Swan 37 Chronicles — Part Two: The First Major Refit
The hull had damage inherited from the previous owner, and I had also struck a rock in the Kiel Canal, so professional repairs were required.
Moreover, the boat’s interior was depressing: the teak was in a dire state, and there was a pronounced smell of rotting wood in the cabin. While the specialists worked on the hull, I removed every removable wooden part and took them into my garage.
Teak proved to be a magnificent material: after stripping off the old varnish and sanding, the wood literally came back to life, which was a very pleasant surprise for me.
However, there were two major problems I could not resolve on my own:
Ceiling panels. They were made of plywood covered with vinyl. The old vinyl had almost completely rotted away, and the plywood beneath had begun to delaminate. I removed all the panels and gave them to carpenters—using the old templates, they cut new panels from marine-grade plywood with a birch-look finish and painted them light gray. It turned out both beautiful and practical. Several decorative trims were renewed in a similar manner—fabricated from marine plywood with teak veneer according to the original templates.
Interior plastic. The old plastic panels had darkened and yellowed over time, giving the cabin an unsightly appearance. Fortunately, I found a craftsman who could paint the pieces right in the boat—some parts simply couldn’t be removed.
In addition, a great many minor tasks were completed: new electronics were installed, non-functioning lights were replaced, the gas stove was updated, and a modern chartplotter was purchased.
Because I had to wait a long time for some components, the start of the season was delayed. Nevertheless, I was completely satisfied with the final result—the boat was transformed both inside and out. The new appearance of the classic Swan 37 attracted curious glances in the marinas and led to new acquaintances.
Ahead of us lay an even more serious upgrade, which I will describe in the next article.
