Very Early Shetland 69 (535) Project Boat

[northernboy]

Up to now I have restored a few classic cars and a couple of campervans however, I know very little about boating but have a yearning to get onto the canal network and after some research come to the conclusion these little boats have a good reputation and are relatively easy to restore, maintain and operate. So here goes for something new to me

So, I bought this 1969 Shetland 69 serial number 572 - the hull seems to be in good sound condition but until i get up-close and strip back who knows what I will find. (just like old cars).

The canopy has clearly seen better days and will be replaced. The windows are scratched and rubber perished so they too will be replaced. The interior needs a good clean with cushions etc getting recovered. The wooden floor looks tatty but am sure is pretty easy to replace with marine ply.

The boat comes with a Honda BF15A 15HP Electric start that i have been reliably informed runs well - I will give it a service in any event. This is controlled by a pully steering setup and standard remote throttle etc

The Trailer is a twin axil Bradley which is a bit excessive at 2000 KG plated capacity but what does a lot will do a little. This should get the boat the 15 miles to my proposed marina but will need some TLC long term.

I hope to get the boat into a local Marina late January where I can make use of facilities to restore the boat back to a safe, comfortable and fun craft to explore my local canals.

I have found so much useful info on the forum and like classic car forums are a great help.

[vreagh]

That is indeed a very early 69. Does the the id plate give the address as 114 Mile End Road ? This was the address of Jack Stokes ( owner of Shetland Boats) chandlery business. These early boats were very well made, with heavy layup and a sealed hull to deck join, 15" transom height, later boats had 18", and a heavy 2" dia solid steel bar in the keel from stem to transom. Bought mine in '68, still using her with original gel coat.

[northernboy]

Yes it does have the 114 Mile End Road - so nice bit of history. Am glad you say these are well built, it does seem a very solid boat but has been a bit abused with poor quality DIY and generally neglected so needs plenty of work.

I have stripped out virtually everything that will unscrew to have a really good look round but haven't had much time to dig too deep yet.

The cockpit floor was domestic kitchen floor planks which were totally soggy so were binned, underneath that was 8mm ply which was wet - I will see what this is like when i have dried it out.

Underneath this is the GRP hull that has some bearers running port to starboard that are a moulded part of the hull, then seem rather soft, I guess they may be filled with some thing that is now rotten. This will have to be looked at.

Good to hear your boat is still going strong and you are the original owner .

[dellquay13]

That’s a very big stainless pulpit on the front, did the previous owner stand up there harpooning whales?
It’s been taken from a yacht, the small loops half way up and at the top are where the deck guard wires would have been anchored.

[northernboy]

LOL - yes, it is a ridiculous pulpit. I have now removed it and the boat looks much better already:)

[vreagh]

I've just noticed the name 'Blue Mist' ,coincidence, mine has a white topsides and I named her 'White Mist' in 1969.

[northernboy]

After a number of weekends at the Boat Club, I now have a much better boat - not finished yet but good progress.

Well, the keel was damaged and I found three holes and badly patched both on the outside and inside so would have probably sunk very quickly

I decided to attack the problem from the outside and inside to make sure it was sound. Externally I removed the dodgy patches and sanded back around the holes and re patched.

Internally was a much bigger job to repair the keel and involved removing the fibreglass and masses of sealant that had been squirted into the keel to try and stop leaks. These early 69's have a 25mm round Iron bar that runs the length of the keel - this adds great strength but I understand on later boats this was not used. The hull also has two steel bars running front to back each side of the keel but these are sound. I decided to remove the keel bar and it had to be cut so it could be removed. Once the bar was out, I could get to the keel and fully repair the holes and thin areas. The bar was then replaced and surrounded in sealant and fibre glassed in. I also then added another layer of fibreglass to form a channel for any bilge water to settle and be pumped out if required. The hull is now sound so any water should come from the sky and not the river / canal. I tested my work by running many gallons of water into the boat and watched to see if there were any leaks - it was bone dry - result. My theory being if water cant leak out , it can't leak in?

The wooden stringers were totally rotten so theses were cut out with a multitool and new treated timber stringers made and re glassed in. The floor is now solid again.

I then found the roof of the cabin leaked and was very soft. Over the years the wooden core had totally rotted so I cut out the inner layer of fibre glass ( cabin ceiling) and removed all the rotten wood. I had to be very careful not to cut the outer fibre glass layer. I now have a nice clean dry roof and the next job is to replace the wood with a marine ply and re glass the ceiling. I did consider leaving out the wood but I guess it adds strength and rigidity so it will go back and be well sealed in.

To be continued - photos below

[vreagh]

Was your steel bar fibre glassed in from the top ? Mine is, so when the keel was damaged, water couldn't enter the boat. My damage was caused by rocks on a drying mooring. Cured it attaching a stainless wear strip running the length of keel. By the way, your boats looking good.

[northernboy]

Sorry for late reply - yes the steel bar is now encased in sealer to allow for a bit of rust expansion and then fibreglass and lots of resin to make good the hull.

[northernboy]

Well the Shetland aka 'Watery Pig' is 98% complete and is back in the water.

6 months work to complete the restoration which included making good a very leaky keel, rotten internal fixtures, shabby paint, damaged windows, worn out canopy and almost write off outboard.

Has now new paint job, refreshed fixtures and fitting, plastic windows replaced on canopy, perspex windows re polished with new rubber seals refurbished and re painted wooden flooring and the outboard has been fully serviced with a repaired lower leg which was badly corroded, rebuilt gearbox and fresh oils, plugs, impeller etc.

Boat safety certificate issued without problems.

Quick trial to test outboard and hull watertight and so far all seems good.