Shellback — Menger Oysterman 23 Ketch

Shellback is a sliding-gunter, ketch rigged version of the Menger Boatworks Oysterman 23 (LOA: 31.25’) based on an earlier design by Howard Chapelle, which he named “Blue Crab” as an homage to the skipjacks of Chesapeake Bay. In the days of sail, these boats would be used for the blue crab fishery and are used for harvesting oysters under sail to this day.

William Menger (Menger Boatworks) ever so slightly modified Chapelle’s design to make accommodations for construction in fiberglass and like Chapelle paid homage to its working watercraft heritage by naming this model the Oysterman 23. Menger Boatworks offered the Oysterman 23 in either a sloop or ketch rigged version, with Shellback being the later of the two sail plans. Her traditionally raked main mast, mizzen mast, and distinctively styled bow sprit divides her 323 sq. ft. sail plan into three easily managed parts to allow for carrying either full sail in lighter breezes or quickly depowering for balanced sailing in heavy air.

Shellback has been used by her current owners pretty much exclusively as a daysailer here in Maine, but accommodations below for overnight or weekend cruising can certainly expand that use. Her Magic-Tilt single-axle trailer makes for almost effortless launching and hauling, and she can easily be moved to any sailing or cruising grounds that her next owners might wish to explore.

Principal Dimensions and Information

• Model: Menger Oysterman 23 Ketch
• Designer: Howard Chapelle / William Menger
• Builder: Menger Boatworks
• Year Built: 1974
• LOA: 31.25’
• LWL: 21.08’
• Beam: 8.00’
• Draft Minimum: 6”
• Draft Maximum: 1.67’
• Ballast: 500 lbs. (Galvanized Steel Centerboard)
• Displacement: 2,600 lbs.
• Air Draft: 32.00’
• Interior Headroom: 4.25’
• Sail Area: 323 sq. ft.
• Auxiliary Propulsion: Evinrude Yachtsman 9.9 HP Outboard
• Fuel Capacity: 6 Gallons
• Freshwater Capacity: 12 Gallons
• Magic-Tilt single-axle boat trailer

Hull, Deck and Cockpit

• FRP hull, deck and cockpit construction
• Hard chine Skipjack style hull with transom hung rudder and FRP bow sprit
• Long flat keel with centerboard ballast and skeg at aft end
• 500 lb. Galvanized steel centerboard / ballast
• Teak name boards (Shellback) port and starboard on bow sprit
• Teak toe rails port and starboard
• Teak rub rails port and starboard
• Teak taff rail at transom
• Bronze anchor chain pipe at port bow
• Teak and stainless steel Samson Post at centerline bow
• Main mast partner on center line at bow (forward of cabin)
• Jib sheet fairlead, turning block and bronze jam cleat at starboard side deck
• Bronze docking cleats port and starboard at aft outboard quarters
• Dorade cowl openings port and starboard at aft inboard quarters
• Antenna base mount at starboard aft quarter
• Stainless steel ensign socket at port aft quarter
• Fixed port lights on port and starboard cabin sides (3ea / side)
• Opening port at forward face of cabin
• Teak handrails port and starboard on cabin top
• FRP and Teak sliding companionway hatch
• Teak companionway drop boards (5ea)
• Teak cockpit coamings port and starboard
• Ritchie helm compass mounted on port cabin aft bulkhead
• Bronze inclinometer mounted on port cabin aft bulkhead
• Jib sheet jam cleat mounted on starboard cabin aft bulkhead
• Mizzen mast partner in cockpit sole
• Cockpit sail lockers port and starboard
• Single lever engine control on port cockpit face
• Outboard motor well starboard aft cockpit
• Fuel storage compartment port aft cockpit

Interior Accommodations and Features

• Centerboard trunk and winch on centerline
• Settees port and starboard
• Porta-pottie shelf forward of port settee
• Double berth forward
• Sink basin with manually supplied freshwater on starboard aft cabin bulkhead
• Ships 12-Volt DC circuit panel on port aft cabin bulkhead

Spars and Rigging

• Sliding gunter ketch rigged
• Aluminum main and mizzen masts with buff painted finish and white painted mast heads
• Aluminum Main boom and sliding gunter with buff painted finish
• Aluminum mizzen boom and sliding gunter with buff painted finish
• Aluminum jib boom with buff painted finish
• Stainless steel wire standing rigging with bronze turnbuckle adjusters
• Stainless steel chain plates
• Modern yacht braid running rigging (sheets, halyards, topping lifts and lazy jacks)

Sails and Canvas

• Mainsail and mainsail cover
• Mizzen and mizzen cover
• Jib and jib cover
• Interior cushions

Auxiliary Propulsion and Fuel

• Evinrude Yachtsman 9.9 HP outboard motor
• Poly fuel tank (6 gallon)

Steering System

• Transom and skeg hung rudder
• Plywood and FRP construction rudder with stainless steel pintals
• Stainless steel gudgeons mounted on transom and skeg
• Varnished tiller

Freshwater and Sanitation Equipment

• Poly freshwater tank (12 gallon) in starboard sail locker
• FRP sink and hand pump
• Port-pottie

Electrical Equipment

• 12-Volt DC ships electrical system
• Battery shelf and wiring in port sail locker
• Circuit panel for control of ships electrical service

Additional Equipment

• Ritchie Helm compass
• Bronze inclinometer
• Danforth style anchor with chain and rode
• Thirsty-Mate manual bilge pump
• Dock lines and fenders
• Magic-Tilt single-axle boat trailer