boatingbusiness.com
APRIL 2021
Washington Post 6 | Person Behind the Face 6 | Business Matters 12 | Marketing 18 | People 29
CORNISH BOATBUILDER BUYS ADDITIONAL SITE
NEWS
Nylon shortage Prosecution Sustainable hulls pages 1-11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Around 50 skilled jobs could be created with the acquisition of The South West Shipyard by Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding. The purchase of the freehold of the waterside site at Ponsharden, between Falmouth and Penryn in Cornwall, will enable the company to meet demand for its Duchy motor launches and Hardy motor yachts. The shipyard comprises two large sheds that equate to 25,000sq ft of undercover space, a quay and a slipway. The acquisition has been 100% funded by Cockwells and its shareholders. “We are proud to create a fantastic new resource for marine manufacturing, adjacent to the Penryn River, which will provide more highly-skilled jobs for local people,” explained Cockwells founder and MD, Dave Cockwell. “With the expansion of our Duchy Motor Launches to include 45ft and 60ft models, our recent acquisition of the
8 Cockwells is expanding with the acquisition of an additional waterside site in Cornwall
Hardy brand of motor yachts that range from 32ft to 65ft, and a very strong forward order book, we need more space than our purpose-built HQ at the Mylor Creek Boatyard will allow. “The South West Shipyard will provide us with additional capacity so that we can build more of these larger vessels.” And he explained that Cockwells intends to maximise its boat-lifting facilities and provide slipway and boatyard services for local fishermen and other small commercial craft. A dedicated training bay for the boatbuilder's apprentices is also part of the plan. Cockwells has invited existing marine sector tenants at the site to renegotiate their leases. The site will be refurbished within the next 12 months to provide a customised site.
Rockley opens new outdoors activity centre Watersports training firm, Rockley, has opened a new activity centre in Dorset offering children a range of outdoors adventures to build confidence and develop key life skills. Rockley will be operating Buddens Activity Centre together with Dorset County Scouts, offering day and residential trips to scouting groups and schoolchildren. There will also be camping and glamping for families and small groups. “In what has been a difficult year for everyone, it is so important that we make the most of the outdoors and continue to offer young people exciting outdoor experiences and activities that will develop confidence, encourage teamwork, highlight leadership qualities and help develop key life skills,” said schools and groups manager Jack Clark. The new centre, based on 96 acres of land in The Isle of
Purbeck, joins Rockley's two watersports centres in Poole and three activity centres in the south west of France. Traditionally the company has focused on water-based activities but Buddens will offer new opportunities. “The centre is already fully equipped to provide activities including climbing, archery, rifle shooting, high ropes, zip-wire, tomahawk throwing and den building and with the provision of a small lake, we can continue to offer some water-based activities including kayaking and stand up paddle boarding,” said Jack. Rockley's owner, Peter Gordon said that the company was passionate about providing high-quality outdoor experiences. “This new centre now allows us to reach even more people, including those within the scouting community,” he said.
More powerful Demand up Mismatches rectified pages 13-19
FITTING OUT: EXTERIOR
New gangway Safety boosted Investment pages 22-27
PROFILE
Will Taylor-Jones Fox’s Marina and Boatyard MD page 28