10 Great British Boat Builders
We might be hopeless at cricket but we can still build some world beating boats. Alex Smith considers ten British yards that deserve a special place on your jingoistic hit list.
Which companies come to mind when you think about the greatest and most revered British boat builders? Princess? Sunseeker? Hunton?
Perhaps you do, and there’s plenty of justification for that. But even if you discount these famous big hitters, it’s still a challenge to limit a list of special British builders to just ten. Names like Ring, Redbay, Ribquest, and Humber all deserve appreciation for their work, and so do some of the popular (if more sedentary) builders like Orkney. There are also some extremely promising recent additions to the British scene, including English Harbour Yachts and C-Boat, but their relative infancy means they have a few rungs to climb before they make it onto a list like this.
From the powerful, RNLI-favoured Ribwells to the elegant Spirit Yachts of the James Bond franchise and the "tender loving care" of Cockwells, England is a treasure trove when it comes to boat builders of the highest calibre.
As for the ten I’ve chosen, for the excellence of their boats, the passion of their fan base, and the sturdy resilience of their brand, every one of them deserves to be celebrated with all the extravagant, flag-waving, patriotic zeal you can muster.
(1) Ribcraft - for working RIBs
Ribcraft makes working RIBs for the RNLI, police, military, and more. You couldn't ask for a sturdier vessel.
Supplier to the military, the RNLI, the Olympic Fleet, the Coastguard, and various commercial operators around the world, Ribcraft has resisted the temptation to bastardise the RIB concept in favour of fluffy cushions and showroom gimmicks – and its boats are all the better for that. Expect sturdy sea hulls, large diameter tubes, rock-solid fixtures and fittings, Samson posts, jockey seats, and respect from everyone you meet. Top class.
Looking for a new RIB for your water-based adventures? Check out our RIB buying guide, then take a look for Ribcraft for sale right here at boats.com!
(2) Cockwells - tender loving care
Cockwells - very few builders in the world can match Cockwells for quality.
If you want the work of a skilled craftsman rather than a cleverly programmed machine, Cockwells couold have the vessel for you. Located on a pretty offshoot of the famous Fal Estuary, Cockwells only builds three or four boats a year. And from initial concept to final specification, every element is yours to define.
There is a more affordable off-the-shelf line of pilot boats available (See Cockwells 9.5 tender: First look video) but, if you want to eradicate all compromise (and your wallet can handle the pain), very few builders in the world can match Cockwells for quality, beauty, and surprisingly low maintenance requirements despite the use of classic woods (including mahogany, sustainable larch, cedar, and synthetic teak alternatives) throughout construction.
For more information on Cockwells, take a look at our Cockwells 650 SR review. You can also find a collection of Cockwells boats for sale here at boats.com.
(3) Williams Performance jet tenders
Williams 445 jetboat: This Oxfordshire-based company focuses solely on four-stroke jet craft, and is the leader in its field.
Williams has done more than any other builder to prove that a small jet boat can be a serious mariner’s tool instead of just a boy racer’s toy. Having started in 1995 as a builder of high-end, cold-moulded wooden powerboats, this Oxfordshire-based company now focuses solely on four-stroke jet craft and is a leader in its field. With more than 20 shipyards specifying Williams as the preferred tender, its formula for the small, high-end jet boat shows no signs of losing its appeal.
See more in our Williams TurboJet 285 review and check out our Williams Performance Tenders for sale.
(4) Shetland - Great British boat builders
Shetland - They might not offer fireworks, but they always provide plenty of fuss-free fun!
Designed and built in Britain since 1968, the engaging simplicity of the Shetland ethos has seen it sell over 45,000 boats, and it often seems that most of them are still putting in a shift on our inland and coastal waterways.
Now based in Suffolk, the company’s basic aim remains the production of safe, reliable, trailerable family cruisers at accessible prices. They don’t offer fireworks, but they always offer fun without fuss and their legions of happy owners are perfectly happy with that.
Search all Shetland boats for sale right here at boats.com.
(5) Scorpion - high-performance RIBs
Scorpion Sport 88: Don't quibble with the price until you've taken one out for a spin.
Holder of various world and British endurance records, Scorpion has been at the forefront of British RIB building and racing for a very long time. Renowned throughout the world for tough, fast, offshore craft that are stylish and beautifully finished as well as potent, Scorpion certainly charges juicy money for its boats – but take one out for a spin and quibbling with the price begins to seem churlish. With exceptional speed and fuel economy, Scorpion set the standard for everyone to follow!
Get out your need for speed by browsing our RIBs for sale.
(6) Spirit Yachts - Stunning Pieces of Art
Spirit Yachts - Offering unique, timeless elegance.
Based in Suffolk, Spirit Yachts designs a range of luxurious powerboats, sailing yachts, and superyachts that all share one thing in common: timeless elegance. Every boat is unique and made to order thanks to their teams of highly skilled engineers, cabinetry makers, interior designers, etc. From the sundial-like cockpit windows to the lashings of beautiful materials and finishes, Spirit Yachts ooze opulence and sophistication - no wonder they’re 007's boat of choice!
Join the likes of James Bond and find your very dream Spirit Yacht for sale today.
(7) Oyster Yachts - The world's finest bluewater yachts
Oyster Yachts are a favourite for blue water cruisers.
Arguably the world’s finest blue water yachts. Ranging from 50 to 90 feet of luxury, uncompromised strength, and the finest materials, Oyster is a firm favourite for globe trotters and digital nomads. Lately, Oyster have been working towards becoming the world’s most sustainable yacht business and are aiming to make every yacht self-sustainable by 2030!
From humble beginnings, Oyster has won multiple awards for its fleet’s stunning appearance, attention to detail, and amazing performance. With a heritage that prioritises fast cruising and a hull that can handle blue water passages, there’s very little an Oyster doesn’t offer!
We have a plethora of Oyster Yachts for sale here at boats.com, so you can start your nomadic adventure sooner than you might think!
(8) Fletcher - Original Great British boat builder
Fletcher boats - expect fast, affordable fun and a bucket load of British heritage.
I started boating in a Fletcher 15 and I have yet to come across anything that can eclipse the simple, affectation-free driver engagement of that nimble little £400 rocket ship. Fletcher has always done a great job of providing the novice with affordable ways to get started in boating – and today that continues with an approved used scheme known as ‘Cherished’, plus a new fleet that follows the same old formula. Now as ever, you can expect fast, affordable fun and a bucket load of British heritage.
For more fun vessels to get you on the water, check out our guide to Affordable fun: Five brilliant “boy-racer” boats, and check out our listings for Fletcher boats for sale.
(9) Cornish Crabber - Tradition never goes out of Fashion
Cornish Crabbers combine style and traditional elements that just work for a smooth ride and fleet of vessels that you can count on.
The Cornish Crabber motto - Tradition never goes out of Fashion! - tells us almost everything we need to know about this British boat builder. Ranging from 17-ft trailer sailors to 30-ft pilot boats, classic designs meet fun cruisers in styles to suit anyone.
Like portholes, traditional rigs, and simplicity that just works? Cornish Crabber has your back!
Shop our range of Cornish Crabbers for sale, then all you’ll need is a good cigar, rum 'n ginger, and some fair winds! Weekend set!
(10) Moody - solid, well-built, proven
A common sight at anchorages around the world, Moody is a reliable and consistent yacht builder loved by liveaboards, globetrotters, and weekend sailors alike!
Starting as a repair yard for fishing boats in 1827 and now a global phenomenon, how could we compile a list of the best British boat builders without including the household name that is now Moody?
Wth some impressive accolades, a rich and fascinating history, and a fantastic fleet of reliable, seaworthy yachts that can be found in anchorages around the world - Moody is certainly not a brand to be overlooked!
Shop our range of Moody yachts for sale here.
Related Reading
For more inspiration on finding the best and most fun boat for your needs, why not check out some of our other articles, such as:
- Five classic powerboats: Triana, Broom, Riva, Fairey, Albatross
- 5 boats for the older powerboater
- Affordable fun: Five brilliant “boy-racer” boats
- 25 of the best beginner sailing dinghies
- 12 budget sailing boats under £20,000
- Best classic boats
- RIB Buying Guide
Editor's Note: This article was originally published by Alex Smith in May 2014, most recently updated by Pippa Shaw in August 2025.
