Shetland Family Four - Buying Advice Needed

[driscos]

Hi,

I'm going down to look at a Shetland Family Four this weekend. It's a 1988 model with a Mariner 40 hp X-RNLI 2003 outboard.

It will be my first boat and I'm not really sure what to look for. There are no tyres to kick. Is there anything that can go wrong with this type of boat?

Any buying advice would be appreciated.

Simon

 

[Fire99]

I used to own a Black Prince so i've had a bit of experience with Shetlands.

Firstly, it's worth taking a look at http://www.shetland.owners.org.uk

A very helpful owners association (Not the official Shetland owners club) which have lots of helpful info.

With boats like these, its all about the engine since it's by far the most expensive part on the boat. The hulls on these are tough and well made so I wouldn't expect any major problems there.

IMO you need to ensure the Mariner outboard is in good condition and been well maintained. Have you been out for a test run or is it on 'dry dock'?

 

[driscos]

Thanks Fire99,

I thought as much. It's all gonna be about the engine. The boat is in the water, and we're going to see it on Saturday morning.

I don't really know what an outboard is meant to sound like. I guess I can just see if it starts first time and isn't too smoky. We'll ask how often it gets serviced though.

Any engine tips appreciated.
Simon

 

[colingr]

As you say check that the outboard starts easily (if layed up it might take a few pulls) Hopefully not too smokey once it has warmend up and not rattly. Check operation into forward / reverse being easy. Don't be put off by a brief crunch as the gears engage. Watch the prop though!!! (Health and safety).

Worth having a hard look at the hull for damaged / patches etc. If damage check if you can see the layers of fibreglass. If you can it might be soggy and tricky to repair properly. If you can check inside around the bow especially to check for evidence of collisions.

Check the steering operates smoothly.

Otherwise if it's tidy go for it and look forward to a lifetime tinkering

 

[nyx2k]

i had a family four years ago and it was a great boat.
i went very well with 25hp so a forty will be fast. i found it very stable and very good in running costs etc.
just check the hull for dtress cracking and any visible repairs.
as said the engine is the thing thast will empty your wallet if its dud

 

[driscos]

Thanks all.

Here's some photos of the boat. Not sure you can tell much:

Outboard
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4946043606_4007fa6ca5_b.jpg

Front of boat
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4946042112_a235df9087_b.jpg

Captain's seat
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4945468069_1964dc4fba_b.jpg

Kettle
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4945463847_e1523235ab_b.jpg

 

[Fire99]

Ahh all is fine. You have a kettle!

She looks a good little thing. I remember getting my first boat. A normal 18 with a 40hp on the back. Not a million miles different from the Shetland. Had some ace days on her.

Regarding the engine, and believe me i'm not being alarmist in any way, it looks really good. However, you need to ensure things like the telltale is operating with a nice stream of water out the back as you could virtually buy the boat again in cost if the engine goes pop.

So I'd get someone who knows what they're looking at, take a look at the Outboard or dare I say, pay for an Engine survey.

If you're like me, you'll just be itching to hand over the cash and get boating but my 40hp went pop and ultimately cost me the best part of 1500 quid for a 2nd-Hand replacement engine.

It really is worth the extra couple of hundred quid ensuring the engine is good. Also, and this comes from experience, you don't want to be radioing the coastguard when your engine has gone bang and you're drifting out with the tide.

As I say, I don't want to put you off. Just that since I had all the above (except the survey) happen to me, it's worth being a little careful.

I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun on her though.

 

[nyx2k]

you may want to budget for a small aux engine to get you back to shore if it goes wrong.
plus someway of mounting it because that 40 will be too heavy to lift off to mount another engine in an emergency.

 

[Fire99]

you may want to budget for a small aux engine to get you back to shore if it goes wrong.
plus someway of mounting it because that 40 will be too heavy to lift off to mount another engine in an emergency.

Good point. I had the transom bracket on my Norman but being a bit hasty never bothered sticking the aux (2.2) motor on and got my bum burnt for the privilege.

 

[Topcat47]

Shetlands build quality was varied. A friend recently renewed the deck on his Sheltie after the whole thing went spongy. The deck was 8mmWPB, glassed to the hull and the void filled with foam. The foam was like papier mache and the ply was both rotten and de-laminating. That said, repairs were a lot cheaper than the engine would have been. I second getting a professional opinion on that!

Have a good look at the GRP, hunt around the pads under any hull fittings. Watch out for any signs of water ingress.

Enjoy the boat.