Shillelagh Detour Owner Goes Upscale & Shortened Keel

Islander owners have more fun! Jim Harris, happy owner of the I-36 Shillelagh Detour, Pt. Pleasant, NJ, takes time out form a major keel shortening project to send us a wonderful description and our January 2008 Picture Of The Month from a recent adventure aboard America's Cup 12 Meters in the Carribean:

The Upscale:

"I am on the 12 meter AC racer True North in center of picture in blue shirt - have grey hair/beard at main grinder position. This match race was great fun and something one should do if visiting St. Martin - the pros aboard made it exciting. We had a great crusie! I was aboard a 52' mono hull as first mate/navigator and we had three 47' cats out of Moorings in Oyster Pond (they do a great job) with 22 sailors on the Law & Order annual cruise. It's been going on for 17 years, and I have made five trips: this trip twice, twice to the BVIs and the Grenadines. On this trip we visited various locales around St. Martin - French and Dutch side, Anquilla and St. Barts where even harbor surge and high winds like 40 knots at night kept us on deck and busy due to dragging anchors.

Best regards, Jimmy "Spoons" Harris as main grinder aboard winner SV True North over Stars and Stripes 12/07

The Keel Reduction:

I am closing in on my keel reduction project to 5' draft using Mars Metal Company custom torpedo halves. 14" or 1800 pounds were cut off by former owner. I am now adding 2200 pds of new lead torpedoes. The two torpedoes, 1100 lbs each, are about 7' long (tails about foot past aft end of keel once affixed) and 10" on side that faces keel. It was a lot of work getting them alongside each side of keel and marking places for through-bolt holes for 1" bolts.

A major challenge was trimming the bottom edge of keel at the cut point. While the keel is lead, it has a 1/2 inch + vertical plate in middle. The plate is perforated apparently so lead ran thru when keel was built for added strength/vertical support. This was a battle of over 10 hours to trim and prep, using some 15 saws-all blades and 10 cutter wheel blades. An electric chain saw is very effective, but difficult to control the cut while working 10 inches off ground. Be prepared to protect yourself and surroundings from flying cuttings, and avoid the center steel plate that will eat chain. As you can see, were glassing the bulbs too.

Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:53:11

Progress on Islander 36 project - young helmslady Tal wears "I36 Rendezvous shirt" in pic with Nan my wife and the best mate, followed by pics of pre splash, bulbous wings (designed and custom made by Mars Metals Burlington, Canada) attached with 5 3/4 " S thru-rods bolted and glassed to keel (1100 pound each) and attachment of 3/16 SS keel bottom plate (completed by Maritime Tool MFG Co Inc. Manasquan NJ) with 32 SS lag screws and glassed and voids filled with glass mix on 11/01/08 by me and Frank Meyer, first mate. 11/03 is splash her day - rather be sailing - Ynamar engine prepped by Monmouth Marine, Brielle, NJ,. thanks for help of all at Riverfront Marina , Brick, Surf & Offshore Pt. Pleasant, and the Islander 36 Association and all the help and advice from my friends and sailing buddies/ ladies.

Best regards,

Jim Harris
Shillelagh Detour
jasrgo@att.net

The Upscale

True North

Stars & Stripes

The Keel Reduction

Shillelagh Detour	Crew arrives ...	ready to work.	Shoterned keel ...
ready for additions.	Big crate ...	of heavy lead ...	but really sleek!
Easy does it ...	test fit ...	both sides.	Templates for ...
bolt holes.	Bolt detail.	Ready to fit ...	looking good.
Shoe & template	Being Installed	Glassed in.	Looking finished
Going up ...	In the air!	Well dressed support crew!	Feet wet ...
Looking good.