E. Dridge boat builders of Emsworth

[KConnell]

Morning all,

Has anyone heard of, got any memories of, or know of anyone linked to E. Dridge boat builders, based in Emsworth?

Our boat was fitted out by them back in 1988 and they don’t appear to be around anymore, so just wondering what became of them/whether there is still any trace of them around.

 

[jlavery]

Despite living in Emsworth all my life, this is the first I've heard of them!

A quick search reveals that there was a significant Dridge family.

I'll ask a couple of my boatbuilder friends...

 

[jlavery]

"Ego Dridge. He worked at Bowman's in Emsworth. Then ran Premier Yachts at Northerny. Very well known boatbuilder, and like most boatbuilders, didn't live that long! Died about ten years ago."

 

[Wansworth]

I worked atEmsworth marina in 1970 and the name kind of familiar,one ofthe boatbuilders,or the foreman

 

[jlavery]

Searching for Ego Dridge brought this up: The Rebuild - Yacht Ocean Free blog

 

[LittleSister]

"Ego Dridge. He worked at Bowman's in Emsworth. Then ran Premier Yachts at Northerny. Very well known boatbuilder, and like most boatbuilders, didn't live that long! Died about ten years ago."

I wonder whether his sister, Id, and elder brother Super-ego are still around.


(I'll get my coat!)

 

[KConnell]

Jlavery - thank you, this is amazing. Good detective work!

LittleSister… oh dear. You can see yourself out

 

[KConnell]

Believe it or not, the name Ego has made us realise that we knew him. He still did some work at Hayling Yacht Services about 12 ish years ago and we had some work done by him on one of our previous boats, a Cobra 750. What a tiny world!