Mylor boatbuilder celebrates start of year success (From Boating Cornwall)

Mylor boatbuilder celebrates start of year success

12:27pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News

Mylor-based boat builders, Cockwells, are celebrating a successful start to the year after securing two contracts and being nominated for a prestigious award.

Cockwells' Duchy 27 received a highly commended nomination at the MotorBoat and Yachting Awards Evening, held at the Savoy Hotel during the London Boat Show.

The builders then completed on two more signed contracts for the Duchy 27 which, taken together, are worth more than £300,000.

Both sales were received at the London Boat Show in January and construction has already begun at the Cockwells yard at Mylor Creek Boatyard in Cornwall.

Due to the heavy winter refit schedule, current new builds, the Duchy sales plus a contract to build a new nine metre superyacht tender, Cockwells are now recruiting for shipwrights and a project manager.

The Duchy 27, a semi-production motor launch fitted with a 200hp Toyota-based Nanni diesel engine capable of 25 knots, was displayed out of the water in the Boardwalk section of the London show.

The first of the Duchy Motor Launches marque, the Duchy 27, represents an expansion into semi-production boats for Cockwells, each vessel is built with bespoke fittings and woodwork which are specific to individual owners.

One of the boats sold at the boat show, for example, will be fitted with a hard-wood tantalus – a special rack to hold precious decanters, displaying them in style regardless of the motion of the boat.

One couple from the Isle of Wight came to see the Duchy 27 ‘in the flesh’ after their interest had been piqued by many positive reviews since its launch by HRH the Princess Royal in Cornwall in July 2011.

They were so impressed with build quality, performance figures and layout that made their order the same day.

Another visitor, enamoured with the Duchy 27 at last year’s Southampton Boat Show, made the trip to the London show especially to make his purchase.

Managing director, Dave Cockwell, said: "The sales reflect a growing confidence in the leisure market which is great for all of us.

"I believe, as an industry we need to build ourselves out of the recession with high quality products and a friendly and efficient service.

"As an artisan boatbuilder in Cornwall, it's up to us to lead the charge with yachts that display a high level of quality and fine detail workmanship.

"We pride ourselves on going above and beyond when it comes to craftmanship and the amount of interest generated at the London Boat Show definitely reflects that."

For more information on Cockwells, or to apply for the shipwright or project manager positions, visit their website at: www.cockwells.co.uk