New Build

Over the years we have built up a reputation for building boats on a one off basis to the highest standards. Most of these have been copied from the lines of old working boats in a variety of styles:-  Joshers, Grand Union Northwich boats, Cowburn and Cowpar boats, etc. With our detailed knowledge of working boats and our desire to get it right, these boats are among the most accurate copies produced.

Josher

Josher New Build Josher New Build Josher New Build

Little Northwich

Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build

Recently we have been concentrating on building boats to the lines of the little Northwich boats, built by Yarwoods for the Grand Union company in the mid 1930’s. We feel that whilst we can offer this style of boat to our usual exacting standards of shape and detail, we can also simplify it more effectively to produce a good shaped, solidly built boat which will look and feel right, but without the detail that adds so much to the build time and cost.

At the moment, we have two boats under construction that illustrate what we can do with this style of boat. On one hand we are building a 60’ little Northwich copy, with a full compliment of rivets and plating details, a flared swim and concave counter bottom built to Yarwood’s drawings, and a genuine pneumatic riveted back cabin and engine room, and a 30’ main cabin, on the other, a 60’ hire boat for Rose Narrowboats. This boat, whilst using an identical fore end shape and side profile, has a simplified shallow draught stern end, and will be finished  without the rivets and plating detail, and will have a long back deck, and a 42’ cabin. We have the flexibility to offer boats to either of these finishes, or to anything between, tailored to individual requirements.

Little Northwich for Rose Narrow Boats

Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build

Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build

Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build Little Northwich New Build

But it doesn’t stop there. In recent years we have built a 75 b.h.p. narrow beam pusher tug for a local contractor, and a 127 b.h.p. wide beam pusher tug with a hydraulic wheelhouse for the Upper Avon navigation. Other commissions have included a 50’ boat based on a Yarwoods  built  B.C.N. tug, and a 70’ copy of an Admiral class boat built to Yarwood’s drawings of 1959. Whilst we don’t anticipate many more orders for this design, it was a particularly enjoyable and successful project to be involved with.

Pusher Tug

Pusher Tug Pusher Tug Pusher Tug

Admiral Class

Working Working Working

Admiral Class New Build

Admiral New Build Admiral New Build Admiral New Build

Admiral New Build Admiral New Build Admiral New Build

The plate that we use is all 43A grade, and although of course it is optional we recommend that the hull steel is gritblasted and primed with epoxy primer prior to delivery. This removes all the mill scale, and forms a base for an epoxy paint system which we believe is the best and most durable treatment. Bottom plate thickness is also optional, but is typically 10 mm or 12 mm. Side plating is typically 6 mm, and folded slightly at both top and bottom guards to protect the bottom edge and to maximize the internal space. The cabin steel is normally pickled rather than blasted to minimise distortion, the sides being 5mm thick and the roof 4mm

We are happy to quote on any enquiry, but because there are so many options we would rather do so on an individual basis. Please contact us by telephone, post or e-mail.