Good South Coast Boatyard?

[JMBaker]

Anyone have a recommendation on a good boatyard on the South Coast easily accessible to London?

I'm looking for a place that has a good understanding of wooden boats and has a good attitude toward DIYers. the boat I'm looking at (a 1966 35ft sloop) needs a bit of work. Most of it is cosmetic which I'm looking to do, but I may need to replace the engine and it has a few broken frames. I race out of Hamble some week-ends so closer to Southampton the better but I know that Hamble is the epicentre of the most expensive yards and it radiates out from there.


John

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Your best bet is Clare Lallows at Cowes who does not mind you doing work yourself. It is quite close to the Redjet so you can get there quite quickly. They do all the Dragons etc and many other wooden boats. The other Cowes possibilty is Eddy at the old Clarence Boatyard in East Cowes. He is very expert and they can also do metal work, including making you new bits if needed. Do not know of anyone on the mainland who is up to wood these days but there may be someone.

Allow for the work ot take a bit longer than quoted and make sure you are only billed for work done, occasionally they get a bit mixed up about who a job was done for and it gets on the wrong account.

Chris Stannard

 

[wrr]

The team at the lamented Coombes of Bosham have dispersed, I believe that Nick Gates, who has gone freelance, is busy making a television series this summer. Tim Gilmour (also ex-Coombes) and the Dolphin Quay yard at Emsworth come recommended but are very busy this summer and there is always the Elephant at Bursledon.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Re my earlier post, Eddie Richards (Cowes) is at No1 Clarence Boatshop, Clarence Boatyard, Clarence road, East Cowes, IoW. PO32 6EZ Tel:01983299740 or 01983 280142 in the evenings.

I had forgotten the Elephant at Burseldon, but thought these days most of the work there was fibre not wood. Tom Richardson owns and runs it.

Chris Stannard

 

[milltech]

I think if the keyword is D-I-Y then I was very pleased with Saxon Wharf. Yes I know it's MDL but it's in the heart of Southampton, (local trades/stores etc), and I used a long time and trusted acquiantance Colin Davidson for the wood, and he collected a team for the other work and managed the job. I fetched and carried to keep costs and time down. What I did took a week and was very satisfactory.

I think the problem with I-O-W, the only problem, is traveling and getting stores to the craft, whether ashore or afloat. Cancels out the saving in my view - but a great place to buy fuel!

John

 

[JMBaker]

Thanks, I'll look into these guys. I've heard good things about Elephant but haven't been down to see them.

Now the trick is to get the boat!

John

John

 

[burgundyben]

You dont want to spend all your cash on storage so good idea to find a cheap yard, if you could lower the rig, before arrival, the boatyard at the Foukes chandlery Barge is cheap and ideal for Diy'ers, several there, plus, onsite Pete Foukes is a top notch ship wright and everything else you need is local. Hamlbe good for M'way access too, Otherwise, Elephant is good or several along Hazle Raod in Woolston or Kemps on Itchen or Dyers but again mast needs to be down due to bridges. PM me for further info/

......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......