East Anglian yards bring traditional boatbuilding skills to Southampton
The Southampton International Boat Show will put a spotlight on wooden boatbuilding this year as East Anglia’s boatyards, craftsmen and marine organisations present demonstrations, restorations and careers sessions on the Wooden Boat Stage. The feature runs for the duration of the show, from 18 to 27 September, and returns for its second year.
The programme is aimed at celebrating the people and techniques behind wooden boat construction while encouraging young people to consider careers in the sector. It will profile established builders and restoration yards from the East Coast, and include practical displays designed to give visitors hands-on insight into the craft.
“One of the stand-out results of creating the Wooden Boat Stage schedule is the strength of the yards and craftspeople on the East Coast, and I’m delighted that so many of them are travelling to Southampton to showcase their skills and stories,”
The event organiser highlighted the breadth of expertise travelling to Southampton, citing businesses ranging from Spirit Yachts — known for contemporary wooden builds — to yards focused on restoration such as Kings, Woodbridge, Fox’s and Abbey Boatbuilder. The Wooden Boat Stage is supported by Suffolk-based Fox’s Marina & Boatyard, which has been active in boatbuilding on the East Coast for nearly a century.
Representatives from Fox’s emphasised the collaborative nature of the effort. In a statement they said they were keen to use the platform to promote the skills that exist on the East Coast and to show younger people the professional opportunities available in the industry.
“We’re delighted to support the Wooden Boat Stage and, with nearly 100 years of boatbuilding heritage at Fox’s, help shine a light on the extraordinary depth of skill we have here on the East Coast,” said Will Taylor-Jones, Managing Director at Fox’s Marina & Boatyard.
What visitors can expect
The programme is built around three interlinked aims: celebrate craft and restoration; demonstrate traditional skills; and connect the industry with potential employees and apprentices. Highlights listed by organisers include:
- live demonstrations of traditional boatbuilding techniques;
- discussions on careers and apprenticeship pathways in wooden boatbuilding;
- school engagement sessions and hands-on activities for young visitors;
- presentations by established yards and restoration projects from the East Coast.
The Wooden Boat Stage will host speakers from Spirit Yachts — including Lead Designer Thomas Smith and Yard Manager Adrian Good — alongside representatives of other East Anglian yards. Organisers say the intention is not only to display finished craft but also to demonstrate the processes and trades that sustain the industry.
Local context and why it matters to Southampton
Southampton is one of the UK’s biggest maritime events hosts and attracts a mix of international manufacturers, leisure boaters and specialist sectors. Bringing East Anglian wooden boatbuilding to the city broadens the show’s offer beyond modern production craft and technology to include traditional skills and small-scale artisanship.
For Southampton residents, the Wooden Boat Stage offers several local impacts. It provides free public access to demonstrations that might otherwise be confined to private yards; it creates a platform for regional employers to advertise apprenticeship and training opportunities; and it strengthens links between the city’s marine leisure economy and the East Coast supply chain. For schools and colleges, the staged careers activity gives a tangible example of maritime trades that could form the basis of local training and employment pathways.
Organisers have framed the initiative as both cultural celebration and targeted skills development: showcasing restored vessels and new wooden builds while highlighting the workforce and training needs that underpin the sector. Where technology and plastic production dominate much of modern boat manufacture, the Wooden Boat Stage emphasises the continuing relevance of hand skills and conservation work in Britain’s maritime heritage.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Wooden Boat Stage run dates | 18–27 September |
| Notable East Anglian participants | Spirit Yachts, Kings, Woodbridge, Fox’s, Abbey Boatbuilder |
As the show opens later this month, residents and visitors to Southampton will have the chance to see traditional boatbuilding skills presented alongside the latest marine technology. For communities across the South and East coasts, the event is positioned as both a celebration of craft and an active recruitment window for the next generation of boatbuilders.
Coverage of the Southampton International Boat Show will continue across WE NEWS’ local pages during the event.
