Tidying up a very old cabin cruiser - what do you think?

Murv

Murv

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Nov 2012
Messages
2,127
Location
Kent
Visit site
The priority over the last Year has been getting the thing running properly, but alongside that I've been trying to spruce the interior up a bit. It's a bit tatty, it's over 30 Years old to be fair, but all the Brown was a bit depressing!
My DIY skills are non existent, so I'm very limited to what I can actually do but these are the results so far.
I'm not overly taken with the White, but I still think it's an improvement on the Brown.
There is LED strip lighting all around, and shamefully, even Blue lighting in addition up front. I know it's no gin palace, not even an "own brand" lager palace but still, it's a Mobo :D
The pictures aren't great, I ted to over enthusiastically rip into things before wishing I'd got some proper before and after pics! but, any thoughts?

Before and afters:

a67a84ea9898a_full_zpsa1a32fde.jpg


IMAG0625_zpsbe667eec.jpg


1783cdb0a7bec_full_zps714eaeed.jpg


IMAG0623_zps539f66e9.jpg


3bbf497f7159d_full_zps3a49b760.jpg


IMAG0624_zpsa8735649.jpg
 
Last edited:
Colour variation in woodwork often looks worse in photos that in real life, but it does appear quite tired and inconsistent. Veneering is a huge job, and costly if you're not very DIY oriented, so i'd suggest sanding down and painting some of the areas. The area on the right in the bottom picture (looks like heads and galley) seems OK, so maybe you could leave this and paint the inside of the bulkhead and the steps in a lightish colour which would certainly brighten it up a bit. I'd decide which bits to paint based on how tired they look and how easy they are to paint. You could then fit some nice wooden treads on the wear surface of each step, tart up the soft furnishings, and it would be transformed.
 
Thanks for that, I hadn't really considered painting.
The bulkhead panels are actually new, they're oak stained ply and look quite reasonable but the old varnished wood now looks very rough!
I like the wooden finish, but this is very tired and old, also an original owner had a great fondness for drilling holes in everything and which a subsequent owner has very crudely filled with a Brown putty.
With that in mind, filling then painting is probably the easy answer, and it it really doesn't improve it, I'll have to see if I can construct some new steps/doors etc.
 
yes lots of different shades, from experience I tend not to rip things out as they never go back in the same neat way, but try to alter what is there.
Not on the boat but in the house I have used cuprinol colour shades paint, rub down and gives its shade of colour or the more coats you apply the stronger the colour, plus it is designed for outside use, just a thought, good luck with whatever you do, as you say its a mobo!!
 
Chi Man said:
yes lots of different shades, from experience I tend not to rip things out as they never go back in the same neat way, but try to alter what is there.
Not on the boat but in the house I have used cuprinol colour shades paint, rub down and gives its shade of colour or the more coats you apply the stronger the colour, plus it is designed for outside use, just a thought, good luck with whatever you do, as you say its a mobo!!
Click to expand...

I shall investigate the Cuprinol, thank you :)
 
Some bright and jolly new curtains would lighten things up and draw the eye from some of the wood. Loose the shaggy brown cushions and get a few cushions that complement the curtains. New doors and steps in the same wood as the bulkheads. Nice job on the bulkheads by the way.
 
I think that you have pulled off a very good upgrade.
Newer boats have very little that can be done, often with laminate bulkheads,big interior moldings, little bits of wood trim,and loads of soft linings..
You have managed to keep its originality and improve, which will pay off in the future...I agree with the others re Cuprinol and Curtains..
I am guessing on a Picton as the boat? As nobody else has had a stab at it...
But I am pretty useless at that sort of thing.. Good luck
 
Dill et Bound said:
I think that you have pulled off a very good upgrade.
Newer boats have very little that can be done, often with laminate bulkheads,big interior moldings, little bits of wood trim,and loads of soft linings..
You have managed to keep its originality and improve, which will pay off in the future...I agree with the others re Cuprinol and Curtains..
I am guessing on a Picton as the boat? As nobody else has had a stab at it...
But I am pretty useless at that sort of thing.. Good luck
Click to expand...

Looks bigger than a Picton, they were 22'? Having said that, I've no idea what else it might be. It doesn't look as if it will take too much work to get it looking really smart.
 
Picton did bigger as well..
Friend of mine has a Spirit 3000. which I think was the biggest.. Its very roomy..Lets leave it there..
There was also a Spirit 28 that was to my mind stunning..
I tried to buy one a few years ago with the idea of taking out the twin V6 Petrols and replacing with a Single Volvo diesel..
Sums did nt quite add up, but great layout, Princess 266 style bathing platform, rails back almost to cockpit. wide side decks, well for a 28ft sports cruiser..
Nice looking, but unsure of the designer..
 
I think you have done a pretty good job on the upholstery, which looks much smarter. I quite like the oak bulkhead, looks tidy, but the rest of the woodwork now looks very old. Woodskin is a recommended product, maybe a rub down and then a satin finish as that will make the woods blend together better than gloss. If all else fails, you could paint the doors in an satin finish off-white. If you use brilliant white it will stand out like a sore thumb.

Curtains & cushions will finish the job nicely. Primark is a great place for cushions & throws etc.

Good luck with the rest of the project…

Di
 
Many thanks all, it's greatly appreciated.
I think that replacing the steps would be a summer project, I'll try sanding and painting first to see how that looks. I'd love to make a new set of steps and doors but would have to considerably up my DIYing skills first!
The bulkheads and trim panels were easy, just buzzed around the old ones with a profiling router bit and a new bit of marine ply underneath!
The upholstery is vinyl, I just dyed it White. I think longer term it may be nicer to get it covered in a fabric, but it's been a very expensive project just getting the boat running so any tidying up has been done on a tight budget.
Omega, I know it has character, but some of that character is a bit mangy and depressing!! I was just looking to brighten it up a little :)

To end all the speculation, yes, it's a Fairline Holiday. It's actually in my profile so could have saved some speculation there!

It is interesting to see what people have done with their boats, being a very old model there are some out there that have been changed quite radically.
I quite like the bright and airy, painted ones, but I prefer the look of wood. OK, so it's only ply, but it just has a nicer feel to me.
If the original panels weren't so damaged, I would have let it alone but the old bulkheads were split, and had numerous holes drilled in them so it just looked very tatty.
 
Omega, I know it has character, but some of that character is a bit mangy and depressing!! I was just looking to brighten it up a littleI F YOU ARE THE SAME mURV WITH THE INTERCOOLER PROBLEM THEN YOU WILL BE SPENDING MUCH MORE TIME IN THE ENGINE BOX THAN THE CABIN. LOL
 
omega2 said:
Omega, I know it has character, but some of that character is a bit mangy and depressing!! I was just looking to brighten it up a littleI F YOU ARE THE SAME mURV WITH THE INTERCOOLER PROBLEM THEN YOU WILL BE SPENDING MUCH MORE TIME IN THE ENGINE BOX THAN THE CABIN. LOL
Click to expand...

Pffft!! Not a chance! My engine is now running like a dream! :cool:
It's now completed three, yes, three (count 'em) trips out without a breakdown or anything falling off!!
Well, couple of small bits fell off and it wouldn't start last time, but aside from that she's been faultless :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top