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handyspanner

By handyspanner
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David Schweizer Veteran II

David Schweizer

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

An idea of what you want ie. shell only, sailaway, partially fitted, or complely fitted, together with your price range would assist advice.

 

If you are looking for a high quality traditional shell, I would recommend Roger Farrington of Ivy Bridge Boats Braunston.

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mrsmelly Veteran II

mrsmellyDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

 

 

:lol: Hi

 

Blimey a tough one. It massively depends on your idea of your perfect boat. Remember there are lots of boat fitters and very few boatbuilders.

My present boat is a Steve Hudson. S M Hudson check his website the build is superb with long swims and solid fitout. Wish you well. :lol:

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

 

How long is a piece of string........

 

as already said some specifics would be good, especially the budget and potential spec.

 

oh and welcome to the forum...

 

 

 

 

Edit for lapse in manners...

Edited by MJG
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handyspanner Gongoozler

handyspanner

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Posted

Dear All,

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far and yes I appreciate the question was a little vague, I apologise. I am looking for a 58 foot semi trad with reverse layout. I have been looking for a second hand boat for over two years now and ones I have seen, as I have heard other people say, do not fit what you want. However, the time has not been wasted as it has given me some good ideas and now I have decided to look to have a boat built. I will look for three builders/fitters and then look for a price. I understand some builders/fitters have certain boat specs already and I do not really want to go for a total "bespoke" design as this may create further issues like "one off" build events.

 

Thanks again and all your input is greatly appreciated.

 

I wish you a pleasant weekend.

 

HS

 

 

Shell, Jonathan Wilson/Tim Tyler

 

Fitout, Fernwood Craft

 

but remember you will get as many suggestions as there are boat builders and fitters and boat owners. :lol:

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KeithL Collaborator

KeithL

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

 

I like the look of some of these, ive never seen one up close though so i couldnt comment on the build quality.

 

Paul Widdowson

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted
I like the look of some of these, ive never seen one up close though so i couldnt comment on the build quality.

 

I have to say I like the hand rails on the front of the cabin - nice touch.

 

and the Dilnot boats who they build the shells for (and link to their site) look nice boats.

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Doorman Veteran

Doorman

Posted
Posted (edited)
:lol: Hi

 

Blimey a tough one. It massively depends on your idea of your perfect boat. Remember there are lots of boat fitters and very few boatbuilders.

My present boat is a Steve Hudson. S M Hudson check his website the build is superb with long swims and solid fitout. Wish you well. :lol:

I'll second that! :lol:

Edited by Doorman
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steelaway Influencer

steelaway

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

 

 

Hi

 

I loved my boat builders, they listened and agreed to many of my ideas for modifications. They also told me exactly when they were crap and wouldn't work.

I got just what I wanted and they were happly to oblige. The quality of their shells is also highly commendable.

 

Clicky

 

Alex

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bag 'o' bones Rising Star

bag 'o' bones

Posted
Posted

We bought a 48 foot lined sailaway from Northwich boats. On the whole were very happy with the quality especially as it is very much an 'off the peg' model. In particular the line out was completed to a very high standard and better than a great many other builders. Having said that Northwich's customer service was not too clever what with us having to chase them to sort out the problems with the original paint job. All is good now however so overall satisfied with the finished product. :lol:

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CJR Collaborator

CJR

Posted
Posted
We bought a 48 foot lined sailaway from Northwich boats. On the whole were very happy with the quality especially as it is very much an 'off the peg' model. In particular the line out was completed to a very high standard and better than a great many other builders. Having said that Northwich's customer service was not too clever what with us having to chase them to sort out the problems with the original paint job. All is good now however so overall satisfied with the finished product. :lol:

 

 

Hmmm, sounds familiar. Northwich Boats? Bad customer service? Surely not... :lol:

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Terence Collaborator

Terence

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

 

Try this one .nortoncanesboatbuilders

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Dalesman Rising Star

Dalesman

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I have searched the site to no avail, I am looking to have a boat built and I am looking for recomended builders. I know what I want and I would be gratfeul for recomended builders from people who are happy with their build.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

HS

I have had a fine boat ( Bare Shell) from Cole Craft, very good finish and first class service too. Clicky

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Dominic M Influencer

Dominic M

Posted
Posted

The recommendation for Norton Canes is spot on. You say you want a reverse layout semi trad, but you would not be wasting your time talking to Graham Edgson - a great bloke who really knows his stuff. And it is a fine boatyard that has been producing narrow boats for at least 150 years (someone, probably Dave Moore, will tell you exactly how many years no doubt). You might walk away with a whole new view on what you want too. Whatever, your time will not have been wasted.

 

Whatever you do, good luck with it all.

 

Dominic

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AliG Engager

AliG

Posted
Posted

Hi

 

We looked around loads of builders and have decided to have our boat built by Beacon Boats, we have spoken to previous customers and seen previous builds that are live aboards and we are certain we have made the right decision, all customers seem very happy and they do specialise in reverse layout, semi trads! and Ali & Neil seem really nice and are happy to accomodate and advise on any ideas!

Beacon Boats

 

Ali

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italia Gongoozler

italia

Posted
Posted
Dear All,

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far and yes I appreciate the question was a little vague, I apologise. I am looking for a 58 foot semi trad with reverse layout. I have been looking for a second hand boat for over two years now and ones I have seen, as I have heard other people say, do not fit what you want. However, the time has not been wasted as it has given me some good ideas and now I have decided to look to have a boat built. I will look for three builders/fitters and then look for a price. I understand some builders/fitters have certain boat specs already and I do not really want to go for a total "bespoke" design as this may create further issues like "one off" build events.

 

Thanks again and all your input is greatly appreciated.

 

I wish you a pleasant weekend.

 

HS

 

Martin Pedel, a highly respected boatbuilder, a true craftsman and so organised. Our boat, now 18 months old, is faultless, and exactly as we wanted. Semi trad 59' and reverse layout. Bluewater boats built the hull under Martins guidance. I can let you have more info if you need it and you can contact him direct. Not sure if he has a web site, he is based north of Oxford. Brilliant, I cannot find a single fault with our boat or him a pleasure to work with, so much so we were sad when the build was finished we enjoyed it all so much.

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steve hayes Proficient

steve hayes

Posted
Posted

Handyspanner where abouts do you live, because if you are having a boat made I would recommend regular vists to see it being built. It helps to keep the builder on his toes and should save any unexpected features.

 

Also be careful with many of the so called boat builders who are only fitters to somebody elses shell, not a problem will a reputable fitter but of late a good number have gone bust.

 

Following on this point make sure that you have a good contract with the builder / fitter and never make massive upfront payments, all stage payments should be against defined deliverables and you should have ownership of those dileverables in the sad event if the builder ceases trading.

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handyspanner Gongoozler

handyspanner

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Posted

Dear All,

 

Thanks again for all the excellent advice and tips. I think I know what I will now be doing with the half term break!!

 

Thanks again for the time you have taken to respond.

 

Kind regards,

 

HS

 

 

 

 

Well, we have just had a 57' cruiser stern narrowboat boat built by Paul Widdowson at New Ollerton and can thoroughly recommend his skills as a boat builder, and his prices are very competitive indeed.
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Doorman Veteran

Doorman

Posted
Posted
Hi

 

We looked around loads of builders and have decided to have our boat built by Beacon Boats, we have spoken to previous customers and seen previous builds that are live aboards and we are certain we have made the right decision, all customers seem very happy and they do specialise in reverse layout, semi trads! and Ali & Neil seem really nice and are happy to accomodate and advise on any ideas!

Beacon Boats

 

Ali

 

We looked at Beacon Boats while at Crick 2007. We were impressed with their hull which then was provided by XR&D, an off-shoot of the original R&D boatbuilders. It's reasuring that you spoke to previous customers, we found that to be very useful when choosing our boatbuilder.

 

Mike

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johnmck Rising Star

johnmck

Posted
Posted (edited)
We looked at Beacon Boats while at Crick 2007. We were impressed with their hull which then was provided by XR&D, an off-shoot of the original R&D boatbuilders. It's reasuring that you spoke to previous customers, we found that to be very useful when choosing our boatbuilder.

 

Mike

 

Hi

 

Agree with above. It also helps if you can visit regularly so location is a factor.

 

XR&D make fantastic shells, and are also based at Ollerton Notts. They have supplied Beacon for some time, and compliment each other. Nicer people you could not meet from both companys.

 

John.

 

Edited to say. If you visit Ollerton, Paul Widdowson and XR&D are in ajoining units on Boughton Camp.

Edited by johnmck
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