Ship Shape Nelson

29/07/2026

WINNER OF GREATEST DAD IN THE WORLD GOES TO....

I woke up this morning to this lovely, but totally fictional comment from my Dad. Dad lives in America, doesn't have a boat and probably didn't know what clears were until yesterday.

Dad, to coin a phrase I heard a lot in my teens... wot utter bollix! 🤣
I love the thought behind it though. You're grounded.

That being said, though it's not true for Dad, it could be true for you. Give us a call to find out!

ShipShape Nelson. Proudly supported by a looney old codger In the US of A.

Ship Shape is bringing Superyacht standards to the top of the South. Varnish, brightwork, stainless, decking, cleaning, provisioning, splicing... at home or on board, Ship Shape will help.

28/07/2026

It's a great time of year to restore foggy, stained clears. ShipShape have been hard at it on several boats over the past 2 weeks.

We use a three step method
- a soft wash to remove any surface dirt & grime
- a gentle chemical wash which removes hard water stains and blemishes
- a cream polish & protect to remove minor scratches and leave the surface glossy & protected from the elements.

Some top tips for getting the longest life out of your clears:
- Avoid contact with oily hands - engine oil, fish oil & sunscreen are the most common culprits!
- No abrasives! Use nothing more abrasive than a synthetic chammy or super soft microfiber (we recommend Mother's microfiber cloths, available at most automotive stores)
- No chemicals. This includes boat soap that contains wax and window cleaner. Dilute dish soap or white vinegar and water (20:1) is best if you need a cleaner. Definitely no Jiff! In fact, that stuff has no place on any boat, ever but don't get me started on that!
- Handle with care - many clears are designed to roll up. Take time to roll without creasing.
- Dry after washing. Dock water is hard water. Dry water drops away with a synthetic chammy or Mother's microfiber

Give us a call if you'd like us to bring your clears back to beautiful!

First photo is before, the rest are after...

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...

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 ...