Early Shetland?

[Shetland535]

Is this an early Shetland that's newly listed on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHETLAND-535- ... Swkl5XeUA6

The seller has listed it as a 535 but the makers plate says 536.
Am I right in thinking Shetland made a change to the hull shape
some time after this one was made. The front seems to be completely different.

[vreagh]

Hi , I think this is the same model as mine. It was originally sold as the Shetland 69 in 1969 before the model was designated 535. There are quite a few differences. Cabin is more angular, the raised portion of the fore deck stops at the cabin, different outboard well. There were two plates riveted on the side of steering consul one a SBBNF certificate and the other stating Shetland Boats Ltd, Mile End Road, London with a serial no (my 69 is no 558). I think the plate with the makers name is a later owner of Shetland Boats after Jack Stokesl sold it to Wadham Stringers. The windows originally were set in rubber like the 535 but with a simple curve to the rear. These early boats were really built strong. Before the 1974 fuel crisis glass and resin were cheap so the layup of glassfibre really is VERY thick, up to 1/2 inch in places. I've used mine for over 46 years now afloat all year in a Cornish harbour except for maintenance and still on the originally gellcoat. Hope this helps. Keith

[bobtooke]

I'm pretty certain the 536 is a later model than the 535. Similar in design and I assume, destined to be a replacement for the 535
First built in the late '70's it was marketed as "unsinkable" due to the double skin design.
If yours is a very early one, its probably '76-ish at a guess.

http://www.shetlandboats.co.uk/range/23.php

[vreagh]

Hi Bob, you're absolutely right about the 536 being a later version of the 535 but this boat is like no 536 I've seen. Wrong hull form and no outer curves to the transom etc. I think a later I.D. has been fitted to a very early boat. Shetland Boats should know the answer but they deny the existence of the Shetland 69, but I have the original brochure........... Best regards Keith

[Shetland535]

My suspicion is this may be a very early hull shape which didn't last long.
The 69 isn't mentioned 'Boat Specs' or 'Shetland Brochures' sections.
Would you be able to scan your copy and upload it to the site to add to the data base?

[bobtooke]

Yes, I think you're right. The plate has been stuck on from another boat.
Maybe someone pilfered a 536 plate to justify using a larger engine size...?
That hull shape is a 535 and the deck shape does look like an early Shetland.
The windows are clearly later replacements.
What is the transom height? Does the transom seem original?
Do you have any more pics?

[Shetland535]

There's more pictures on the sellers listing on ebay at this link.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHETLAND-535- ... Swkl5XeUA6

Yes I'm a bit confused with this boat. It looks like a 535 to me
but the plate says 536. The plate also recommends max engine size
as 90hp, I thought for a 535 max should be 65hp.
It could be the plate is possibly from another boat, but still, the front
of the hull below the prow is compltetly different from anything I've seen.
I'd like to see some pictures of the front of a 69, google images is coming up
with nothing for that fabled boat.

[Whammers]

Don't know if this helps but my early 535 (no 666!) has "Escomar Boats" on the serial plate, rather than "Shetland". It has the simpler radius curved shape at the rear of the cabin windows.

Early Sheltand history certainly seems to be murky waters!

[vreagh]

I'll take some pics and scan the brochure and try to post. Keith

[bobtooke]

I'm convinced it is a very early Shetland. From the pic its got exactly the same splashwell as mine used to have but someone has built it up to use a long shaft engine.
It may still be a solid boat but I'd be a bit worried about putting an engine that was too big. I think they quoted 50hp max for the very early short shaft models.