110 Cookson Lane | Whitefield, ME  04353 | 207.549-3834 | tim@lackeysailing.com
 


Inspection Notes:  Shields Class Hull # 9 Bolero

Inspection Date:  June 27, 2007
Inspection Location:  Masons Island Marina, Mystic, CT

The Hull (Topsides) | The Hull (Bottom) | The Deck | The Interior | Rigging, Sails, and Equipment

The Hull

The black Awlgrip was in fair condition and could be kept satisfactorily if you like it, but wasn't in good enough condition to feel tied to it, depending on personal choice and other factors of the project.  It is certainly not perfect, but with a little cleaning it'd look pretty good.  There was the usual collection of minor scratches, scuffing from winter shrinkwrap, and other imperfections.  Some screw heads in way of the chainplates were breaking through the fairing compound over them.  The owners have waxed it, which is a bad idea, but what's done is done.

I thought the green boottop was a poor choice with virtually no contrast to the black topsides and brown bottom, and the boat looks dead to me and completely lacks attractive detail.  Obviously this is completely a personal thing, but the boat could look a lot better than she does with a new boottop and covestripe, or what have you.  This is my opinion only, and these small details are irrelevant at this point.  But I can't help mention it.

The main forward bulkhead printed through the hull, creating a hard spot that can be seen in some of these photos.  If you don't see it, let me know and I'll point you to the correct photo.  This is pretty typical, so I don't think it's a big concern.  These boats are pretty lightly built.

There's a hump visible in the sheerline right at the chainplates on both sides.  This may be indicative of the stresses placed here, as indicated in some of the Cape Cod Shipbuilding papers you sent me.  (More on the chainplates later.)

The wooden toerail is minimal, and there is no rubrail.  For appearance and deck safety for your purposes, a new and larger rail could be a nice choice, along with a protruding rubrail for additional protection as well as to enhance the appearance. 

The photos pretty much speak for themselves.  Without seeing many Shields on my own, I'd guess that the topsides of #9 are in as good or better condition than most, despite their imperfections.

If you wonder why I took a specific photo, please let me know the photo name and I will explain what I was trying to show.

More on the hull--->

 

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

 

More on the hull--->