Hello everyone.
We really should have introduced ourselves back when I joined this excellent site but I just never got round to it, until now.
A good friend and myself bought this our first boat, back in 2010. Its a Shetland 535, No 2034 and she's called 'Stormchaser', and what a good buy it turned out to be, I never realized just how much fun you could have just messing about on a boat, and the fishing's been great too.
When we first got her she was good to go and we used her from day one but although complete she was a bit rough round the edges so we started a programme of slowly doing her up to our specification. Its been a slow process mostly due to very limited funds but she's now starting to get there so I thought I'd start showing a few images of our progress.
This is how she looked inside when we first got her, just the basic cabin.
Although the cupboards were handy, everything just lay in a pile at the bottom, with the result little of the space was being utilized so I decided to split them in half which gave us four cupboards, much better.
Shetland 535 Refurbishment
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Shetland 535 Refurbishment
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
The very first time I used the boat I felt a couple of shelves would be very useful and this was one of the first changes I made to the cabin area.
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
Alistair has made a great job of the total re-wire and its now 95% completed. After the wires are tidied up a little there will still be quite a bit of space in there.
The original deck was a horrible thing, heavy, difficult to remove, falling apart and sucked up water like a sponge. The console had an equally horrible piece of wood and behind it a lot of history of holes being introduced.
The original deck was a horrible thing, heavy, difficult to remove, falling apart and sucked up water like a sponge. The console had an equally horrible piece of wood and behind it a lot of history of holes being introduced.
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Last edited by Shetland535 on Sat Jun 11, 2016 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
This image shows the new deck in place and I've cut out the remaining fiberglass on the console and introduced a piece of marine ply into the space to give me something to work from. I've also re positioned the steering which makes it much easier to steer and has the added benefit of giving more deck space. We've also changed the door so it swings out to the starboard side, this makes a lot more sense and is more user friendly.
Although someone could always break in if they wanted to, we wanted a decent lock on the door. The criteria was it had to have a long throw on the inside. Alistair is very good at finding proper 'fit for purpose' kit and found a suitable lock on ebay. Its a top quality German made lock from a safe. Luckily it came with two keys as apparently replacement keys cost £200 each !
The deck is now in two pieces and is very easy to remove if need be. Its made from half inch thick oak boards glued onto 12mm marine ply. Its now three years old and is still as good as the day we made it. Its held in place with nine M8 stainless bolts, the three down the centre are countersunk a little so they don't cause a trip hazard.
Although someone could always break in if they wanted to, we wanted a decent lock on the door. The criteria was it had to have a long throw on the inside. Alistair is very good at finding proper 'fit for purpose' kit and found a suitable lock on ebay. Its a top quality German made lock from a safe. Luckily it came with two keys as apparently replacement keys cost £200 each !
The deck is now in two pieces and is very easy to remove if need be. Its made from half inch thick oak boards glued onto 12mm marine ply. Its now three years old and is still as good as the day we made it. Its held in place with nine M8 stainless bolts, the three down the centre are countersunk a little so they don't cause a trip hazard.
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Last edited by Shetland535 on Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
I fitted the porthole the other day, Vetus PQ53, very nice piece of kit.
The console is now looking a lot better. Twin voltmeters, one for each battery, an ammeter which will give an early indication of any charging problems and a 'new old stock' 1960's Smiths marine speedometer. A row of switches for various lights etc, and a 12v socket on the right. Down the left hand side of the console there's a further two 12v sockets. Bottom right I've let into the wood a rare Shetland badge, it came through ebay and I was the only bidder! We also bought a new steering wheel which is nice and fat and easy to use, when we bought the boat it was fitted with a horrible car steering wheel from a Hilman Imp or something.
Above there's a 'new old stock' 1960's Smiths engine hour gauge which arrived wrapped in grease proof paper still in its Ministry of Defence box. I took a chance on this as the seller listed it as 24v, when I connected it to a 12v battery I found it kept perfect time! Next to it is a barometer but this may well be getting changed when I find a nicer one. Next to that is a small deck light and I've fitted a reflector inside so the light is directed down to cover the entire deck area. We still need a nice compass and probably a second speedometer to cover faster speeds when using the main engine.
There's still a lot to do yet, a lot more carpet inside, more woodwork in the cabin and out in the deck area, but that won't happen until it comes back here as she's about to go on her holidays back to the loch.
More messing about on the boat and a lot more fishing. Its all good.
The console is now looking a lot better. Twin voltmeters, one for each battery, an ammeter which will give an early indication of any charging problems and a 'new old stock' 1960's Smiths marine speedometer. A row of switches for various lights etc, and a 12v socket on the right. Down the left hand side of the console there's a further two 12v sockets. Bottom right I've let into the wood a rare Shetland badge, it came through ebay and I was the only bidder! We also bought a new steering wheel which is nice and fat and easy to use, when we bought the boat it was fitted with a horrible car steering wheel from a Hilman Imp or something.
Above there's a 'new old stock' 1960's Smiths engine hour gauge which arrived wrapped in grease proof paper still in its Ministry of Defence box. I took a chance on this as the seller listed it as 24v, when I connected it to a 12v battery I found it kept perfect time! Next to it is a barometer but this may well be getting changed when I find a nicer one. Next to that is a small deck light and I've fitted a reflector inside so the light is directed down to cover the entire deck area. We still need a nice compass and probably a second speedometer to cover faster speeds when using the main engine.
There's still a lot to do yet, a lot more carpet inside, more woodwork in the cabin and out in the deck area, but that won't happen until it comes back here as she's about to go on her holidays back to the loch.
More messing about on the boat and a lot more fishing. Its all good.
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Last edited by Shetland535 on Sat Jun 11, 2016 4:16 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
That looks stunning. I presume one of you has some excellent wood working skills! Love seeing what other people have done as I can pinch ideas when I finally get the time to get started on mine.....
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Shetland535
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:15 pm
- Location: Shetland 535 Currently based at Loch Garry
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
Thanks. I'm a beginner really when it comes to woodwork, but I am pleased on how it turned out. It looks a lot better in the flesh than it does in the images.
I took my inspiration from this Shetland based in the Netherlands, It was in the members gallery area when I joined but I've not been able to find it since the site was upgraded.
I'll be stealing some more of his ideas after the end of the season.
I took my inspiration from this Shetland based in the Netherlands, It was in the members gallery area when I joined but I've not been able to find it since the site was upgraded.
I'll be stealing some more of his ideas after the end of the season.
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Deleted User 5743
Re: Shetland 535 Refurbishment
Really impressive work there, at best I'll be managing a bit of a retrim, you've pretty much customised it for your own usage. Very nice indeed!