Cockwells celebrates 25 years

Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding in Cornwall is celebrating 25 years in business.

Cockwells custom-builds superyacht tenders and Duchy motor launches (a semi-production brand which it says combines the classical lines with modern luxury).

The company says its recent purchase of The South West Shipyard, a prime waterside site between Falmouth and Penryn, will enable it to expand, meet unprecedented demand and build more of its larger vessels, which range up to 65’.

“Where we win is that we are a reputable family firm that has not only survived but thrived for two-and-a-half decades – and through a pandemic,” says MD Dave Cockwell.

“This is because we know how to build boats; we know how to combine traditional craftsmanship with up-to-the-minute technologies to deliver exactly what our clients want, and we continue to invest – in our people and our infrastructure – so nothing is out of reach. The seemingly impossible is possible because we apply tried and tested methods, and experiment at the cutting-edge. We are as skilled with a chisel as we are with a CNC machine, and that is what sets us apart.”

In 2020, Cockwells acquired the assets of Hardy Marine, an all-weather, all-location motor yacht brand.

While Cockwells will continue to offer the original Hardy designs, Dave Cockwell and leading hull designer Andrew Wolstenholme are in the process of redefining the Hardy 42 and Hardy 50 to create the definitive family cruising environment.

“The first Hardy 42 to be launched from the Mylor Creek Boatyard will be our first hybrid diesel-electric boat and we have incorporated a digital switching system to enable full-remote control for ease of handling,” says Cockwell.

“Reimagining our designs to cater for 21st century demand and continually upskilling to be ahead of the curve is how we future-proof our business.

“Whilst today’s battery technology does not yet offer a useful range for fully-electric boats, it is only a matter of time before propulsion from an alternative power source will be a realistic choice and we are champing at the bit to experiment with that. We nurture traditional skills but we also push the boundaries of the possible and it is this ethos that will secure our success for the next 25 years and beyond.”