Following more than two years of careful planning and budgeting, work on constructing the fully insulated steel portal building was completed on schedule and on budget in just 22 weeks, and it is now fully operational. The building’s innovative design means that both the workshop’s floor space and door heights have been increased, so that we can now accommodate up to 16 boats under cover at any one time. The new building’s extensive power-floated concrete floor also provides the perfect surface to easily and safely manoeuvre vessels of any shape and size using our new, self-propelled, radio-controlled boat transporter.
Cox’s Boatyard has won the contract to service four Broads Authority patrol launches over the next two years and the new, improved workshop will provide the ideal facility to work on these boats, alongside those of our many other valued customers. The Authority’s patrol launches are used to transport rangers who play a vital role in ensuring that boats navigate properly, and in educating people about important water-based and land-based issues, so the vessels need to be in tip-top condition.
Chairman David Adler, who officially opened the new workshop, comments: ‘While ensuring Cox’s Boatyard will never change its traditional feel, the new workshop has been another major investment in improving and enhancing the site and its facilities. We are delighted that its construction went so well and are grateful for our berth holders’ and customers’ patience whilst the work was taking place. The team at the yard are already making full use of the improved facilities the workshop offers and 2015 promises to be an exciting and successful year.’
