24ft cabin cruiser refurbishment - opinions & help
Discussion
So I've bought a complete shell of a Norman 24ft cabin cruiser. I've been looking at buying a boat similar to this for the last 12 months, having hired bigger boats on the River Shannon for the last 3 years and having huge amounts of fun with friends!
It's water tight and all the glass and window frames are present. There's no engine but this will simply involve the addition of a decent outboard engine. There's also no interior which is ideal because I have a shopfitting company who work on some very high spec projects including ultra prime houses and luxury hotels so once the important M&E stuff is done the fit out will be the fun bit!
I'll be looking for any advice, tips or help when required and looking forward to sharing my trials and tribulations with fellow pirates and land lubbers over what I hope will be a 9 to 12 month project...
It's water tight and all the glass and window frames are present. There's no engine but this will simply involve the addition of a decent outboard engine. There's also no interior which is ideal because I have a shopfitting company who work on some very high spec projects including ultra prime houses and luxury hotels so once the important M&E stuff is done the fit out will be the fun bit!
I'll be looking for any advice, tips or help when required and looking forward to sharing my trials and tribulations with fellow pirates and land lubbers over what I hope will be a 9 to 12 month project...
Can't help but chuckle at the last 2 responses 
Being in the final stages of closing the deal on my first boat I am at an equal stage of excitement yet everyone I talk to just bring doom and reality into the equation!
OP what are your plans for the interior? Sounds like you will be very well placed to come up with a good design, is this going to become a build thread? Any pics of the exterior to share?
Being in the final stages of closing the deal on my first boat I am at an equal stage of excitement yet everyone I talk to just bring doom and reality into the equation! OP what are your plans for the interior? Sounds like you will be very well placed to come up with a good design, is this going to become a build thread? Any pics of the exterior to share?
Get it under cover. It'll make all the difference to your re-fit 
I did the same, bought a shed of a sailboat, stripped it out to the bare hull, and started again.
I've just renewed the SSR for the second time.
Yes, it's been 10 years! But I did buy and renovate a house in between, so it took a back seat foe a few years
I do still enjoy working on it though. I tend to collect projects....
I think another 2 years will see mine ready for the water
I did the same, bought a shed of a sailboat, stripped it out to the bare hull, and started again.
I've just renewed the SSR for the second time.
Yes, it's been 10 years! But I did buy and renovate a house in between, so it took a back seat foe a few years I do still enjoy working on it though. I tend to collect projects....
I think another 2 years will see mine ready for the water
B3Svert said:
Can't help but chuckle at the last 2 responses Being in the final stages of closing the deal on my first boat I am at an equal stage of excitement yet everyone I talk to just bring doom and reality into the equation!
OP what are your plans for the interior? Sounds like you will be very well placed to come up with a good design, is this going to become a build thread? Any pics of the exterior to share?
I'm looking at making space for it in one of our factories so weather, tools and temperature should be easy enough to sort. Fortunately I wont be working on this personally, it will be the guys (and girl) who work for us... It will likely turn in to a build thread and in terms of the interior plans at the moment I'm aiming for super yacht quality finishes with lots of clever seating, tables, benches etc... Pictures to follow soon. Being in the final stages of closing the deal on my first boat I am at an equal stage of excitement yet everyone I talk to just bring doom and reality into the equation! OP what are your plans for the interior? Sounds like you will be very well placed to come up with a good design, is this going to become a build thread? Any pics of the exterior to share?
B3Svert said:
Just remember owning a boat is like standing in a cold shower ripping up 50 quid notes!
Love this analogy but it somehow makes me more excited about what lies ahead...Simpo Two said:
Simpo's Third Law: 'No matter what size boat you have, you always want a slightly bigger one'.
I'm already thinking about a bigger boat - assuming this one goes to plan when I have finished planning the refurb...
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