then building it in South Africa. “We launched it at Southampton that year and took 35 orders – two-and-a- half years’ work,” says Bob.
The same year saw them conclude a protracted deal to buy the Tufnol block-making business from Lewmar. This has proved surprisingly successful, as well as supplying their own requirements.
In addition, they make trailers – good quality ones with wheel-washing systems, which meet forthcoming European Type Approval (it becomes law in October). These sell both for their own boats and for other makes – owners have found that the Cape Cutter trailer fits the Cornish Shrimper just as well.
Refurbishment in particular is lively at present, with older boats coming in to have their buoyancy upgraded to bring them close to the current CE levels. CE came in just as Bob and Norma took over the business. “We’ve never made a non-CE-marked boat, but the old Honnor Marine never produced one that was CE marked – and buoyancy in all the old models was inadequate.” Not as bad, perhaps, as one old Scaffie that came in, where its ‘buoyancy’ consisted of a string of plastic milk bottles, but not great either. “In the old days,” explains Bob, “they used to fill the cavities with polystyrene beads, which could float out if the boat were holed.” Now,
Honnor injects two-pack foam, which moulds itself to the shape of the cavities. The cost of this can be as little as £400 plus VAT for a Scaffie.
In 2007 they moved into their present premises – a former bus depot offering over 20,000sqft of covered space. It’s still as far from Devon as ever, but that didn’t prevent Bob and Norma delivering a Cape Cutter to Saltash the previous weekend, and, as Bob points out, “We’re right on the motorway system, handy for the Lake District – and for our Continental customers, the M62 from Hull comes almost to the door.” It certainly hasn’t hampered their output. In a more favourable economic climate they’ve built up to 50 boats a year, which, within the sector of traditional dayboats – Drascombes, Crabbers, Memorys and the rest – must make them one of the major operators. For Bob, one of the niggles of the past 15 years was the refusal of the Drascombe Owners’ Association to admit him to membership – even though his customers could join. That came to an end a couple of years ago, and earlier this year he happily attended his first AGM. It seems the future of these popular and engaging boats are in good hands with Bob and Norma.
Tel: +44 (0)1706 715986,
www.honnormarine.co.uk CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2012 45
Far left top: A Devon Lugger; bottom: Boats in build at Rochdale Centre: All part of the service – Bob launching a Cape Cutter 19 at Saltash, Cornwall Above: Jigs for the Tufnol blocks, and some of the blocks themselves
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