Ship Shape Nelson

26/04/2026

This morning, I woke up and decided, astoundingly, to take a day off work. It is Sunday after all, and I haven't had a full day off in weeks.

What did I do with my day? I restored a crappy old table of course!

Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life :)

21/04/2026

It's fair to say, I love this table, but wasn't sad to see it go home today!

It came to me in a sorry state. Cracked varnish, lifting veneer, bare patches, dents...the works.

After an experimental test strip on the underside, I contacted the owner to let him know the chances of a successful strip were slim to none. The coating was thick and the bola veneer, tissue thin. A disaster waiting to happen. The owner's response? "Just go for it."

So heart in mouth, I did.

This was a complex job! I started with a strip and light sand. Then grain repairs to the cracked and exposed timber. Lifting veneer was injected & clamped. Missing grain recreated by hand. The outer lip re-stained, then coat after coat of varnish.

Possibly the most challenging project I've had in a while but the owner's reaction was worth it. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone hug a table before!!

04/04/2026

Hard to believe, but this varnish is less than a month old (photo 1).

It's a classic, if somewhat drastic example of why preparation & choosing the right product is vital.

At ShipShape Nelson, we understand the quirks and eccentricities of different timbers, the chemical composition of various coatings and can quickly ascertain which products have been used before, so can better recommend which product is best now.

So what went wrong here? A few things.

- choosing the cheapest coating, especially for exterior work is not always a great plan.

- the owners DID sand back the surface before applying BUT didn't realise the timber is deeply permeated with the oil that had been previously used and salt water.

Combined result- a lot of wasted time, product and frustration.

So this Easter weekend, I'm on board, taking her back to square 1! Watch this space...

05/03/2026

Karin has been brilliant for small businesses accountancy. She'll take the time to explain the in's and outs of Xero, GST, payroll and EOY. For stress-free, reasonably priced, expert accounting, I highly recommend Karin and wish her the very best in this solo venture

24/02/2026

Are your fender boards looking a little worse for wear? These ones had been fitted at least 20 years ago and were leaving scuff marks where they should've been protecting.

The crew at In-Stlyle Upholstery whipped up replacements double quick time. ShipShape removed the old ones, fitted new and took the manky leftovers to the tip.

All done & dusted before afternoon tea!

07/02/2026

So, do ya remember that boat I was blathering on about before Christmas? Well the bloke who owns it has gone and stuck it on TradeMe with no reserve! Carpe Diem folks - there's a bargain to be had! Be quick though, auction closes tonight.

McDell Reflections 1100 *NO RESERVE*

DELIVERY OPTIONS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE TRANSFERRABLE BERTH AVAILABLE CONTACT ME FOR MORE VIDEOS/PHOTOS AND PERFORMANCE AT CRUISE Mcdel Reflections 110...

18/12/2025

'Tis the season for sparkly, shiny things! Murphy is putting the finishing touches to a cut, polish & wax job to bling this beauty out. Added bonus, she's now sun-smart and protected from UV & salt water. Luverly!

02/12/2025

All bright and shiny and ready for Christmas! Maybe even YOUR Christmas?
The owner is reluctantly selling his pride and joy after spending months refitting her.

ShipShape jumped on board to help clean up the post-refit gunge. She's washed, scrubbed and waxed & will be on the market soon.

If you fancy an early bird viewing, I can put you in touch with the owner.

If you fancy your boat looking as good as new for the holidays, I can put you in touch with...me!

15/11/2025

22 Hours later...SOLD!

Just in time for summer! Awesome little trailer sailor, with new roller furling for single-handling. Listing on behalf of a friend who doesn't have Facebook. Very good price ticket too. Check it out..

I saw this listing you may be interested in: Bonito Aquarius

These are popular trailer-sailors for a reason – great design. This example is in good condition. I bought her in late 2021, used maybe 6 times since. Visiting ...

15/07/2025

Morning all! Long past overdue for a ShipShape update. For regular followers, you'll know this past 12 months has been... challenging, to say the least.
I have been blown away by the kindness and support I have received from our Marina community.
I'm so grateful to the clients who have faithfully stuck with me though I was off work for months.

Port Nelson Fishermen's Association who kindly supported and advertised my little online venture while I was crook.

The team at Quality equipment provided me with all the kit at the best prices to make the do-dads for my online shop and they never let me lift or carry a thing.

Adam Bonham-Carter and Kim Tait at RopeTek rigging have given me sedentary jobs while I'm still physically rehabilitating.

Nev & Stacey Shields at Nelson Marine Services stored ShipShape's workshop free of charge for 6 months and even came to my home to fix my DVS when it started blinking angry red lights.

Neil Harley & Andre Ludwig - 2 of the most talented chippies you're ever going to meet, I owe you a debt of gratitude too.

I LOVE this little community I'm so blessed to be a part of. This past 12 months was sink or swim. With so many amazing people throwing me lifelines, I've stayed afloat.

I'm stoked to report, that this month, we commenced our first teak restoration project in over a year. I'm physically back in action!!

Until Monday when I tested positive for Covid. Coz why not? What's the worst thing about having to self isolate on Monday? Knowing you ran out of coffee on Sunday morning. Andrew Connolly and his team at Whakatu Marine Services - thank you for the care package!!