CRAFTSMANSHIP Yard News BACK TO MYLOR BY NIGEL SHARP
When Dave Cockwell moved his Falmouth-based boatbuilding business to Tregatreath Yacht Yard in Mylor Creek, Cornwall, it was overshadowed by the untimely death of the yard’s previous owner, Martin Heard (CB261). That was in early 2010, but in the two years since, Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding has developed in leaps and bounds. The amenities at Tregatreath – now renamed Mylor Creek Boatyard – have allowed Cockwells to continue with its core business of new-builds and major restorations. However, the main reason for the move was to take advantage of the yard’s laying-up facilities, which now include space for 150 boats. Many changes have already been made at Mylor, including a new joinery shop, an upgraded laminating shop, the purchase of a 20-tonne boatlift, improved drainage, and the development of a second slipway for longer- term projects. But the most ingenious addition is a floating dry dock (CB274) which defies
Compiled by Steffan Meyric Hughes +44 (0) 20 7901 8055
steffan.meyric-hughes@
classicboat.co.uk
Two years of growth for Cockwells
the draught restrictions of the creek. “This is the single biggest thing we’ve done,” Dave told me. “It is quite dramatic to be able to get boats drawing 3m (9ft 10in) up this creek, and we could go bigger.” The laid-up boats inevitably produce a steady stream of maintenance work, but the yard is also very busy with bigger projects, including a new 40ft (12.2m) Andrew Wolstenholme motor launch, which is an extended version of a previous one built by Cockwells; the
Above left: Planking the new 40ft motor launch Above right: Princess Anne with Dave Cockwell unveiling the new launch Below: Duchy 27 in sea trials
“It is quite dramatic to be able to get boats drawing 3m up this creek, and we could go bigger”
restoration of the 1905 Pilot Cutter Letty; a “back to steel” rebuild of a 70ft (21.3m) Dutch barge; and a major refit on the 65ft (19.8m) classic motor yacht Caramba. Dave has also decided to restart the building of a replica of the 55ft (16.8m) Pilot Cutter Pet, which has been on hold for a couple of years.
A ROYAL OPENING Princess Anne visited the yard last summer to unveil the first of Cockwells’ new semi-production motor launches, the Duchy 27, and a last-minute decision to exhibit this at the London Boat Show proved wise, when contracts were signed to build two more. The company’s efforts to break into the world of superyacht tenders have also borne fruit, with construction due to begin on a 31ft (9.4m) launch for a 240ft (73m) Perini Navi motor yacht; and negotiations are at an advanced stage to build a pair of tenders – one a “limousine” and the other a sportsboat, but with identical hulls – for another superyacht. To cope with all this work, Dave has taken on extra staff. He now employs about 30 people – more
82 CLASSIC BOAT JUNE 2012
NIGEL SHARP
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