Argyll / west coast Scotland fibreglass boat builder?

[Argyll Fisher]

Looking for a reputable boat builder/ yard in the Argyll/ Dunoon area who could refurbish a boat for an angling club. (It’s not the transom alterations discussed in my previous post). Boat requires a floor and seat replaced. We are having difficulties finding somewhere and want to keep the work as local as we can. TIA

 

[Thistle]

I'm near Edinburgh and did a similar search recently for a repair to a Laser hull. The local agent suggested a couple of places and I ended up going to Gingerboats near Cockermouth. A longer trip than I would have wanted but they've done a very good job so well worth the effort.

 

[penfold]

Might be worth asking at Holy Loch marina if you haven't already; they only do storage but likely know of local boatbuilders, also maybe ask at the sailing club?

There's Ardmaleish boatyard on Bute.

Further afield have you tried either of;
Clydeside Boatbuilders
Gal Gael

Chris Ings does excellent work; he is based in Garelochhead.

 

[Argyll Fisher]

Many thanks again for replies. I think Ardmaleish were approached but could not do it , but I will pass on all the suggestions.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

You could try Boat Craft at Clyde Marina, Ardrossan. 01249 603047
They did some fibre glass repairs for me last winter, and I was happy with their work, and they are doing more work this winter on the boat.
They get very busy in the winter, and you may have to take the boat to them.

 

[ylop]

Looking for a reputable boat builder/ yard in the Argyll/ Dunoon area who could refurbish a boat for an angling club. (It’s not the transom alterations discussed in my previous post). Boat requires a floor and seat replaced. We are having difficulties finding somewhere and want to keep the work as local as we can. TIA

Without knowing the details of what you need I am pretty sure that someone at Dunstaffnage, Ardfern, Tignabruach, Rosneath, etc will be able to do the work. Whether they want to do it (size of job, value of work, messiness/rottenness of the boat etc) will be a different question. In my experience of boat club repairs it’s usually not viable to pay a professional - you are either in new boat territory or it’s a DIY job someone can do in their garage.

 

[penfold]

Without knowing the details of what you need I am pretty sure that someone at Dunstaffnage, Ardfern, Tignabruach, Rosneath, etc will be able to do the work. Whether they want to do it (size of job, value of work, messiness/rottenness of the boat etc) will be a different question. In my experience of boat club repairs it’s usually not viable to pay a professional - you are either in new boat territory or it’s a DIY job someone can do in their garage.

Quite possibly; the anglers I know are fairly practical. A floor(floorboards or a structural floor?) and a seat are straightforward enough that a DIYer could tackle on a 'unscrew/cut out and replace like with like' basis.

 

[Argyll Fisher]

Without knowing the details of what you need I am pretty sure that someone at Dunstaffnage, Ardfern, Tignabruach, Rosneath, etc will be able to do the work. Whether they want to do it (size of job, value of work, messiness/rottenness of the boat etc) will be a different question. In my experience of boat club repairs it’s usually not viable to pay a professional - you are either in new boat territory or it’s a DIY job someone can do in their garage.

Yes I think this is the issue here. Unfortunately the Club membership (it’s an angling club) simply does not have the skills and ability among its ageing members any more.

 

[ylop]

Yes I think this is the issue here. Unfortunately the Club membership (it’s an angling club) simply does not have the skills and ability among its ageing members any more.

You are not talking about laying up an americas cup boat or even necessarily trying to get aesthetically lovely work. YouTube contains enough tutorials that really it becomes: budget for materials, a warm dry indoor space. I obviously don’t know the club but stereotyping hugely - often an older person will have a garage, and a younger person will have the internet savvy to learn how to do it and bringing those two together not only solves the problem but builds the relationships in the club that really makes it a club rather than just people who share a resource.

finally, one way to get people over the “but we are not professionals / this might look shoddy” worries, is to first agree that the boat is basically a write off (you can’t find a local pro who will do it for sensible money) and so this is about saving a boat from scrap not making a thing of beauty.

my one caveat would be - I assume you are talking about a removable floor. If you actually mean the deck is needing replaced then unless you have someone desparate to do it, it’s probably best put on eBay with an honest description!

 

[Argyll Fisher]

You are not talking about laying up an americas cup boat or even necessarily trying to get aesthetically lovely work. YouTube contains enough tutorials that really it becomes: budget for materials, a warm dry indoor space. I obviously don’t know the club but stereotyping hugely - often an older person will have a garage, and a younger person will have the internet savvy to learn how to do it and bringing those two together not only solves the problem but builds the relationships in the club that really makes it a club rather than just people who share a resource.

finally, one way to get people over the “but we are not professionals / this might look shoddy” worries, is to first agree that the boat is basically a write off (you can’t find a local pro who will do it for sensible money) and so this is about saving a boat from scrap not making a thing of beauty.

my one caveat would be - I assume you are talking about a removable floor. If you actually mean the deck is needing replaced then unless you have someone desparate to do it, it’s probably best put on eBay with an honest description!

Thank you for this . I agree with the points made an will pass them on to our committee

 

[dunedin]

Yes I think this is the issue here. Unfortunately the Club membership (it’s an angling club) simply does not have the skills and ability among its ageing members any more.

I guess you need an available garage space with room for the boat and 4-5 people, and make it a shared “man shed” / “Dads army” project one day a week over a few weeks for a group of members - with a 50:50 split of actual activity and coffee / chat.
It is amazing what can be done by a group of people when not in a hurry, whereas it may be daunting for any single member.

PS. Ylop’s post #9, immediately following the one I responded to, says basically the same thing but much more eleoquently

 

[RunAgroundHard]

This company has done a lot of wooden repairs on my boat to a very high standard, they will know someone who does GRP, worth calling them wooden boat builder: wooden boat: boat repairs: Traditional Wooden Boatbuilders and Classic Yachts : A and R Way Boatbuilding

Silvers Marine at Rosneath Silvers Marine repaired GRP for me to a very high standard, invisible repair. They use contract tradesmen so for a small job may advise contact details of one of their GRP tradespersons.

These guys are listed as GRP repairers on Blue Moment: -
GRP, GELCOAT REPAIRS, BOAT BUILDING, PAINT FINISHING
Maclean Marine 07733017776
MacKenzie Marine 07867998382

I would also ask on Boaty contractors in the Oban area - BLUEMOMENT forum for up to date information.

Now, if you contact Darren Taylor, via his Facebook page @sailingstramash or in Messenger, he may be back in the UK, Argyle area. He is sailing his yacht southwards and is in Spain. He is an ace GRP repairer, very high standard of work. Long shot, but if back for the holiday period, may take on a quick job.

 

[Aja]

I assume you have contacted Meadowside Marine based over at Kip?

GRP repaires is what they do.

Meadowside Marine LTD
Boat Repairs


About

GRP Repair Secialists.
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Contact Information

Kip Marina,
Inverkip,
PA16 0AS

MObile 07713682548

 

[Tintin]

Creran Marine may know of someone local.