Loyalty to the brand

[admin]

I am forever gob smacked at the loyalty to the brand "SHETLAND"

I have spoken to so many peope who have all said " our first boat was a Shetland" And the most amazing thing is, that the love for their boat is still evident even if they now own a Sunseeker...

Even today we have a member who remembers buying his first Shetland in the 1970's and still owns one today , over 40 years later.

4 days ago I went to the Southampton Boat Show, and yes being the sad individual I am, I was wearing my SOA shirt. 6 complete strangers stopped and spoke to me ( I will chat to anyone) saying the same thing. Our little iconic boats are loved and cherished.

So my question is this...... Which member owns the oldest Shetland boat?

[alwischy]

How true !
My grandad and my parents both had shetlands a 535 & later a 570 and as kids we spent our summers in & around poole harbour it must be passed through your genes that when you think boat you think "shetland" even my children 6 & 8 yrs old,shetland spot lol how weird.

Mine is a 1973 535.

[StevieP]

Out of the running with the oldest Shetland...Speedwell Serial No 282, 1980 something...maybe be,,,i dunno but moored up here on the Broads with mine you need a calculator to keep count of them..This could be Shetland heaven!!

[petermarr]

Who can not love a Shetland??? I wouldn't want anything else if you paid me.
Most solid built boats I have ever seen.
Mine is a 1973 - 640 No 24 on the Shetland makers plate, and on the Broads gets regularly bashed by novices in 40 foot hire boats (hence all the fenders). She just bounces off them with no damage to her.
A remarkable amount of room on her for a 21 foot boat and when my Son and Grandchildren stay over on her she can sleep 5 and 2 dogs at a pinch. (3 in the cabin, 2 out back under the canopy, dogs out back on the floor).
She has been adapted for comfort not speed as there is speed limits of between 4 - 6 mph on the broads. Pump Out Toilet, Hot water System, Mains Electric Hook up, Diesel Heater, Gas Oven and Hob, Sterio Radio, Hydraulic Steering Etc. All the work done by myself.
And a new canopy.(I did get that made for me)
Powered by a 25hp 4 stroke Mariner big foot engine with a 4 hp 4 stroke as a back up if i run into trouble it would get me home.Thats plenty of power for the Broads.

Here is a few pics of her

Pic from Bridge.JPG

Cabin.JPG

cockpit.JPG

Pete

[StevieP]

Hi Pete just wanted to say...nice Shetland , will look out for you when im out and about, so if you see a bloke waving like a nutter.....thats me , just to confirm will also shout "SOA"" which reminds me....Sue are the T Shirts still available??.

Steve

[admin]

---> steviep. you can have anything embroderd with the logo. You need to go straight to midwales embroidery who have the logo set up and ready to run and speak to RUTH

http://www.midwalesembroidery.com

anything in the catalogue can be done with the logo and anything bought, Ruth donates to the RNLI

[Guest]

Thanks Sue

[onewatt]

How about the question of how many Shetlands you have owned?

Myself personaly I have owned 1 535, 1 Sheltie sportsman, 3 shelties and I now own a 536 fisherman so in total 6 in my lifetime.. That's loyalty to the brand

Mike

[onewatt]

Make that 4 shelties , just brought another off e-bay today

[admin]

I am impressed and humbled. But it does go to show just how investable ((made up word) our little boats are.

You can keep your shiney sunseekers ( Santa - cancel the last tweet I sent)