Marine Classics

A british boatbuilder making classically styled speedboats and launches. We combine elegant, classic lines with the latest construction techniques.

Marine Classics started in 1985 doing repairs and restoration on older wooden craft. Like this 100' ketch dating from 1896.

 
Since then we have done repair and restoration work on many types of classic craft as well as new builds. Based on this experience, our new boats are designed to have an abundance of classic style - without the restoration, safety and maintenance problems of an old boat.

 The 'Classic' range is constructed from fine hardwoods, epoxy resin, Kevlar and carbon fibre for strength and low maintenance.

This makes a high quality boat which has the grace of a timeless classic, but the low upkeep of a modern boat. Something which will have style and value in decades to come.

We will modify any of our standard range of boats for any particular use  or size. We will also custom make any boat to your requirements  up to around 26 feet.

Design History

The origins of the ‘runabout’ style of boat begin around 1890-1910. Early pioneers were often involved in racing or speed records. They built their own boats and success brought requests from other people wanting to buy a boat from them.

By the 1920’s some of these enterprises had grown to making hundreds of boats, examples are Gar Wood and Hacker Craft. Later other companies such as Century, and Chris-Craft took this style of boat to further levels of performance and elegance. Meanwhile in europe boatbuilders such as Brookes; and Boesch were building speedboats. Some of these companies still make wood boats today. At the high end of the market, wooden boats have never been replaced by fibreglass as they have at the mass production end.

The rounded ‘barrelback’ stern initially became popular in the 1930’s. Chris-Craft in particular making several hundred; many of which still exist. (and change hands for very many times their original price)

Riva have a long pedigree in boatbuilding, and in the 1950’s started producing perhaps the most elegant of all runabouts. They reluctantly stopped making wooden boats in 1995 because they were too expensive in labour compared to their more profitable fibreglass range.

The introduction of modern materials such as Epoxy resin has transformed wooden boatbuilding. These materials increase the strength and lifespan of boats, whilst reducing maintenance. Good quality hardwoods encapsulated in epoxy resin can be made immune to the old enemies of damp and rot, and modern coatings do away with varnishing routines. Laminating space age materials such as Kevlar and carbon fibre to wood gives an incredible strength and impact resistance - much better than fibreglass.

At Marine Classics we take our design cues from the finest examples of the past century, combined with modern aerospace developed materials and construction techniques.

Marine classics has valuable experience of  interior refits of several  large yachts up to 150'.  Including - Benetti, Feadship, Broward, Codecasa, Jongert, Camper & Nicolson etc. Our work is of  the  standard required on boats costing several millions.