20ft Shamrock

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BoatCrazy

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Hey guys.

My wife and I were out on the water yesterday when she broke the news that she is tired of our center console.

I suggested going much larger in size. She said otherwise. lol..

We saw a 20ft Shamrock 1988 with a Ford 302 Velvet drive.

Any feedback on these boats? Ive done some searching on reviews and I am finding mixed reviews. Mostly from sites I do not trust...

Thanks
 
Be careful. We gave away a 26 hull locally that sank in the hurricane.

That said, it had a full keel but required some practice to handle as a single inboard. Not fast but sea worthy.
 
best start by finding out what she wants. What doesn't she like about the current boat? I'll bet she wants more creature comforts. I see a pontoon with a head in your future. Not a bad choice for having fun if you aren't afraid to risk your macho image.

The shamrocks were well thought of in this area some even came with diesel but I always thought them too heavy without enough freeboard and bow flare.
Look at a panga type.
 
Thanks

The one I am looking at is a 20ft. Im not looking for fast. My boat right now, top end is 38mph. I only cruise at 22-23mph.

I rather a smooth riding boat over a faster boat.
 
A small inboard is intriguing but a small Shamrock is WET WET WET.

When I was in CGAUX in the South FL area, one of our members had a 20-ft Shamrock and much of the reason he got rid of it was the soaking from spray. Here in NE FL two other AUX have them and they'll cancel safety patrols if it gets at all choppy.

VERY Well Built, just not always User Friendly. I see you more in a walkaround cuddy. Be careful of those, too. If all the builder did was add a cabin and forward liner as walkway/bow access, to a Center Console HULL, and call it a WA Cuddy, the weight may be centered too far forward. Then the boat can pound and/or be wet.
 
Here is the small list of what she wants:

1. a small cuddy so if we have the two dogs out with us, they can sit upfront out of the sun.
2. a small cuddy with a port a potti
3. a place for her to lay out

Me, Ive always wanted a single inboard boat and I have always loved the looks of the shamrock..

I will never own a pontoon boat, just not my type of boat. Plus where I boat, there are none lol
 
I can't speak to the 20's but I took a 26' from Ft. Lauderdale to Eleuthera in the Bahamas and back. It was a very snotty day over (4'-6'+) and the boat held up very well. Yes it was wet but not the worst I've been on.

They are very well build with very good fit and finish.
 
No idea about the 20', but on some of their models I believe Shamrock offered 2 different hulls with different deadrise so you might check what it is on the one you are looking at. In general , Shamrocks do have rep for being wetter than the average boat and I believe that includes the somewhat deeper deadrises. I also recall seeing 2 Shamrocks that had OEM long steel or more likely iron exhaust pipes instead of hoses from the manifolds to transom and they were terribly corroded on both boats,- Just something else to look for. They were older boats.
 
If the boat is moving dogs will always be on the bow.
 
Profishnsea thank you for that info!

Bruce, Im not going to entertain a deck boat. But thanks for the suggestion.

Sandy, I will look to see what the deadrise is and go from there.

I appreciate all the info guys, thank you!
 
I owned a Shamrock 20 cuddly back in the mid '90s. Great fun boat. Loved the keel protection for the single inboard prop. Only problem was that 4 adults would sink the transom, so had to use drain plugs to keep the self bailing cockpit dry if guests were aboard. They made several models back the including a walk around, center console and pilot house version. I liked the cuddy the best, but the walk around might be better for fishing.

I recall that for me to stand at the porta potty I had to have the companionway hatch open.
 
Great boat, with the engine placement of an inboard the center of gravity makes it a fine sea boat. She'll hold a heading with her keel at low speeds and upper range. Yes, they can be a little wet, add some knock down rails and you've got the green water handled. Don't let some stern drive selling salesman mess with your head. This is a fine boat. IMO
 
I think for your area, South Shore Long Island salt water you would be happier with an outboard powered walk around. The Shamrock has a lot of good features, but unless the engine is closed cooled you will have all the typical corrosion problems that inboards (raw water cooling)have in salt water, and in shallow running as you have so much of there the OB is really better. If you do your own work, the spark plugs can be tough to get at and changing manifolds (again unless full closed cooling) can be a trough job too.
check out fishtheclassicdotnet it is an active owners site....
They are kind of like the Harley Davidsons of the boating world. Traditional, simple, repairs are generally cheap, but engine access and corrosion issues can be daunting.
 
So Ive looked at a few Shamrocks, all powered with a 302. I am getting mixed readings on what the boat will cruise at, and top end speed.

One guy told me top end is 20mph (which seems REALLY slow), another one told me top end is around 28mph cruise at 20mph..

Ive tried signing up for that owners forum, but its telling me my email is blocked and ive tried 5 different emails...
 
I agree with Lou . I don't see the appeal of shamrock today
 
Not for nothing, I find it appealing. The full keel that projects the shaft and prop allows me to get into skinny water without damaging the running gear..What other inboard vessel can do that?

I do not want an I-O, and its nearly impossible finding an outboard with a cuddy cabin thats also a center console. I do not like the walk around models, ie grady white, proline, mako.

The Shamrock, fits the bill for me
 
there is a popular OB powered shallow water boat with cabin and several models but I cannt remember the name. It had lapstreak sides and a flat center hull.

What did bob Austin have that he took everywhere????

I don't like inboards in smaller boats because the engine takes up too much space. Cuddy cabins are also in the way and take up space that never gets used, I had two and they were worthless.
That's why I admire the deck boats that hide a potty in the offset console. A bimini can be added to provide shade over a place for napping.
 
BoatCrazy, is that the site I gave you? If so maybe I can find out why your addresses are blocked. Let me know as you will not find another forum as good as that for your questions. (I think Shamrock consults with these guys before they do anything LOL)
 
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