I discovered a passion for boat building through a love for woodwork and design. For me, building boats represents the perfect fusion of complex design and masterful craftsmanship. The process of transforming raw, natural materials into something both beautiful and functional is endlessly rewarding, combining art with utility in a way that continually inspires my work.

This interest led me to enrol on a course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis. After graduating, I spent some time working as a boatbuilder in Cornwall before being drawn back to my home city of Bristol and to the Underfall Yard where I have been based for the past 10 years.

During my time at Underfall, I've been lucky enough to work on some remarkable boatbuilding projects with John RB and Win Cnoops. I hope to continue this work and help preserve the traditional crafts and boat building heritage in Bristol harbour, whilst also promoting modern wood construction methods as a sustainable alternative to GRP or steel.

With this in mind, I felt a need to deepen my understanding of materials, design, and manufacturing processes. This prompted me to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at university. The experience broadened my perspective on design, manufacturing, and material science. Today, I find the most satisfaction in blending my extensive practical and traditional boatbuilding experience with modern design techniques and processes.

Bristol has a rich history of boat building, with a small community of boat builders and related trades still active around the harbour. The Underfall Yard, where Boatyard Workshop is located, is one of only two remaining boatyards in Bristol.

Recently, a devastating fire impacted the boatbuilders and businesses at Underfall Yard. As the workshops are rebuilt, it is our community's mission to ensure that skilled boatbuilders continue to occupy in these historic buildings.

Find out more about Underfall Yard here.

Boatyard Workshop is run by me, Joe.

Boatbuilding in Bristol harbour