Shetland 535 refurb step by step

[Whammers]

Classic boats and classic sportscars obviously go together!

[Whammers]

This wekend is not turning out too bad, weather wise. I've refitted the cabin door with it's improved seal and hinge screws, and also the gas struts on the roof hatch, which work a treat though there are some fastener issues to sort out.

I've cleaned the worst of the mildew off the inside of the cabin using HG Scale Away - brilliant stuff - and have cleaned up the cockpit in preparation for deck building. I'm still pondering on under deck buoyancy. Someone elsewhere on the site used empty plastic bottles. Not a bad idea!

Photos to follow in an extra post below...

[Whammers]

Meggy 071 Cabin Door refitted.jpg

Meggy 076 New door seal.jpg

20151219_114651.jpg

[Whammers]

Meggy 075 Hatch open.jpg

Meggy 074 Hatch Strut open.jpg

Meggy 069 Hatch strut closed.jpg

[Whammers]

Meggy 077 Cockpit junk.jpg

[Whammers]

I've cleared the cockpit of all junk and have removed the rear deck sections I'd fitted:

Meggy 072 Scrapped rear deck.jpg

I have come up with a completely new deck design, which will have a central drain to allow any water quickly back into the bilge. The drain will be made from a section of stainless steel unistrut:

Meggy 073 cockpit unistrut.jpg

[vreagh]

Looking great but can't quite understand why porthole opens outwards unless it's for when you lose your key. Boat is really coming on now with interesting new features and ideas. Here's to the next installment. Regards Keith

[Whammers]

Good point re the porthole... I've put it in the wrong way round, haven't I ?

Should be easy enough to rectify though.

Note to self - keep brain in gear!

[JimG]

I'm impressed. Our project is moving more slowly but it's giving time to pinch your ideas. We were considering hinging the hatch - where did you find the hinges and struts ?
Jim

[Whammers]

Hi Jim,
I got the hinges from eBay:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-STAI ... nav=SEARCH

there is a short and long version. I got the longer versio. They do flex the roof slightly though, so I am going to fit a spreader plate. Watch this space!

The gas struts were also from eBay. There is a huge choice of them. Mine are 120kn ones.

Merry Christmas!