August 23, 2026
by Stanton Murray
Vessel Criteria: Shannon Yachts — 47 / 52 Series (including Shannon 47, Shannon 47/52, and Shannon 52 RDP)
Model Specifications & Design Data
Production Years: ~1988 – Late 2010s (built to order on a custom/semi-custom basis).
Production Volume: Extremely low volume (~15 to 25 total hulls produced across all 47, 47/52, and 52 RDP variants).
Production Facility: Shannon Boat Company, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.
Design Team: Walter Schulz (Founder & Principal Designer).
Optional Layout Configurations:
- 2-Cabin / 2-Head: Standard owner arrangement with expansive aft master suite or forward centerline queen.
- 3-Cabin / 2-Head: Forward owner’s cabin, port guest cabin with upper/lower sea berths, and aft double cabin.
- Raised Deck Pilothouse (52 RDP): Elevated main saloon with interior steering station, panoramic 360° visibility, passageway galley, full-beam aft master, and two forward guest cabins
Optional Keels & Draft:
- Fixed Keel: 6′ 6″ (1.98 m) draft with 13,500 lbs internal lead ballast.
- Keel Centerboard: 5′ 7″ (1.70 m) draft (Board Up) / 9′ 7″ (2.92 m) draft (Board Down).
Optional Rigging & Mast Specifications:
- Rigs Offered: Cutter, Ketch, Shannon “Scutter” (double headstay cutter/sloop hybrid), or “Sketch” (Scutter-Ketch hybrid).
- Mast Bridge Clearance: 64′ 0″ (19.5 m) — engineered to stay ICW-compliant (<65 ft).
Optional Engine Packages:
- Single Yanmar or Westerbeke diesel (80 HP to 100 HP single).
- Twin Yanmar diesels (52 RDP variant, e.g., Twin Yanmar 4JH4-TE 75 HP, 150 HP total).
Engine Drive Systems: Direct-drive 1 ¼” Aquamet stainless shaft, Aquadrive anti-vibration coupling, Tides Marine dripless shaft seal, and 3-blade Max-Prop feathering or Gori 3-blade folding propellers (with Overdrive).
Optional Major Equipment: 7.6 kW – 9 kW generator (Westerbeke/Kohler), dual-zone reverse-cycle air conditioning (26,000 BTU total), watermaker (Spectra/Horizon), bow thruster, electric winches, and self-tending club booms.
Model Evolution:
- Shannon 47: Core 47′ 6″ hull length with reverse transom.
- Shannon 47/52: Extended stern option incorporating a molded counter transom/swim platform (LOA 52′ 7″, LOD 51′ 9″).
- Shannon 52 RDP: Introduced in the late 2000s, utilizing the proven 47/52 ocean hull, adding a raised pilothouse deck, internal/external helm stations, and optional twin-engine propulsion.
Value Factors & Common Issues
- Rig Age & Condition: Navtec rod rigging requires specialized inspection and eventual re-heading or replacement (~15–20 year lifespans).
- Centerboard Mechanism: On shoal-draft models, check the centerboard pennant, sheaves, and pivot pin for corrosion or wear.
- Composite Core Integrity: Vinyl-ester resin and PVC foam core hull/deck structures are highly resistant to osmosis, but fastener penetrations and chainplates require regular re-bedding to avoid water intrusion.
Competitive Model Comparison
| Model | LOA | Draft (Standard / Shoal) | Beam | Displacement | Ballast | Engine |
| Shannon 47/52 | 52′ 7″ | 6′ 6″ / 5′ 7″ (Board Up) | 14′ 3″ | 35,500 lbs | 13,500 lbs | 80–100 HP |
| Pacific Seacraft 44 | 45′ 3″ | 6′ 4″ / 5′ 3″ | 12′ 8″ | 26,500 lbs | 9,600 lbs | 55–75 HP |
| Island Packet 485 | 51′ 7″ | 5′ 3″ (Fixed Shoal) | 15′ 4″ | 38,500 lbs | 16,000 lbs | 110 HP |
| Morris Sou’wester 51 | 51′ 0″ | 7′ 0″ / 5′ 6″ (Board Up) | 14′ 6″ | 34,000 lbs | 14,000 lbs | 85 HP |
| Model | LOA | Beam | Draft | Engine Options | Top Speed | Cabins / Heads | Key Advantage |
| Galeon 680 FLY | 72′ 10″ (22.0 m) | 17′ 3″ (5.27 m) | 4′ 7″ – 5′ 1″ (1.43–1.55 m) | Twin MAN V8-1200 HP | 30–32 kts | 4 Cabins / 3 Heads | Beach Mode balconies & private master stairwell |
| Azimut Fly 68 | 69′ 10″ (21.27 m) | 17′ 2″ (5.23 m) | 5′ 3″ (1.60 m) | Twin Volvo IPS 1350 (1,000 HP) | 32 kts | 4 Cabins / 3 Heads | Multiple main-deck salon layouts & IPS joystick control |
| Sunseeker Manhattan 68 | 69′ 1″ (21.10 m) | 17′ 3″ (5.26 m) | 5′ 2″ (1.58 m) | Twin MAN V8-1200 HP | 32 kts | 4 Cabins / 3 Heads | High-volume aft transom beach club setup |
| Ferretti Yachts 670 | 66′ 5″ (20.24 m) | 17′ 8″ (5.38 m) | 5′ 3″ (1.60 m) | Twin MAN V8-1200 HP | 32 kts | 3 or 4 Cabins / 3 Heads | Italian interior joinery & wider overall beam |