Nicholson 31 Refit Tour

[@jayknight850]

Now that is a nice refit! Designed by a ultra knowledgeable craftsman.

[@georgebetar923]

Exceptional work. Your attention to detail and thoughtful craftsmanship is appreciated. Thanks for sharing.

[@svZia-Switch51]

I always love the quality of your work and attention to detail. So hard to find in today's boating world where many contractors do crap work and leave you high and dry. Thank you!

[@jamesmongeau7472]

Hi James, Beautiful job on a really nice boat. Never heard of this boat before. The owner is lucky to have her and to have you to do such fine work on her.

[@kevinpohl3682]

Outstanding. Another very fine refit.

[@drjimlarson]

Beautiful, just beautiful. I wish I had one just like it!

[@unigroupengineering]

Better than new. Great boat.

[@MrDanielHalen]

Fantastic workmanship on this classic Nicholson 30! Thanks for the video tour and inspiration to do some of these upgrades.

[@denny5564]

That Nicholson 31 is one of the finest boats I have seen. Would love to have it and sail it. I can't imagine the time spent to put this boat into its present condition.

[@across_the_plane6800]

Great job, this would be my forever vessel

[@24hourtravellers]

Wow you've thought of everything! ☺

[@TheRickpfarr]

Great tour James!

[@erikwilliams7009]

What a delight to see the Nicholson! It's a video just as I'd hope you might produce. Thanks. Love it.

[@cawfeedawg]

More impeccable work from atomvoyager... Sweet!

[@patrickwentz8413]

Very nice. When I win the lottery I will have you work on my Alberg 30.

[@flyingspur]

Elegant and functional, thanks for sharing! I love those touch LED strips, gonna get some for my boat.

[@edwardfinn4141]

Great idea on the leg of that table…

[@wilyjetset]

But you’d have to remove it to pull out the port settee for use as a sea berth. An interesting alternative to the original table though, which can be a pain to sidle past. I wonder if you could mount a lagun to a post in the cabin sole…

[@edholm2859]

beautiful work!!!

[@MR-yp7mu]

I heard that they are well-built boats. I like the contemporary style without bowsprits and boomkins but with a more traditional approach below the waterline and the stern hung rudder.

[@svsalacia6495]

Nice work

[@pmnfernando]

great work!

[@steveipod1]

Beautiful 😊

[@karstenboyenielsen4576]

Fine boat

[@azoresmarine]

Thank you

[@maritimetees2315]

Nice Job

[@shanedenniscom]

Very nice.

[@Ian-ke6wx]

Hi. Great vid. I have a Nic 31. Could you tell me what batteries you have there under the quarter berth and what you have done to support them? Also what is the board you have used to mount the switch panels? Neatly hinged at the bottom I note. Great work.

[@atomvoyager]

Thanks for the comment. The batteries are all 100AH AGM. The bases are 3/4" plywood fiberglassed to the hull and sides of the seat supports. There are 1x2 wood cleats to hold them from sliding and eye straps for hold-down straps. Same for the other batteries under the settees. The switch panel is a piece of plastic similar to this one: www.amazon.com/ABS-Plastic-Textured-Vacuum-Forming/dp/B07BX2BZDT The owner liked it but it's a bit too flexible so I normally use formica faced plywood for a more heavy duty door.

[@Ian-ke6wx]

@@atomvoyager thanks for reply. Very much appreciated. Did you need to make the chart table lid narrower so that it didn't hit the switches when it was lifted? Thanks again.

[@atomvoyager]

@@Ian-ke6wx Yes I cut a couple inches off the chart table and glued the cut-off to the counter so that the table had clearance to lift.

[@Ian-ke6wx]

@@atomvoyager Hi again. I noticed on the Nic31 Association website that you had fitted a Racor fuel filter to a 3gm30F on this boat. If you had 5 minutes I would really appreciate you explaining where you put it. The only place I can see is in the slot between the battery box and the engine. But when I offer a Racor up some sculpting of the wood is required. Regards, Ian

[@atomvoyager]

​@@Ian-ke6wx Sorry but the owner added that himself after I finished the other work. You can email me at atomvoyages.com with a photo of your engine compartment and where you think the filter could go if you want some ideas. My email address is at the bottom of the home page.

[@birdinthebush]

Hi, very much enjoyed your video, thanks. I have Nicholson 31 No. 90 named Ran. Please, where did you get the bar anode. The only website that advertises them in UK doesn't reply. Thanks again.

[@atomvoyager]

I don't know where the owner purchased the anode bar but in the US there are a variety available from many vendors so you should also be able to find something in the UK. Here's a West Marine bar for example. And looks like you can use aluminum or zinc and cut and drill the bar to fit a hull recess if you have one. Or check a Nicholson forum for recommendations: www.westmarine.com/martyr-commercial-bolt-on-aluminum-plate-anode-with-aluminum-straps-cmz03aa-15758196.html

[@silvanocometta9760]

Wonderful job. Congratulation. What kind of approximate budget would I have to plan for if I would get to you with a similar project?

[@atomvoyager]

A refit like this could cost $60K parts and labor or more depending on the boat and options chosen. For example, the owner selected $15k worth of B&G electronics on this boat but you could easily pick out something for half that cost that would probably be adequate for your needs.

[@silvanocometta9760]

@@atomvoyager Thanks James. That makes sense.

[@seanmurray8051]

What a lovely job you've done on such a classic boat. Does this one just have the standard water tank?

[@atomvoyager]

We didn't add any tanks and I believe it had the standard tank.

[@seanmurray8051]

@@atomvoyager cool cool. Lovely fit out job

[@matthewshay7514]

Hello, I'm curious as to how you fixed the fiberglass panels that replaced the liner? I have just stripped a carpet headliner out of an English twin keel boat over here in France and I would like to install the same fiberglass panel finish. Did you use resin to fix these in place? Glue? Thank you for filling me in. I enjoy your channel very much.

[@atomvoyager]

First we installed strips of 5/16" to 3/8" x 1.5" wood under the deck along the edges of the panels, screwed and glued those to the deck, and then screwed the fiberglass panels along the edges to those wood strips. That allowed a space for wires and 1/4" foil insulation. In a few spots we made the wood strips thicker or thinner as needed to conform to irregular shapes under the deck. Varnish wood battens cover the joints. The panels need to be removable for access and maintenance. On other boats we've used varnished or painted beadboard paneling or formica glued to 3/16" plywood instead of the fiberglass panels.

[@kevinsails]

I am also planning on replacing my headliner with fiberglass panels. Where did you source the panels? I have not had success finding fiberglass panels.

[@atomvoyager]

​@@kevinsails You may find them at Home Depot or other home improvement stores listed as FRP panel or plastic wall panel or shower panels. I think the owner bought Glasbord FRP panels. Here's another one that is similar, although it may not have the fiberglass strands in it that I noticed in ours: www.homedepot.com/p/PLAS-TEX-1-16-in-x-48-in-x-96-in-White-Polywall-Plastic-Panel-10048615/311314398 I'd suggest you look at them in person to make sure they are stiff enough not to sag or buy something thin and glue it to a backer board. That said, I like the matte finish look of formica on a stiff backer panel and use that when the panel area is large because it has less sag. I guess the fiberglass or plastic panels we used cost less in parts and labor though.

[@david78212]

Where are you getting Origo alcohol stoves from? Finding them new is hit and miss and on eBay is ridiculous ~$550 for a used one? Or is it something the owner had?

[@atomvoyager]

I pick them up on ebay when the price isn't too crazy. I had that one in stock from a couple years ago before prices got so high after camper van people started using them. I paid $260 at the time. Here's one on ebay now but don't know how high it will go: www.ebay.com/itm/134125575152?hash=item1f3a81dbf0:g:0qoAAOSwjvhiiQgF

[@superwag634]

is this for a customer or for sale? How much does this work end up costing?

[@atomvoyager]

It's a customer's boat and not for sale at this time. We didn't calculate total cost but it was not done cheaply. The B&G instruments alone cost $14K before installation. There are many ways to cut costs on a refit like this as seen on some of my other videos but this boat was done with a big budget and cost was not the main priority.

[@Yeaitstemp]

Can I come work with you been working in boatyards awhile but im a sailor want to work on sailboats had to sell my boat but hopefully buy a Cape dory in near future

[@atomvoyager]

Thanks for the offer but we don't need any help here. If you want to discuss your plans and options you can contact me through atomvoyages.com.

[@Yeaitstemp]

@@atomvoyager ok will do thanks