onebrownarm Posted October 25, 2019 Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 It's hard to find anything about this lot online because they were dissolved in 2009. I just wonder why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted October 25, 2019 Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 As I understand it they were the remains of the workforce from Gary Gorton's building yard in Pipe Gate Staffordshire after the gaffer retired. Indeed the boats have a very similar attractive shape and always looked well made. There are not many about hence the lack of information. Hankelow is a township in the borough of Audlem, Cheshire where I think they were built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Brummie Posted October 25, 2019 Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 It's hard to find a boatbuilder that has not got a chequered past. If the boat is built and you're happy with it, then O.K. Just be aware of the potential to fail if you are paying for something not yet built. The best lawyer in the world would be hard put to get back your money that has 'disappeared'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted October 25, 2019 Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 4 hours ago, onebrownarm said: It's hard to find anything about this lot online because they were dissolved in 2009. I just wonder why? Lack of orders, almost certainly. Top class welders are not noted for their sales and marketing skills. Understandably. Equally, good internet marketers are usually shyte at hull building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up-Side-Down Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 I find the 'lineage' of boat builders interesting with an oblique reference in another current thread discussing the 'fictitious' Mike Christian builder et al. Worth noting that Mike Heywood was the 'grandaddy' of a lineage that went on to spawn some great contemporary nb builders. Uncle to Jonathan Wilson (with the brother-in-law link to Tim Tyler) Mike taught his trade to Gary Gorton, Tony (the 'T' in GT Boatbuilders) and ultimately to Nick Thorpe. There may well be others that I've overlooked and I'd be glad if anyone could fill in any gaps. All the boats originating from this lineage share common design cues and detail and they all have pleasing lines. Mike must have been a great teacher, attracting talented pupils. As the owner of a GT Boatbuilders tug, built 20 years ago, I'd be fascinated to learn more detail and hear of any myths that I'm inadvertently perpetrating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 You forgot Marque narrowboats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 38 minutes ago, matty40s said: You forgot Marque narrowboats. I've got one of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 Quite a few boat builders and fitters out went out of business around 2008 to 2010. A consequence of the banks crash and a sudden cut in demand for new boats. That a builder ceased trading around that time isn't necessarily saying they built bad boats. Some were excellent, others made skips. All sorts of reasons why. A decision to retire, a cash flow crisis, empty spaces in the order book and diversifying in to other markets. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up-Side-Down Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 4 hours ago, matty40s said: You forgot Marque narrowboats. Please tell me more .......... I suspected there were gaps in my knowledge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 6 hours ago, Up-Side-Down said: Worth noting that Mike Heywood was the 'grandaddy' of a lineage... No relation to Steve...? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonka Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 And Piper boats where Mike learnt his trade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUIGENERIS Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 I've had a David Piper and a Nick Thorpe boat and there's no doubt the skills were passed on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 27, 2019 Report Share Posted October 27, 2019 5 hours ago, Up-Side-Down said: Please tell me more .......... I suspected there were gaps in my knowledge. He didn't fit boats, just made shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 On 27/10/2019 at 10:11, ditchcrawler said: I've got one of them I wonder if that one we were looking a sold...... IIRC nr Beeston. Nice lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 We have a Dave Clarke hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 28 minutes ago, Nightwatch said: We have a Dave Clarke hull. One of five.... Built of bits and pieces.. . But you're glad all over... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 1 hour ago, David Mack said: One of five.... Built of bits and pieces.. . But you're glad all over... Doesn't take long................does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Nightwatch said: Doesn't take long................does it? Could be faster I guess: Anyway you want it really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 On 27/10/2019 at 16:06, WotEver said: No relation to Steve...? The Steve to whom you refer is Haywood, with an 'a'. An unusual spelling of the name, I think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 On 27/10/2019 at 09:27, Up-Side-Down said: I find the 'lineage' of boat builders interesting with an oblique reference in another current thread discussing the 'fictitious' Mike Christian builder et al. Worth noting that Mike Heywood was the 'grandaddy' of a lineage that went on to spawn some great contemporary nb builders. Uncle to Jonathan Wilson (with the brother-in-law link to Tim Tyler) Mike taught his trade to Gary Gorton, Tony (the 'T' in GT Boatbuilders) and ultimately to Nick Thorpe. There may well be others that I've overlooked and I'd be glad if anyone could fill in any gaps. All the boats originating from this lineage share common design cues and detail and they all have pleasing lines. Mike must have been a great teacher, attracting talented pupils. As the owner of a GT Boatbuilders tug, built 20 years ago, I'd be fascinated to learn more detail and hear of any myths that I'm inadvertently perpetrating! Mines a GT shell, fitted out by nimbus narrowboat, that's the first bit of history I've heard of the company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up-Side-Down Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, tree monkey said: Mines a GT shell, fitted out by nimbus narrowboat, that's the first bit of history I've heard of the company The 'G' was Graham – a first class welder encouraged by Tony to turn his hand to steel boat construction. I believe they built more than 100 shells between them before deciding to call it a day. As far as I know there were no financial issues or other impediments to continuing in product but once you've beaten that amount of metal into submission you probably feel a need to move on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 3 hours ago, Nightwatch said: Doesn't take long................does it? I don't remember that one. Did it get to number 1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 2 hours ago, Up-Side-Down said: The 'G' was Graham – a first class welder encouraged by Tony to turn his hand to steel boat construction. I believe they built more than 100 shells between them before deciding to call it a day. As far as I know there were no financial issues or other impediments to continuing in product but once you've beaten that amount of metal into submission you probably feel a need to move on! Thank you for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up-Side-Down Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 15 minutes ago, tree monkey said: Thank you for that They operated out of a new (then) unit on an industrial estate on the the old airfield at Hixon, east of Stafford, and just round the corner from Nick Thorpe's current boatbuilding business. They were prepared to make space available for fitting out one of their hulls but didn't get in involved with fitting out craft themselves. I went there once before they commenced my hull and thereafter they supplied a selection of pics as the build progressed on (if I remember correctly) a disposable camera I left with them! It was a painless process and a tribute to their skill, experience and professionalism. They even organised transport to Devon at a very reasonable rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 3 hours ago, tree monkey said: Mines a GT shell, fitted out by nimbus narrowboat, that's the first bit of history I've heard of the company Our share boat was a GT hull, I hope they changed the design or the weed hatch as the baffle being on a single stalk resinated, made hell of a noise and by the time we had traced it was waring the inside of the weedhatch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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