jfm
Well-Known Member
Ooh now what a nice project. Great engine and a highly decent boat imho. Good spec - electric windlass, nice radar arch, etc. I went to the Relcraft moulding factory yonks ago, aged 17, to collect a custom boat hull the same factory made for us - me and my dad. It wasn't a Relcraft hull; it was a centre console dory, but moulded by the same guys in the same Nottingham factory. TThey were a good team and knew well how to mould, and got a nice balance between strong enough but not stupidly heavy imho. We checked out lots before commissioning them and they passed my random quality standards back then 
The flybridge only works on a few boats this size, but this is one of them. The beautiful Berties are perhaps the best at getting a flybr to look fab on a small boat, but this one looks very alright too imho.
On your specifics:
1. I'd keep the stripe/ a stripe to lower the apparent height of the fly. Maybe not blue though and maybe a bit thinner Perhaps black or dark grey or something. You can just paint this in epoxy I think.
2. Yup those rails were ugly. If they happen to be 1m from the deck the thing was probably coded earller in its life. Anyway, lower rails would be nicer for sure. Loads of s/s workshops can make these, as you know (Or maybe you weld ss?). I can't tell just from pictures, but consider using 30mm tube not 25mm, or 30m oval laid flat onto round vertical posts. Can add a quality feel
3. A mid rail at the pulpit would be nice too
4. Personally i think the windows are ok and I wouldn't rip them out and redo the GRP. Lots of pain for no gain. Perhaps think about the italian trick of painting the mullions and nearby GRP black to change the look and shape of the window lines. Also paint the silver stripe bit of the window rubber black. Perhaps do the A pillars black but leave the central split windscreen mullion white. Play around with MS Paint to model ideas here...
Good luck and post pics when you get the chance
The flybridge only works on a few boats this size, but this is one of them. The beautiful Berties are perhaps the best at getting a flybr to look fab on a small boat, but this one looks very alright too imho.
On your specifics:
1. I'd keep the stripe/ a stripe to lower the apparent height of the fly. Maybe not blue though and maybe a bit thinner Perhaps black or dark grey or something. You can just paint this in epoxy I think.
2. Yup those rails were ugly. If they happen to be 1m from the deck the thing was probably coded earller in its life. Anyway, lower rails would be nicer for sure. Loads of s/s workshops can make these, as you know (Or maybe you weld ss?). I can't tell just from pictures, but consider using 30mm tube not 25mm, or 30m oval laid flat onto round vertical posts. Can add a quality feel
3. A mid rail at the pulpit would be nice too
4. Personally i think the windows are ok and I wouldn't rip them out and redo the GRP. Lots of pain for no gain. Perhaps think about the italian trick of painting the mullions and nearby GRP black to change the look and shape of the window lines. Also paint the silver stripe bit of the window rubber black. Perhaps do the A pillars black but leave the central split windscreen mullion white. Play around with MS Paint to model ideas here...
Good luck and post pics when you get the chance
)![5215390e-2394-49c4-9934-41c6d4718212_medium640[1].jpg](https://ybw-data.community.forum/attachments/2/2898-3ff9cea2572643c1f38d920fc8c51c2d.jpg?hash=P_nOolcmQ8)
