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Led by Manager Will Claxton, a team of five shipwrights, boat builders and laminators are hard at work attending to fishing vessels, workboats and leisure craft, boats coming from a wide area around the Westcountry.
Having easy access, the safe harbour of Padstow in North Cornwall is a popular port. Already attracting a wide range of business from around the South West, Padstow Boatyard seeks further work from a wider area, welcoming skippers to have a look at the many opportunities the port and our firm have to offer.
“We have had enquiries from Welsh fishermen and even skippers from Ireland too; so we realised how the yard has greater potential. We have space for vessels up to 20 metres in overall length and a yard with 800sqm of undercover facility,” said Will Claxton.
“Having an overhead travelling crane with a lifting power of ten tons is a major factor; and so is the yard’s slipway winch, one that can cope with vessels up 80ft in length, including most medium sized trawlers, netters, potters and scallopers. Indeed (under previous ownership) over the years the yard built many well-known fishing boats.
“Everyone in my team is multi skilled, each with their own speciality, we have a fully trained shipwright; each of our staff has spent considerable time in GRP work, both on new builds and repairs. Having studied at Falmouth Marine School, our apprentice Harry Burley just completed a 12-month course in advanced boatbuilding, those skills are important to us and if business at Padstow Boatyard develops further, we are hoping to offer more apprenticeships.”
Several new GRP fishing vessels (from 16ft to 46ft in length) were built at Padstow Boatyard over the past 18 months, including two 46ft GRP fishing vessels (built for a local firm).
“I began boat building at a very young age. My father spent 20 years as a boat builder at Tregatreath boatyard, a famous yard based in Mylor Bridge near Falmouth, one renowned for building working sail-boats,” added Will Claxton.
“After college I joined the army and enjoyed that time, but after spending all my younger days around boats and being close to the sea, I left the forces and travelled to see other types of boat building, other styles of boats (including fishing boats) in places like Australia.
“I applied for a post at one such yard telling them about my time I spent with boats as a youngster. I was offered a post and worked at that yard for quite some time. It was a whole new world, a different style of boatbuilding, different designs of boats, high-speed craft using the latest GRP composites, material that UK yards were soon to see the potential of; it was a challenge. On returning to the UK I spent time at Cygnus Marine where I saw how the firm were leading builders of GRP fishing boats and workboats.
“Later, a firm based in Italy offered me the opportunity to take part in using high-tech composites, mainly for racing boat construction. A business partner and myself later formed an international company to supply such skilled labour to companies using those composites in hi-tech boat construction. So I have experienced quite a wide scope of boat building.”
Boat builders Sam Hyland, Mickey McGinn and Leon Follett complete the team. Will Claxton added: “At Padstow Boatyard we operate a fully serviced facility offering lift-out, undercover storage, or sheltered outside storage (around the year) for boats up to 30 tons in weight.
“We operate an open-site policy allowing clients a greater choice in who does the work; and to bring any contractor onto the site without paying to the yard an extra commission is welcomed. Alternatively, we can recommend and provide contact details for fully experienced local tradesmen if required.
“All contractors working on site must comply with current Health & Safety Regulations and carry appropriate third party insurance. Our 800sqm undercover storage is ideally suited for DIY, painting and anti-fouling, GRP repairs, engine/gearbox replacement or simply for storage with all weather protection.”
Phone: 07986 155 944
Email: [email protected]
Address: Padstow Boatyard South Quay, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8BL
