1963 McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer

Launched in 1963, INISMARA is perhaps the most famous of the 8 metre Cruiser Racer class (8mCR). For many, she is an icon of the work of James McGruer because of her looks, racing success, quality of construction and commissioning owner.INISMARA was commissioned by Peter Odlum, a stalwart of Irish sailing but no stranger to Clyde racing or west coast cruising. She was his second 8mCR, the James McGruer-designed NAMHARA having to make way for INISMARA. Built to Lloyds A1, in her first season she scored 17 wins from 25 starts and won the Lloyds Register Yacht Trophy. Peter Odlum continued to enjoy racing success and enjoyable cruising with INISMARA, before commissioning James McGruer to design the yawl, RINAMARA, launched in 1968.With just her third owner, INISMARA was purchased in 1995 by her current custodian after an extended lay-up of some 10+ years in the sheds at McGruers. Lovingly re-commissioned, great care was taken to maintain the boats original specifications while sympathetically modernising some areas. Lightly used in the by her current owners INISMARA is offered for sale in excellent condition with her original hardware, fittings and finishes very much still intact.On file we hold the 1965 Yachting Monthly review along with an extensive collection of original photos and press cuttings cataloguing the successes of INISMARA and Peter Odlum. These are available to interested parties upon request.Lying ashore in the shed at Kilmelford Yacht Haven, INISMARA is available for viewing by prior appointment.THE 8 METRE CRUISER RACERS:Distinct from International Rule 8 metres – “straight eights” – the 8 metre Cruiser Racer class came out of an amendment to the Rule, to devise a level-rating cruiser-racer class. As such, the 8mCRs are often very competitive when racing and commodious enough for family cruising. It is obvious that the 8mCR class was resoundingly adopted by Clyde sailors – not just because the majority were actively raced on the Firth but because Clyde naval architect, James McGruer, designed so many of them. Out of 23 8mCRs, James McGruer designed 15, including the first in 1951 and the last in 1968. During the 1960s, the 8mCRs were the most actively competed of the Clyde classes and they continued to have a class start on the Clyde until 1975.OWNER’S COMMENTS:It has been a pleasure to be custodian of Inismara for some 25 years. We have tried to retain the character and originality, minimising any modernisation of fittings and systems. She is a joy to sail in all weathers, in our 25+ years of ownership we have never had to reef the main, she just digs deeper and thunders on. There is nowhere better in the world to enjoy a fine dram than in the cockpit at the end of a good day's sailing. CONSTRUCTIONHull Construction:Carvel Teak planking below the waterlineCarvel Mahogany planking on topsidesLaminated hardwood wood keel, stem and sternpostLaminated framesSteamed Oak and Elm timbersMetal strap floors – removed, galvanised, plastic coated and re-fitted with isolating membraneTopsides finished in single-pack satin green paintWhite boot topUnderwater hull finished in red antifoulingDeck & Superstructure Construction:Hardwood beamshelfHardwood carlingHarwood deck beamsLaminated hardwood kneesMarine plywood subdeckSwept laid teak deck – thickness survey available on requestMahogany covering boards and toerails finished in varnishMahogany coachroof sides finished in varnishMarine plywood coachroof top, sheathed and finished in off-white non-slip deck paintMahogany cockpit and coamings Portlights bonded to coachroof sides with decorative chromed bronze framesHardwood deck hatches, glazed with polycarbonate and finished externally with brushed stainless steel decorative frameKeel & Rudder:Lead ballast keelBronze keel bolts – checked in 1995 as part of recommissioningLaminated hardwood rudderBronze rudder stockMACHINERYEngine & gearbox:Bukh DV36 marine diesel engine (1985)36hp3 cylinder, naturally aspirated, indirectly cooledMechanical reversing marine gearboxEngine panel with gauges for RPM, oil pressure, temperature, engine hoursMaintenance & Performance:Recorded engine running hours 1,290hrsCruising speed under engine 7ktsPropulsion & Steering:Stainless steel propshaftStuffing type sterngland with remote greaserTwo-blade bronze folding propellorLaminated hardwood tiller, finished in a gloss varnishELECTRICAL SYSTEMSVoltage systems:12VDC onboard power system230VAC shore power/inverter systemShore Power System:Extension lead to connect to shore supplySingle 16 amp connection point3 pin UK sockets, battery chargerBattery Banks:Engine Battery – 1x 12VDC, 120Ah, lead acidDomestic Battery – 1x 12VDC, 120Ah, lead acidBattery Monitor:Voltmeter on engine dash panelCharging:230VAC – 12VDC battery chargerAlternators:Single engine driven alternatorOther Electrical:12VDC sockets at switch panel and chart tablePLUMBING SYSTEMSFresh Water:Manually pump cold fresh water systemTaps in galley and headsSalt Water:Manually pumped tap in galleyBilge Pumps:Manual Bilge PumpElectric Bilge PumpTANKAGEFuel:Single diesel tankApproximate capacity 45ltrs / 10 gallonsFresh Water:Single fresh water tankApproximate capacity 113ltrs / 25 gallonsNAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTOn Deck:Depth – Raymarine ST60Speed/Log – Autohelm ST50Wind – Autohelm ST50At Chart Table:GPS – Furuno GP31Magnetic CompassCommunications Equipment:VHF – Husun 60 VHFDOMESTIC EQUIPMENTGalley:Cooker – two burner and grill, gimbal mounted gas cookerStainless steel sinkFresh cold water tapExtractor fan in galleyHeads:Toilet – Jabsco manual marine toiletWash hand basinCold water tapLighting:Original overhead and bulkhead mounted lighting fittings throughoutReading lights over saloon settees to port and starboardACCOMMODATIONSummary of Accommodation:Sail locker forwardFo’c’sle with two single berthsHeadsSaloon providing two occasional single berthsNav StationGalleyQuarter berth Accommodation Finish:As built interior with original finishes in most placeDoor furniture and hinges all replaced in 1995 with as-built fittings, ex-stock from McGruersMahogany joinery work finished in a gloss varnishMahogany soleboards finished in a satin varnishAquamarine, natural cotton, woven fabric for upholstery throughoutDeck head and deck beams finished in an eggshell whiteHull sides finished with varnish where visibleFormica topped gallery work surfaces.Description of Accommodation from Forward:Forward Cabin:Chain locker space forward mostSail locker/storage space between fo’c’sle and chain locker, accessed by crawl through space with deck hatchTwo single berths outboard to port and starboardSingle seat located between berths forwardPull out shelves below seat for glassesStanding room between berths aft.Drawers and storage lockers beneath seat and bunksHanging locker aft of port bunk outboardHeads:Located to starboard side at aft end of aft cabinManual marine toilet located outboard aft.Pull out stainless steel wash hand basin above toilet outboard with cold water tapVanity lockers above outboardSaloon:Bench seating to port and starboard sides of saloonBoth settees converting to provide occasional single berthsCentrally mounted, double drop leaf saloon table with central bottle storage compartmentStorage lockers outboard of port settee forward and aft with centrally located bookshelf‘Ships Bar’ locker forward of port setteeLocker outboard of starboard settee forward with bookshelf running aft, GPS and VHF mounted at aft end of bookshelfSettee back rests folding down to access storage locker space outboardNav Station:Compact countertop unit aft of starboard settee providing chart working space.Worktop designed to hold laptop computer, laptop available.Fold-up section to extend working space forwardStorage drawers beneath countertopStorage locker outboardSerial connection for laptop to connect to GPS dataGalley:To port, aft of saloonGimbal-mounted gas cooker forwardInset stainless steel sink aftPull-out section of worktop located beneath cooker providing preparation spaceCrockery storage rack outboard of cookerLocker outboard of sinkStorage drawers and lockers beneath galley unitQuarter Berth:Located to port side of companionway aft of galley.Single seat/storage unit opposite to starboardStorage locker forward of seat with countertop above.DECK EQUIPMENTRig:Deck stepped, single spreader, fractionally rigged sloopGold anodised alloy mast and spars, manufactured by Proctor MastsStainless steel standing riggingHarken roller reefing system on forestayOn-Boom roller reefing mainsail with kicker strapBlock and tackle kickerSpinnaker poleWinches:Primary Winches – 2x Lewmar, 2-speed winches (original fitment)Secondary Winches – 2x Gibb, 2-speed winches (original fitment)Mast Mounted Halyard Winch – 1x Lewmar 40Mainsail Halyard Winch – Merriman winch by Francis Shaw & Co. LtdSails:Mainsail – White Dacron, on-boom roller reefing. Nicholson Hughes, 2005 Genoa – White Dacon, roller reefing, 130%. Nicholson Hughes, 2005SpinnakerCanvas Work:Mainsail coverAnchoring & Mooring:Bower Anchor – 35lb CQR anchor on 60m chain rodeKedge Anchor – Fisherman-type anchorElectric Anchor Windlass – Lofrans Cayman 88 electric windlass with chain gypsy and warping drumFenders – SelectionMooring Warps – SelectionBoat HookTender:Zodiac inflatable dinghy, round tail for rolling up to stow in lockerNavigation Lights:Masthead Tri-colourSteaming lightLow Level running lights – original fitment SL itemsGeneral:Double stainless steel bow rollerStainless steel pulpit railDeck mounted stainless steel stanchions supporting double tier stainless steel guardwiresGuardwire gate to starboard, immediately forward of cockpitStainless steel pulpit railCentrally mounted traditional teak and chromed bronze mooring cleat forwardAnchor windlass mounted on foredeck aft of mooring cleat3 wooden deck hatches re-built in current ownership, glazed in polycarbonate with decorative stainless steel frame to finishBronze genoa tracks mounted on toerail with original fitment genoa carsMahogany cockpit coaming wrapping around cockpit with primary and secondary winches mounted on plinths outboard of coaminsLocker beneath port forward cockpit seatTeak grating fitted over original, self-draining cockpit soleCentrally mounted traditional teak and chromed bronze mooring cleat on aft deckDISCLAIMERIn this case we are acting as brokers only.The Owner is not selling in the course of a business. whilst every care has been taken in their preparation , the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The Purchaser is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate at their expense to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability for such engine on our part.This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice