Hello from the team at Cox’s Boatyard. The sun seems to have been shining for months, and many of you have been enjoying getting out on the water and making the most of the summer months.
The Boatyard News
We have been very busy at the boatyard ensuring that you have everything you need to keep afloat but, with autumn on the horizon, the nature of our work begins to change. Below you will find details of the projects that have been keeping us occupied, as well as other useful information for the months ahead.
AGM and David Adler
This photo of our employees, shareholders and directors was taken after our Annual General Meeting, which was held on 20th July. After all the formalities the directors and shareholders, enjoyed lunch in the main workshop with all the workforce. It was also an end of an era for David Adler who has stepped down from the role of Chairman after 27 years at the helm of Cox’s Boatyard Ltd. David was the person who in 1995 gathered the Consortium to take over the insolvent business operating as “Cox’s Boatyard Ltd” and who renegotiated the company lease with the Cox family. Subsequently Cox’s Boatyard Limited purchased the freehold of the premises from the Cox’s family by means of a long loan from the family so that the company could benefit from improving the facilities. Since then, he has steered us through many years of development and expansion and helped to improve the services for both customers and employees alike. His hard work and dedication have enabled the business to grow and to be in the healthy position it is now, and we are all extremely grateful to him. We are pleased to report, however, that he will remain on the Board of Directors so that we can still benefit from his valuable input, and that he still has his boats moored at the yard so he will still be about!
We are also fortunate that Caroline Dixey has agreed to take over from David as Chairman to ensure that we continue to thrive going forward.
Ashlee Barrell
On the same day as the AGM there was also a presentation to Ashlee Barrell, who has won the European Commercial Marine Young Persons’ Development Award for 2022. This competition was open to young people across Europe who are starting their careers in the boat industry, so we are extremely proud of Ashlee for bringing the award home to this corner of Norfolk! He has just completed his first year of a four-year apprenticeship in marine engineering and at the presentation David Adler thanked him for all the hard work he has put in to achieve this award.
New Shore Power Points
New shore power points are currently being installed, which will bring us up to 56 points in the marina. As everyone is aware, the cost of electricity has dramatically increased, so there will be one point to one craft only and there will be no sharing. The name of the craft allocated to each power point will be on its post, and electricity usage will be invoiced either once or twice a year. In the winter we will have another system in place for when the boats are on the bank, but these will also have a meter each and will be charged at the same rate.
Charges
As customers will be aware, there is considerable pressure on costs at the moment and the Directors will be reviewing the rates to be charged from April next year in early October. We will let you know as soon as the mooring rates have been agreed.
Developments
We have been granted the change of planning permission for the workshop and the additional projects we requested, which is great news, so we will be moving ahead with these exciting developments. The first of these projects involves installing a new office and removing the old wooden machine shed next door to the current office. This work will be going ahead as soon as we have all the contractors and services in place, and whilst it is taking place the marina wi-fi will be turned off for about a week. We then aim to fit electric solar panels onto the roof of the main workshop, for which we have also been granted planning permission. Plans for the new workshop are also moving along, but there is an enormous amount of work to complete before we begin this, so we will keep you informed of progress.
Of course, renovating, repairing and maintaining boats remains our main focus, so below are just a few examples of work we have recently undertaken.
Silver Point
This Sheerline 21 has had a lot of work carried out on it, including the removal of the old 2- volt wet batteries and the installation of lithium batteries imported from China. This work included fitting a new charging system and invertor. We have also fitted a new dashboard, as well as new head lining to most of the craft. After machine polishing the exterior, we also adjusted the water line as the weight of the newly installed lithium batteries is significantly less than the previous wet batteries.
Mouette
This little Freeman 22 MK II had its original petrol engine removed, new engine bearers fitted and a 21hp Nanni diesel engine installed. She also had a new dashboard fitted, and her cockpit woodwork was scraped, sanded and revarnished. Finally, an electric mud weight winch was installed before the exterior was polished and the bottom antifouled.
Helen
This Yarmouth class half decker has had four new planks fitted as the original four were rotten. The area below the water line was scraped and sanded back to the epoxy resin finish. Once the planks are fitted and coated the bottom will be coated with a hard racing antifouling.
Golden Light II
After we discovered that the aft section of the hog (the backbone) of this craft was rotten, we carefully removed all the rotten wood and scarfed in new sections, including a new oak stern knee and bearers.
Marilyn Ann
We supplied and fitted a tidy electric pod to the underside of this sailing cruiser, complete with a new lithium battery and charger. The whole unit fitted very well and has the benefit of hydrogenating the batteries as the craft is being sailed, so they are continually being charged.
To read more about some of the projects we have undertaken on various craft, and to view some videos of work in progress, please follow us on our Facebook page.
Boat Safety Tests
Due to a comprehensive update which all examiners had to do and are still completing, we have been very busy testing boats, not only in the yard but also across the Norfolk Broads and East Anglia. If you need yours re-tested, please say in advance as we were booking four weeks in advance in the busy time of the year.
Luggage Trolleys
You might have spotted that we have provided extra luggage trolleys, complete with pneumatic tyres and orange handles, for our customers to use in the boatyard. Please return them to the trolley area so that everyone can benefit.
Winter Work and Storage
We have had a great summer, but we now need to look ahead to the winter care of your craft. I have therefore attached the Winter Work Form so that you can fill it in and return it to us ASAP to get your craft booked into the schedules. Please remember to include the date you would like your boat to be relaunched in the Spring of 2023.
Customer Satisfaction Forms
These forms are really important and valuable to us as they help us understand how to continually improve services to our valued customers. We love hearing any good news and positive comments so that we can pass them onto the employees, but it is equally important for us to hear about any areas where you think we could improve. When we started the business 27 years ago the marina was only about 40% full and we had just three employees, but now with your support, feedback, and suggestions, we have managed to grow Cox’s Boatyard into a flourishing business that employs 10 people and is going from strength to strength.
This just leaves me to say please stay safe and keep well! Enjoy the last of the summer and your time on the water and thank you for your continuing support. Don’t hesitate to contact the office if you have any queries, or comments, and please, please, return those forms!
Eric Bishop, Manager, Cox’s Boatyard Ltd