Shetland 640 (Hard Top) - Bubbles
Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:25 pm
This is our 1977 Shetland 640 that we run in Chichester Harbour and the Solent. When we bought Bubbles in 2010 she had already been rewired and substantially refitted by ABC Marine. She still had her original `Golden Brown' gel coat hull in good condition but the Shetland markings were partly erased and she had no canopy.
Whilst Golden Brown may have been fashionable in the '70s, we opted to have her sprayed Light Ivory with two part paint in a colour close to that of her Manilla topsides, finished with new `4+2 sized' graphics obtained from Shetland Boats. As she is now champagne coloured we named her Bubbles. The canopy also came from Shetland Boats and in our view is made very well.
We had our previous Mariner 40 h.p. engine transferred to Bubbles as it was still in warranty and gives us the flexibilty to run her on Canals/Rivers/The Broads if we wish to. For the Galley area we borrowed ideas from other SOA 640s in the Gallery, in terms of shelving and sliding storage. The gas hob/cooker was rusty and old. As we have mains electricity where she is berthed, and at marinas, we removed it and replaced it with a microwave, and portable gas stove if needed, although the original installed gas pipework remains.
Each time I get on board I get a sense of how spacious she is, with her wide beam and standing room in the cabin, and most recently when sitting comfortably in the space vacated by the old cooker! She also has great all round visibility from the helm position.
Please see the three photos. If anyone would like to see more, or advice on any of the changes we have made, or 640s in general, please contact us. Chris and Chris.
Whilst Golden Brown may have been fashionable in the '70s, we opted to have her sprayed Light Ivory with two part paint in a colour close to that of her Manilla topsides, finished with new `4+2 sized' graphics obtained from Shetland Boats. As she is now champagne coloured we named her Bubbles. The canopy also came from Shetland Boats and in our view is made very well.
We had our previous Mariner 40 h.p. engine transferred to Bubbles as it was still in warranty and gives us the flexibilty to run her on Canals/Rivers/The Broads if we wish to. For the Galley area we borrowed ideas from other SOA 640s in the Gallery, in terms of shelving and sliding storage. The gas hob/cooker was rusty and old. As we have mains electricity where she is berthed, and at marinas, we removed it and replaced it with a microwave, and portable gas stove if needed, although the original installed gas pipework remains.
Each time I get on board I get a sense of how spacious she is, with her wide beam and standing room in the cabin, and most recently when sitting comfortably in the space vacated by the old cooker! She also has great all round visibility from the helm position.
Please see the three photos. If anyone would like to see more, or advice on any of the changes we have made, or 640s in general, please contact us. Chris and Chris.