McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer (1963) for sale in Argyll, United Kingdom

£59,000 GBP
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The McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer, INISMARA, is a classic vessel located in Argyll, United Kingdom, with an overall length of 12.70 metres and a beam of 3.00 metres. Originally launched in 1963, she is celebrated for her exceptional design by James McGruer, racing success, and high-quality construction. Commissioned by Peter Odlum, INISMARA quickly proved her prowess with numerous wins, including the Lloyds Register Yacht Trophy. With only her third owner since 1995, she has been meticulously maintained to retain her original specifications while sympathetically modernised. Offered in excellent condition, INISMARA boasts her original hardware and finishes and is available for viewing at Kilmelford Yacht Haven by appointment.

General information
Make/model
McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer
Category
Used sail boat for sale
Price
Price comment
Presented in exceptional, original condition.
Tax / VAT status
Paid / Included
Name of boat
INISMARA
Year
1963
Designer
James McGruer
Length overall
12.70 metres
Length waterline
8.30 metres
Beam
3.00 metres
Draft
1.90 metres
Displacement
7,796 kg
Hull
Carvel planked Mahogany/Teak
Keel
Long Keel
Location
Argyll, United Kingdom

About this McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer

English

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.

CONSTRUCTION

Hull Construction:

Carvel Teak planking below the waterline

Carvel Mahogany planking on topsides

Laminated hardwood wood keel, stem and sternpost

Laminated frames

Steamed Oak and Elm timbers

Metal strap floors – removed, galvanised, plastic coated and re-fitted with isolating membrane

Topsides finished in single-pack satin green paint

White boot top

Underwater hull finished in red antifouling

Deck & Superstructure Construction:

Hardwood beamshelf

Hardwood carling

Harwood deck beams

Laminated hardwood knees

Marine plywood subdeck

Swept laid teak deck – thickness survey available on request

Mahogany covering boards and toerails finished in varnish

Mahogany coachroof sides finished in varnish

Marine plywood coachroof top, sheathed and finished in off-white non-slip deck paint

Mahogany cockpit and coamings

Portlights bonded to coachroof sides with decorative chromed bronze frames

Hardwood deck hatches, glazed with polycarbonate and finished externally with brushed stainless steel decorative frame

Keel & Rudder:

Lead ballast keel

Bronze keel bolts – checked in 1995 as part of recommissioning

Laminated hardwood rudder

Bronze rudder stock

MACHINERY

Engine & gearbox:

Bukh DV36 marine diesel engine (1985)

36hp

3 cylinder, naturally aspirated, indirectly cooled

Mechanical reversing marine gearbox

Engine panel with gauges for RPM, oil pressure, temperature, engine hours

Maintenance & Performance:

Recorded engine running hours 1,290hrs

Cruising speed under engine 7kts

Propulsion & Steering:

Stainless steel propshaft

Stuffing type sterngland with remote greaser

Two-blade bronze folding propellor

Laminated hardwood tiller, finished in a gloss varnish

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Voltage systems:

12VDC onboard power system

230VAC shore power/inverter system

Shore Power System:

Extension lead to connect to shore supply

Single 16 amp connection point

3 pin UK sockets, battery charger

Battery Banks:

Engine Battery – 1x 12VDC, 120Ah, lead acid

Domestic Battery – 1x 12VDC, 120Ah, lead acid

Battery Monitor:

Voltmeter on engine dash panel

Charging:

230VAC – 12VDC battery charger

Alternators:

Single engine driven alternator

Other Electrical:

12VDC sockets at switch panel and chart table

PLUMBING SYSTEMS

Fresh Water:

Manually pump cold fresh water system

Taps in galley and heads

Salt Water:

Manually pumped tap in galley

Bilge Pumps:

Manual Bilge Pump

Electric Bilge Pump

TANKAGE

Fuel:

Single diesel tank

Approximate capacity 45ltrs / 10 gallons

Fresh Water:

Single fresh water tank

Approximate capacity 113ltrs / 25 gallons

NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

On Deck:

Depth – Raymarine ST60

Speed/Log – Autohelm ST50

Wind – Autohelm ST50

At Chart Table:

GPS – Furuno GP31

Magnetic Compass

Communications Equipment:

VHF – Husun 60 VHF

DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

Galley:

Cooker – two burner and grill, gimbal mounted gas cooker

Stainless steel sink

Fresh cold water tap

Extractor fan in galley

Heads:

Toilet – Jabsco manual marine toilet

Wash hand basin

Cold water tap

Lighting:

Original overhead and bulkhead mounted lighting fittings throughout

Reading lights over saloon settees to port and starboard

ACCOMMODATION

Summary of Accommodation:

Sail locker forward

Fo’c’sle with two single berths

Heads

Saloon providing two occasional single berths

Nav Station

Galley

Quarter berth

Accommodation Finish:

As built interior with original finishes in most place

Door furniture and hinges all replaced in 1995 with as-built fittings, ex-stock from McGruers

Mahogany joinery work finished in a gloss varnish

Mahogany soleboards finished in a satin varnish

Aquamarine, natural cotton, woven fabric for upholstery throughout

Deck head and deck beams finished in an eggshell white

Hull sides finished with varnish where visible

Formica topped gallery work surfaces.

Description of Accommodation from Forward:

Forward Cabin:

Chain locker space forward most

Sail locker/storage space between fo’c’sle and chain locker, accessed by crawl through space with deck hatch

Two single berths outboard to port and starboard

Single seat located between berths forward

Pull out shelves below seat for glasses

Standing room between berths aft.

Drawers and storage lockers beneath seat and bunks

Hanging locker aft of port bunk outboard

Heads:

Located to starboard side at aft end of aft cabin

Manual marine toilet located outboard aft.

Pull out stainless steel wash hand basin above toilet outboard with cold water tap

Vanity lockers above outboard

Saloon:

Bench seating to port and starboard sides of saloon

Both settees converting to provide occasional single berths

Centrally mounted, double drop leaf saloon table with central bottle storage compartment

Storage lockers outboard of port settee forward and aft with centrally located bookshelf

‘Ships Bar’ locker forward of port settee

Locker outboard of starboard settee forward with bookshelf running aft, GPS and VHF mounted at aft end of bookshelf

Settee back rests folding down to access storage locker space outboard

Nav 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 forward

Storage drawers beneath countertop

Storage locker outboard

Serial connection for laptop to connect to GPS data

Galley:

To port, aft of saloon

Gimbal-mounted gas cooker forward

Inset stainless steel sink aft

Pull-out section of worktop located beneath cooker providing preparation space

Crockery storage rack outboard of cooker

Locker outboard of sink

Storage drawers and lockers beneath galley unit

Quarter Berth:

Located to port side of companionway aft of galley.

Single seat/storage unit opposite to starboard

Storage locker forward of seat with countertop above.

DECK EQUIPMENT

Rig:

Deck stepped, single spreader, fractionally rigged sloop

Gold anodised alloy mast and spars, manufactured by Proctor Masts

Stainless steel standing rigging

Harken roller reefing system on forestay

On-Boom roller reefing mainsail with kicker strap

Block and tackle kicker

Spinnaker pole

Winches:

Primary Winches – 2x Lewmar, 2-speed winches (original fitment)

Secondary Winches – 2x Gibb, 2-speed winches (original fitment)

Mast Mounted Halyard Winch – 1x Lewmar 40

Mainsail Halyard Winch – Merriman winch by Francis Shaw & Co. Ltd

Sails:

Mainsail – White Dacron, on-boom roller reefing. Nicholson Hughes, 2005

Genoa – White Dacon, roller reefing, 130%. Nicholson Hughes, 2005

Spinnaker

Canvas Work:

Mainsail cover

Anchoring & Mooring:

Bower Anchor – 35lb CQR anchor on 60m chain rode

Kedge Anchor – Fisherman-type anchor

Electric Anchor Windlass – Lofrans Cayman 88 electric windlass with chain gypsy and warping drum

Fenders – Selection

Mooring Warps – Selection

Boat Hook

Tender:

Zodiac inflatable dinghy, round tail for rolling up to stow in locker

Navigation Lights:

Masthead Tri-colour

Steaming light

Low Level running lights – original fitment SL items

General:

Double stainless steel bow roller

Stainless steel pulpit rail

Deck mounted stainless steel stanchions supporting double tier stainless steel guardwires

Guardwire gate to starboard, immediately forward of cockpit

Stainless steel pulpit rail

Centrally mounted traditional teak and chromed bronze mooring cleat forward

Anchor windlass mounted on foredeck aft of mooring cleat

3 wooden deck hatches re-built in current ownership, glazed in polycarbonate with decorative stainless steel frame to finish

Bronze genoa tracks mounted on toerail with original fitment genoa cars

Mahogany cockpit coaming wrapping around cockpit with primary and secondary winches mounted on plinths outboard of coamins

Locker beneath port forward cockpit seat

Teak grating fitted over original, self-draining cockpit sole

Centrally mounted traditional teak and chromed bronze mooring cleat on aft deck

DISCLAIMER

In 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

Read more

Propulsion
Engine
Bukh DV36 marine diesel engine (1985) 36hp 3 cylinder, naturally aspirated, indirectly cooled Mechanical reversing marine gearbox Engine panel with gauges for RPM, oil pressure, temperature, engine hours
Engine hours
1290
Fuel
Diesel
Fuel capacity
45 litres
Accommodation
Drinking water capacity
113 litres
This McGruer 8m Cruiser Racer has been viewed 541 times
Broker/Dealer Information

Mark Cameron Yachts

Mr Mark Cameron
The Braes
Inverneil
PA308ES
United Kingdom
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