Gweek Quay Boatyard

It's now rumored that the present owner has obtained finance to buy back the yard from the liquidators. That is the absolute worst scenario for the poor folks living, working and keeping their boats there. He's a very objectionable man, knows very little about boats, boating or boat folk. He's managed to turn a SSSI site in to a scrap yard in the space of a couple of years. The yard has been run into the ground under his reign of incompetence and intimidation. He even towed one couple down the river in the middle of the night because they tried to stand up to him. My yacht was based in Gweek for ten years, The previous crane driver resigned over health and safety fears and I paid for an independent crane operator to lift my boat in to the water rather than risking Gweek lifting it. I would never return her to Gweek until the yard is under new ownership, which I sincerely hope won't be in the too distant future.
 
FerroEndurance said:
It's now rumored that the present owner has obtained finance to buy back the yard from the liquidators. That is the absolute worst scenario for the poor folks living, working and keeping their boats there. He's a very objectionable man, knows very little about boats, boating or boat folk. He's managed to turn a SSSI site in to a scrap yard in the space of a couple of years. The yard has been run into the ground under his reign of incompetence and intimidation. He even towed one couple down the river in the middle of the night because they tried to stand up to him. My yacht was based in Gweek for ten years, The previous crane driver resigned over health and safety fears and I paid for an independent crane operator to lift my boat in to the water rather than risking Gweek lifting it. I would never return her to Gweek until the yard is under new ownership, which I sincerely hope won't be in the too distant future.
Click to expand...

Your information, and therefore your description of the owner, is somewhat out of date. You seem to be referring to Clive Emerson, the previous owner of the yard, who died in 2015. The present yard owner is Ashley Butler, who is a highly experienced wooden shipwright of the "old school".

You may wish to edit your post.
 
dombuckley said:
Your information, and therefore your description of the owner, is somewhat out of date. You seem to be referring to Clive Emerson, the previous owner of the yard, who died in 2015. The present yard owner is Ashley Butler, who is a highly experienced wooden shipwright of the "old school".

You may wish to edit your post.
Click to expand...

As you are aware Dom, I replied privately to you whilst this post was down, now at the request of the modifier I am posting my reply publicly.

Clive Emmerson died in 2010 and the yard was subsequently sold to Ashley Butler and his backer in 2012. Ashley as you say is a highly experienced and respected boat builder and the yard fared well under his ownership. During his period of ownership the classic yacht Kelpie was un the yard for a full and successful restoration and Ashley completed the building of his own yacht a Mayflower 50 called Martha Primrose. Regrettably the yard was sold on to the current owner in 2013. Ashley now successfully operates Penpol Boat yard and continues the good work of restoring classic wooden boats. It should be made very clear that Ashley has no part in the current state of woe at Gweek. For anyone interested in what Gweek has become take a look at the following articles
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/new..._following_concern_for_welfare_of_a_resident/
https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioCo...422079715274/1536421949715287/?type=3&theater

the latest news is that the current owner has apparently secured financial backing to regain ownership of the yard and so it looks as though the troubles will continue for the foreseeable future.
 
We kept our boats there for 25 years until this last winter.

The current state of affairs is definitely no surprise and the build up to it caused us to reconsider where we laid up our boat. That decision was to move to Falmouth, last October, to wait and see what happened, and we are now very glad we did.

Chris and Una Lewers owned the yard back in the 90's and ran the place benignly and hugely socially. Lovely people. When they sold, it was to Clive and Gill Emerson. As stated Clive died, and the yard was sold. People like Luke Powell, wooden pilot boat builder to the gentry, moved out. It became scruffier and dirtier as time passed and I complained about it and to be fair something was done about our position in the yard. But the writing was on the wall.

The apparently exciting plans for cleaning up and putting in pontoons with clever sewage systems, stayed as plans. (The locals and bureaucrats don't help, I feel, seeming to resist any change or progress, no matter what it is, but there have also been some problems with oil spillage and other stuff!)

When we booked but later cancelled our winter berth it was because people had been thrown out of the yard and the office staff and crane driver had been fired, so we felt uneasy as to what kind of state the yard would be in for us. Despite the inconvenience of the boat being further away and the extra cost. The current owner rang me and told me he would guarantee that we would be OK but I felt that with sundry construction site stuff, people and unknown personnel it was a risk I did not want to take. And a guarantee I didn't feel he could honour.

So we will watch this saga with interest but my first feeling is the the owner is not very 'boaty' and I can't see it improving. Time will tell.
 
Yes, I used to get annoyed when the council and local residents started kicking up about anything happening at the boatyard. There were issues with infill, and arguments about whether this was reinstatement of collapsed land or otherwise. When a national newspaper showed a pic it was from the SE looking up past the yard to the picturesque bridge and cottages, not from the NW looking at the Fugro industrial site downstream. Anyone taking it on still has a battle on their hands.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.0935366,-5.2076532,595m/data=!3m1!1e3
 
I remember Chris Lewers offered the village a new toilet block for everybody, if they'd let him do some minor work to the riverside walls that needed attention. He was the nicest, gentlest, most decent bloke you could imagine, and we had some lovely social times together. So I know for a fact that he was not trying to do anything underhand.

But the locals, in their wisdom, turned him down.

In the end, I think that constant negativity was partly why he sold, as it was too difficult to make improvements without everybody sticking their noses in. Clive & Gillian suffered similar problems. As did the current incumbent but I have less confidence that it was handled well, this time, which may have added to his problems.
 
Good news about Gweek Quay
To all Gweek Quay residents, boat owners, employees, Gweek residents and contractors,
It is with great pleasure that we announce the acquisition of the business of Gweek Quay. Everyone has experienced many false dawns to the revival of this important and historic boat yard, but, I hope this announcement will start a new way of working with all the Gweek Quay community. The new purchasers are Malcolm and Maria Beaton plus Mark Aichroth.
 
Visited yesterday and talked to General Manager. Hoping to bring back custom and for a boat lift in next year or two. Yard looked a bit sad but there was activity clearing up what looked like scrap metal etc. There's hope.
 
UPDATE
I've been over to Gweek boat yard at the week end and you won't believe the difference It's no longer a Scrap Yard but an up and coming Boat Yard. I was so impressed I've booked my yacht in for this winter.
Here is a copy of the new owners email.

August 2017. We thought we would update you on the recent developments at Gweek Classic
Boatyard since we acquired the yard 4 weeks ago. A lot has happened and we are maintaining
momentum to improve the yard
The ground works have advanced significantly with a retaining wall. These should near
completion within the next few weeks. Over 1,000 tons of stone has been delivered. This will
improve the look of the yard and increase our boat storage space.
• We have bought 50 steel yacht cradles for improved yacht storage over the winter.
• We have cleared up the yard and removed many truckloads of scrap and waste
• We have completed a full health and safety review and are implementing the
recommendations
• We have identified a café operator whose innovative approach will create a wonderful
venue in early 2018.
• We have updated the training for our craning staff
• A free parking system is being implemented
• A simplified pricing system has been adopted
• The chandlery has been restocked
• Any contractors that had previously been banned from the yard are now welcome back
• Our administration will improve as we have hired a new senior accounts person. Tammy
starts with us in September.
We apologise for some of the admin problems
Much still is to be done. Over the summer we visited Chantier Pasqui in Villefranches Sur Mer
France. This classic boat yard looks after many of the J Class yachts. It is an impressive location
utilising the same building that built massive rowing galleys in the 16th century. We plan to host a
visit from Chantier Pasqui over the winter
 
I speak with the liveaboards fairly regularly as they see the day to day activities, on the whole they seem cautiously optimistic, however, I believe that there is still a huge cloud hanging over the yard due to the fact that the previous owner and his sidekick are still employed to 'run' the yard. Sweeping away the scrap and other accumulated debris is a great and positive start but in my opinion what it needs to happen for Gweek to progress is to sweep away the former 'mis'management team. It will be a great day when this thread can be updated with 'New management team in Gweek, former trades return as do former customers'
 
bgtune said:
The ground works have advanced significantly with a retaining wall. These should near
completion within the next few weeks. Over 1,000 tons of stone has been delivered. This will
improve the look of the yard and increase our boat storage space.
Click to expand...

I hope they've got planning permission!
 
I agree with your comment, The old management team are still there but I believe it to be a temporary transitional period.
The new owners are living on site, so are able to keep a close eye on job in hand. So far it all looks as if it's going to plan.
 
Not quite sure what you mean but Richard Huzzey has been replace by the new owners Mark Aichroth and Malcolm Beaton. Tom Henderson is the new Yard Operations Manager and a fine job he's doing. The yard is looking great now so clean and tidy. unlike the scap yard it was last year. I should know as my yacht as been there since October.
 
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