A brief intro below if you need. Can obviously expand if needed.
All photos below are compressed for the Web but I have big versions here – if you note the number of the photo let me know and I’ll send the original.
Sailing and boats have been my reason to get up in the morning for nearly 50 years now. I learnt to sail when I was four, flirted with an Olympic campaign in my early 20’s, continued with yacht deliveries, yacht and dinghy racing until my mid 40s and now my knees have disintegrated, I am now the proud (and slightly obsessive) owner of an MGRS34 ¾ tonner.
As well as sailing, I have always repaired and developed my own boats, so in 2011, when the opportunity arose for me to put my knowledge to professional use, I started working at Southwold Boat Yard, officially known as Harbour Marine Services. Technically, I’m the foreman here but I do the majority of the GRP work, as well as advise on performance, rigging and sails. I particularly like to get my head round “cunning plans” and finding creative solutions. Southwold might be ye olde world picturesque village but our thinking and workmanship is far from sleepy!
In broad terms our boatyard has a staff of over 20 and is split into four areas.
Yard services, which is haul out, wash down, antifouling, winterising, hard standing etc.
Repair and Refit, which covers everything from gelcoat repairs to new engine installations, Re-rigging to new windows and headlining.
Restoration, which tend to be longer term projects, mainly on wooden boats. Which start with a rot chase and then into a rebuild and eventual fit out.
Chandlery, which started life as the yards supply store, only it grew a bit.
Biggest difference between working on a boat on your own and working in a boatyard ? There’s always 19 other guys on hand to lend a hand and advise.
Yard website – www.southwoldboatyard.co.uk
