Hello to all our berth holders and customers from the team at Cox’s Boatyard. Many of you will have noticed that, after many months of hard work, our new workshop is now just about finished. We are pleased to say that this project was completed on target and on budget, and that we will have fully moved into it by the end of September.
The project turned out to be quite a challenge in several areas as some of the ground was not as hard as the main area by the old workshop, and we were also working next to the water on three sides. The size of the building site was also tight, but we are extremely grateful to the Parish Council who allowed us to temporarily use part of the public staithe carpark, which was an enormous help. By way of thanking them, we have now upgraded the staithe and added a new surface to it.
The weather over the whole project was very kind to us as it was mainly dry and not too cold, and the grand opening of the new workshop took place 4th of August, with three of the original directors/shareholders performing the opening ceremony. We already have some boats in the new workshop being worked on, and we have more boats due to move in.
Our new workshop will house a larger engineering department with much more space, as it had outgrown the area it had been allocated in the main workshop. The new workshop also offers the department more space for further expansion in the future, and there will also be a new purpose-built paint bay for boats up to 50 feet in length.
Paintwork – Whilst the new workshop was being built, the main workshop was very busy as this was where all the existing work was being completed. The two boats shown here came in to be repainted in early spring and, after a lot of hard work, they came out looking like new, much to the delight of their owners, who are now using them frequently. The paint we mainly used was a two-part paint, which is a lot harder wearing than the standard single-part yacht enamel. Once the paint was fully cured and hard, we machine polished the craft. We use this type of two-part paint much more now as it should last several years, as long as it is properly prepared and the craft are regularly maintained.
Woodwork – What an amazing piece of work we carried out here, even if we say so ourselves! We replaced this craft’s worktop as the old one had suffered severe water damage, so we treated the new top with epoxy resin and epoxy varnish, and the bottom with epoxy paint, including all the end grains to avoid any further water damage. The top was also machine polished to create the lovely shine you see here.
Varnishing – This is a vital part of maintaining the beauty and longevity of traditional wooden sailing boats and motor cruisers, and here at Cox’s Boatyard we go that extra mile to ensure all varnishing is carried out expertly, whether we complete just a small touch in, or completely varnish the whole craft. We use both single-part varnish and two-part epoxy varnish, depending on customer preferences and each craft’s requirements.
Marina – Over the coming winter months we will be completing the next stage of the quay heading, which is at the far end of the middle section of land. This was originally due to be completed last winter but was delayed due to the construction of the new workshop, which meant that space was very tight. We do have a yearly plan to upgrade the quay heading of the whole site, but due to the cost of the materials, this work will be spread over the next six to seven years, with about 100 metres installed each year. We will then install new GRP grating to the lower areas which flood on high water levels. Some areas of the marina will not have new grating as we would like to keep some grass to preserve the character of the marina.
Propulsion Units – We have been busy with a variety of projects to keep you all moving efficiently and economically. Recently we successfully installed another new diesel engine into a lovely little Freeman 22, and a new little electric pod onto this wooden sailing cruiser, which now has a range of about 4 – 6 hours. Another tour craft also had a new MiTek electric outboard installed to replace its old motor, but please remember it is not just new installations that we carry out. We can also repair and rectify faults on a wide range of craft, from inboard engines to outboards and leg out drives.
Apprenticeships – Due to our ongoing training and investment commitments to keep traditional boatbuilding craftmanship alive, we have taken on another apprentice. Hector Jones is starting his two-and-a-half-year apprenticeship with us this September (after having already worked here for most of the year) and will be on block release to Pioneer Sailing Trust to complete his Heritage engineering marine apprenticeship. He will be traveling to Brightlingsea every fifth week to complete his training, and we have been fortunate enough to obtain some funding for this, although we will still need to fund part of his course.
Winter Maintenance – Although it’s still a few months away, autumn is fast approaching, and we are beginning to make plans to prepare for our winter work.
Please find attached the winter maintenance form, which needs to be completed and returned as soon as possible. We aim to meet customer requirements on launch dates so the sooner you can give us your preferred launch date, the more likely we are to be able to schedule the work to meet that date. If you have any other questions please ask us, or add them to the bottom of the form when you return it.
Customer Satisfaction Forms – These are now sent out by e-mail, and your replies are extremely important to us as they help us pick up on any areas where we could improve, or where we can be of further assistance to our valued customers.
Thank you for taking the time to read this Newsletter. If you would like to keep more up to date with what’s happening at the boatyard, please follow us on Facebook. Enjoy the last of the summer and your time on the water and thank you for your continuing custom and support. Don’t hesitate to contact the office if you have any queries, or comments.
Best wishes.
Eric Bishop