Walter Schulz

Hull construction

Airex composite foam-core biaxial laminate – no balsa

Deck construction

Divinycell composite foam-core biaxial laminate – no balsa

Finish

Hull, boot stripe, deck and masts Awlgrip painted – no gelcoat to maintain

Hull color

White

Keel type

Keel/centerboard with 15,500 lb internal solid lead ballast

Rudder type

Skeg-hung, full skeg protection

Rig type

Ketch

Masts

Aluminum main and mizzen (Selden); stepping to be confirmed

Dimensions & Performance

LOA (with bowsprit)

56.0 ft

LOA / LOD

50.92 ft / 15.52 m

LWL

42.75 ft / 13.03 m

Beam

14.25 ft / 4.34 m

Draft

5 ft 9 in centerboard up / 9.9 ft centerboard down

Air draft / bridge clearance

64 ft

Displacement

39,000 lb (metric conversion to be corrected – see worksheet)

Ballast

15,500 lb internal solid lead (metric conversion to be corrected)

Sail area

1,227 sq ft

SA/D ratio

Source states 31.8 – verify (see worksheet)

Cruising speed / fuel burn

6-8 Kts/ 1 - 1.3 

Accommodation Summary

Cabins / berths

Aft master (centerline queen), forward V-berth cabin; crew cabin currently configured as pantry (convertible back to berth); two salon settees

Heads / showers

2 heads, each with separate stall shower

Layout

Forward cabin, guest head and shower, main salon, galley (stbd) and nav center (port) at companionway, pantry/crew cabin, engine-room passageway, aft master stateroom with ensuite

Recent Upgrades & Maintenance History

Year

2013/14

• Edson aft helm & quadrant steering cable (K/L Marine)
• Dometic 16K (fwd) and 12K (aft) A/C + heat with ductwork; hoses, pump, wiring, shelf (K/L Marine)
• Chainplates replaced (K/L Marine)
• Raritan PHII toilets (2) (K/L Marine)
• 18 bronze portlight bug screens; 18 Zarcor portlight closures
• Bimini & cockpit enclosure, Soltis cockpit shade sides, exterior Sunbrella covers, 5 hatch covers, cockpit cushions (Topstitch Canvas Loft)
• Helm chair & covers, nav seat, salon settees upholstered; master, crew & V-berth mattresses and bedding (Topstitch Canvas Loft)
• Garmin AIS 600, sonar, two GPS, NMEA network, autopilot & compass, gWind and water instruments (Hutton Marine)
• Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110 HP turbo diesel engine and exhaust system; helm instrument console (Holland Marine)
• MaxProp 4-blade feathering prop; 1.5 in stainless prop shaft; rudder packing; centerboard cable (Holland Marine)
• Sea Frost engine-driven refrigerator & freezer (Holland Marine)
• Cruise RO SM30 watermaker (Holland Marine)
• Upper & lower bilge pumps; Ultra-Switch pump & alarm (Holland Marine)
• All lifelines; dinghy lift rigging (Holland Marine)
• Pilothouse top window (smoked Lexan) & hatch flat panels; side cockpit window replacement (Holland Marine)
• Rocna anchor; AnchorLift self-launching bow anchor lift and swivel (Holland Marine)
• Fireboy engine-room extinguisher (Holland Marine)
• Edson steering conduit for aft cable system (Mystic Systems Marine Supply

2015

• Yamaha Enduro 8 HP 2-cyl outboard; Maxwell anchor switch at fwd helm; new Capilano hydraulic pump

2016/17

• New Mack sails – main, staysail, genoa, mizzen (Mack Sails)
• ProFurl staysail furler; Balmar 20 top-down spinnaker furler; Selden whisker pole
• Side Power 5-blade thruster upgrade kit;
• Captain’s chair footrest

2020

• KISS-SSB counterpoise for ICOM M802 (RadioTech)
• Raritan ElectroScan waste treatment system
• Raritan 12 gal water heater
• Masthead nav light; Magma kettle grill
• Dobinson 50 L portable fridge/freezer

2021/22

• Selden mizzen furling mast, all-new 316SS standing & running rigging (main and mizzen) (Mack Sails)
• Selden Furlex FLX404E electric forestay furler and running rigging (Mack Sails)
• Main and mizzen masts removed, rewired for LED lighting and instruments, primed (InterProtect 2000E) and Awlgrip painted
• Deck hardware rebedded; four 316SS cowl vents; 316SS bow and stern plates
• Superior ISO Wave Breaker 4-person self-righting life raft (valise)
• 190W Go Power solar panel on 316SS davit mount; Victron BlueSolar MPPT; Victron BMV-712 monitor (St. Mary’s Electronics)
• Garmin Fantom 24 radar; Garmin Reactor 40 CCU; GAM/McKim split SSB antenna
• AB 8.6 ft fiberglass-hull dinghy (warranty replacement, commissioned May 2022); Forespar outboard lift
• Watermaker membranes (2) replaced

2023/24

• All copper water pipe replaced with PEX; AO Smith accumulator
• Six Kidde marine fire extinguishers; ProMariner FS60 60A galvanic isolator
• Starlink with dedicated Victron Phoenix 12/375 inverter; Garmin GPSMAP 743xsv at nav table
• Xantrex Freedom SW3012 3000W inverter/charger; Victron DC-DC charger for bow bank; Reactor 40 ECU (warranty)

2026

• Two WattCycle 12V 628 Ah LiFePO4 batteries (UL 1973, steel cased)
• Victron Orion 1400 DC-DC charger and shunts
• Yanmar Paguro 4000 generator with panel, hoses, siphon and mufflers

Accommodations & Interior

Forward cabin

Large V-berth; deck hatches and opening ports; abundant stowage; door to forward head

Forward head & shower

Vanity with stainless sink; Raritan toilet with Raritan ElectroScan Type I MSD; opening port; 110V outlet; separate stand-up stall shower opposite with teak grating; doors from forward cabin and salon

Main salon

Two comfortable settees; double-leaf dining table to starboard; storage behind settee backs and in vented cabinets

Navigation center

To port of companionway: wide hinged chart table with storage, electronics console and cabinets

Pantry / crew cabin

Aft of galley to starboard; currently a pantry with removable multi-drawer cabinet; new crew berth cushion included for conversion back to a crew cabin

Passageway / workroom

Tall doors to engine and systems; breaker panels; long counter with freezer and provision for a bench vise

Aft master stateroom

Centerline queen berth; bureau to starboard; drawers at head of berth; multiple lockers; hidden locker beneath mattress; second companionway to cockpit

Aft head

Vanity with stainless sink; Raritan PHII toilet; stall shower with teak grating; opening port; 110V outlet

Joinery & finish

Light oak stavings on bulkheads; varnished teak trim (Epifanes); hand-picked mahogany hull ceilings; off-white classic headliners

Cabin soles

Solid varnished teak and holly

Upholstery & bedding

Salon settees, nav seat and all mattresses redone (Topstitch Canvas Loft, 2013/14)

Light & ventilation

18 bronze opening ports with bug screens and Zarcor closures; 5 Shannon-style deck hatches; multiple dorades

Entertainment

Fusion AM/FM/Bluetooth/NMEA 2000/SiriusXM stereo with speakers in salon, aft cabin and cockpit; Insignia 24 in 1080p Fire TV

Galley

Layout

Athwartship galley to starboard of the main companionway, configured for offshore cooking and liveaboard use

Stove / oven

Three-burner stainless LPG stove with oven

Microwave

Yes

Refrigeration

Sea Frost engine-driven refrigerator and freezer (separate freezer in passageway counter); Dobinson 50 L 12V/110V portable fridge/freezer (approx. 3A draw)

Sinks & faucets

Double stainless sinks; designer faucets and mixing valves

Counters & storage

Abundant counter space and storage; adjacent pantry

Propane system

Two 20 lb LPG tanks in dedicated aft locker for stove and grill

Safety

LPG solenoid / sniffer to be confirmed

Engine & Propulsion

Engine make / model

Yanmar 4JH4-HTE1 4-cyl turbo diesel (installed 2013/14)

Horsepower

110 HP

Hours

2400

Propeller

MaxProp 4-blade auto-feathering, in aperture between skeg and rudder

Shaft & packing

1.5 in stainless prop shaft (2013/14)

Fuel filtration

Dedicated Racor primary filters: two for engine, one for generator; fuel manifold and pumps

Engine room

Dedicated engine room with excellent access to engine, generator, refrigeration, watermaker, water heater; removable cockpit sole for major work

Generator

Yanmar Paguro 4000 (new 2026) with panel, hoses, siphon and mufflers

Bow thruster

Side Power 12V with 5-blade upgrade

Spares

New alternator and starter spares included

Tankage

Fuel - 150 gal. total (4 tanks) Aluminum

4th auxiliary tank beneath crew-cabin berth

Fresh water - 250 gal. total (4 tanks) Stainless steel 

Holding - Raritan ElectroScan Type I treatment

Tank monitoring

Tank Tender

Plumbing & Water Systems

Pressure water

Fresh water pump; AO Smith accumulator; all copper replaced with PEX (2023/24)

Water heater

Raritan 12 gal glass-lined, engine heat exchanger (2020)

Watermaker

Cruise RO SM30 (2013/14); new membranes (2021/22); output to be confirmed

Heads

Two Raritan PHII toilets; forward head with Raritan ElectroScan

Showers

Stall showers in both heads; shower sump pumps; hot/cold cockpit shower

Bilge pumps

Upper and lower bilge pumps; Ultra-Switch with alarm

Washdown

Pressure washdown on foredeck and aft deck

Seacocks

Yes, Working heavy bronze Groco throughout boat 

Electrical Systems

AC System

Shore power

110V / 60A; four 30A shore power cords/inlets (two port, two starboard); two combined for 60A

Galvanic isolator

ProMariner ProSafe FS60 60A (2023/24)

Inverter / charger

Xantrex Freedom SW3012 3000W (2023/24)

Dedicated inverter

Victron Phoenix 12/375 for Starlink

Generator

Yanmar Paguro 4000 (2026)

Panel

110V/12V control panel with thermal breakers

DC System & Charging

House bank

Two WattCycle 12V 628 Ah LiFePO4 (2026) – 1,256 Ah / 16,076 Wh; UL 1973 certified, BMS, steel cases

Bow bank

Two Trojan 6V AGM 221 Ah for windlass, thruster and genoa furler; Victron DC-DC charger

Engine start

Duracell AGM 800 CCA (see worksheet re: second starter battery)

Charging

Victron Orion 1400 DC-DC charger and shunts (2026); 190W Go Power solar with Victron BlueSolar MPPT

Battery monitor

Victron BMV-712

Spare

New alternator and starter included

Heating, Cooling & Ventilation

Air conditioning / heat

Dometic reverse cycle: 16K BTU forward, 12K BTU aft, with ductwork (2013/14)

Ventilation

18 opening bronze ports; 5 deck hatches; four stainless cowl vents on teak dorade boxes

Electronics & Navigation

Chartplotters

Two Garmin chartplotters, each with dedicated NMEA-synchronized GPS; Garmin GPSMAP 743xsv at nav table (2023/24)

Radar

Garmin Fantom 24 with MotionScope (2021/22)

AIS

Garmin AIS 600 transceiver

Instruments

Garmin gWind masthead transducer; sonar/depth sounder; NMEA 2000 network

Autopilot

Garmin Reactor 40 with CCU (2021/22) and ECU (2023/24); independent hydraulic arm on quadrant

VHF

ICOM M602 with two command mics (cockpit and nav station)

SSB

ICOM M802 with AT-140 tuner, KISS-SSB counterpoise, split insulated backstay antenna, GAM/McKim split antenna

Internet

Starlink with dedicated inverter

Compasses

Two Ritchie steering compasses (forward and aft helms)

Other

Barometer and clock; backup Garmin GPS

Charts

Yes

Sails

Sail

Mainsail Mack Sails (USA) 2016/17 Electric in-mast (stoway) Like new

Genoa Mack Sails (USA) 2016/17 Selden Furlex electric Like new

Staysail (self-tending club) Mack Sails (USA) 2016/17 ProFurl furler Like new

Mizzen Mack Sails (USA) 2016/17 Selden in-mast with furling winch drive Like new

Asymmetrical spinnaker Mack Sails (USA) 2019

Balmar 20 top-down furler Good to very good; furler like new

Sail handling

All sails furl from the cockpit; Forespar/Selden whisker pole for genoa

Sail stowage

Stored in aft cabin

Spars & Rigging

Masts

Aluminum main and Selden mizzen; both pulled, rewired for LED and instruments, primed and Awlgrip painted (2021/22)

Standing rigging

All new Selden 316SS (2021/22); chainplates replaced (2013/14); double bow stays

Running rigging

All new (2021/22)

Backstay

Split insulated backstay with SSB antenna connection and adjusters on each leg

Headsail furling

Selden Furlex FLX404E electric with cockpit control buttons

Staysail

Self-tacking club boom with Schaefer traveler

Main traveler

Harken

Winches

Primaries 2 x Lewmar 65 CST; secondaries 2 x Lewmar 46 CST; mainsheet Lewmar 46 CST; plus 2 x #46, 2 x #40, #30, #24, #16 self-tailing/halyard

Mast lighting

LED; Aqua Signal masthead nav light (2020)

Deck, Cockpit & Hull

Deck & cockpit

Cockpit

Deep center cockpit with hard pilothouse enclosure forward, full enclosure, two protected helm stations; teak grating; teak table with folding leaves

Steering

Capilano hydraulic forward helm (new pump 2015); Edson pedestal aft helm with chain and cable over bronze sheaves, extended pedestal guard; emergency tiller

Deck finish

Awlgrip; deck hardware rebedded (2021/22)

Rub rail

Teak with stainless oval

Lifelines

Double lifelines with gates port, starboard and aft (replaced 2013/14)

Davits

Stainless davits with block-and-tackle lift; solar mount

Boarding

Tri-fold stainless swim ladder (either side); double-folding transom ladder

Grill

Magma kettle grill

Hull & Underbody

Topsides finish

Awlgrip (hull and boot stripe)

Bottom

4 coats Interlux InterProtect 2000E barrier, 4 coats CopperCoat, 2 coats Trinidad Pro

Last haul-out

October 2024

Zincs

Spares included

Canvas & Covers

Enclosure

Bimini and full cockpit enclosure; Soltis cockpit shade sides

Covers

Exterior Sunbrella covers; 5 deck hatch covers; helm chair covers

Cushions

Cockpit cushions

Maker / year

Topstitch Canvas Loft (2013/14)

Ground Tackle & Mooring

Bow platform

Shannon anchoring platform with stainless edge caps and provision for dual anchors; AnchorLift self-launching lift and swivel

Primary anchor & rode

Rocna 87/88 lb (confirm) with 225 ft G4 chain

Secondary anchor & rode

Fortress FX-55 with 200 ft new 1 in three-strand New England Rope

Windlass

Maxwell 3500 vertical electric; switch at forward helm

Docking

Lines and fenders included

Tender & Outboard

Dinghy

AB 8.6 ft fiberglass-hull RIB (commissioned May 2022)

Outboard

Yamaha Enduro 8 HP 2-stroke (2015)

Lifting / stowage

Stainless davits; Forespar outboard lift

Safety Equipment

Life raft

Superior ISO Wave Breaker 4-person self-righting, valise (2021/22); last certification to be confirmed

EPIRB / PLBs

No.  I use PLB’s

Life jackets / harnesses

No Personal Jackets..  Orange Coast Guard Jackets are available

Jacklines

Yes

MOB equipment

Yes

Flares

Yes 

Fire suppression

Fireboy automatic system in engine room; six Kidde marine extinguishers (2023/24)

Detectors

Yes

Other

Double lifelines; emergency tiller; bilge alarm

Additional Equipment & Spares

Spares

All spare parts, including new alternator and engine starter

Maintenance stock

Stainless fasteners, paints, cleaning and polishing supplies, filters, belts, zincs, blocks, lines, fenders

Other

Dobinson portable fridge/freezer; spare crew berth cushion; backup Garmin GPS

Exclusions

Personal items not included: tools, pictures, cooking pots and pans, tea pot, cooking and eating utensils, plates, glasses and cups.