Cornish Crabber Revived: Boatbuilders Staying Afloat
Iconic British boatbuilder Cornish Crabbers has been brought out of administration by just a couple of months after the company went into liquidation.
Shrimply marvellous news for Cornish Crabbers
The boatbuilder, based in Rock, Cornwall, had built an enviable reputation for producing elegant fibreglass modern classics such as the Cornish Crabber and Shrimper which garnered a big following over the years. News that the company had filed for voluntary liquidation earlier this year was therefore met with widespread dismay.
Dismay turned to relief when it was announced that Poole based yacht broker Blue Lagoon Marine had acquired the brand, along with its intellectual property and the moulds for ongoing production. These acquisitions have been made directly from the liquidators of Cornish Crabbers LLP.
“We cannot let this classic brand just disappear“ explained Ben Walker, CEO of Blue Lagoon Marine: “It has been quite complicated and we have had the added complication of customers’ boats mid way through production to deal with.”
The new set up, which has been funded privately, will establish sales of the brand out of Blue Lagoon Marine in Poole while production will remain in Cornwall under close supervision of the new Cornish Crabbers Ltd.
A new website is being constructed, covering the Cornish Crabber line up…
Although the team have acquired Cornish Crabber’s other brand, Mystery, a new suitor will be found to continue sales and production of these two boats, seen somewhat out of sync with the classic and traditional Cornish Crabber.
History of the Cornish Crabber
The history of Cornish Crabbers started over 40 years ago in Rock, Cornwall. Originally under the Westerly Boats brand, this design was so popular it became a company in its own right in 1975, launching as an independent yacht builder, named Cornish Crabber.
The Cornish Crabber was originally designed by Roger Dongray as a 22ft (6.7m) gaff-rigged cutter made entirely of marine plywood. However, as the company grew the hulls became fibreglass, with wooden decks and coach roofs.
In 1979, the company’s best-selling design, the Cornish Shrimper, was conceived. In 2001, the company became the leading producer of gaff-rigged boats, and are instantly recognisable boats, bursting with character and British craftsmenship.
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