Making Waves

Some of us even buy entire shipyards, as in the case of gaming software tycoon Richard Hadida, who saved 46-year-old Oyster Yachts from ‘going under’ when he acquired it last year from the administrators. The turnaround has been so successful that the Southampton firm recently celebrated its first year of recovery by sailing its new 565 model beneath London’s Tower Bridge.

Indeed, following a period in the doldrums brought on by the financial crash of 2008, Britain’s boat building industry now appears to be riding the crest of a wave.

For example, I was recently aboard the thrilling, 60-knot Hawk 38, the latest creation from Sunseeker (£535,000 plus VAT to you, sir) that harks back to the type of craft originally built by the firm when it was founded as Poole Powerboats in 1969 by Robert Braithwaite – who, to the boating world’s sorrow, died in March aged 76.

Nowadays, of course, Sunseeker is best known for the type of large, white, ocean-going cruisers that are often referred to as ‘gin palaces’ by those who don’t approve – but moneyed buyers who care little about such disdain are once again filling the firm’s order books, as well as those of other British builders such as Princess Yachts of Plymouth, whose range-topping, 40 metre M-Class superyacht could be in your berth for as little as £15 million. Its smaller boats are just as exciting. Indeed, readers may well have spotted Princess’s latest magnificently sleek launch, the R35, on show in Cabot Square, outside Boisdale of Canary Wharf, in June. Designed in collaboration with Ben Ainslie Racing Technologies and the legendary Italian car designer Pininfarina, the R35 (from £500,000) is more or less the supercar of private speedboats, with a special hydrodynamic foil system designed to dramatically reduce drag as you whizzaround your private island.

But if boatmaking of a more old fashioned, understated style is your thing, then read on, because traditional wooden craft are being lovingly created around the country in all shapes and sizes by Britain’s burgeoning network of classic boat builders. And, as Jerome K. Jerome demonstrated, you don’t need to go large to have nautical fun.

Indeed, for larking about on the river Jerome-style, you need look no further than the handsome little rowing boats from Peter Freebody & Co, which has been in business at its exquisite boathouse in Hurley, Berkshire, for more than 50 years. Electric canoes and characterful saloon launches are also made, but the Freebody flagship is the fabulously elegant and commodious Thames Slipper launch, the ‘slipper’ term relating to the boats’ sloping stern.

Using woods such as mahogany, cedar and teak, the Freebody team crafts each boat individually and can make bespoke interiors to suit all tastes (especially those tastes that appreciate the benefits of carrying plenty of wine and a decent picnic on board).

Now run by the founder’s son, Richard, the classic appearance of the firm’s vessels, which start at around £250,000 plus VAT, belies the fact that they are powered by the latest, eco-friendly electric motors and can comfortably cruise for an entire day on a single charge.B