Drascombe - History

History

• 1902 "Captain James McNulty starts family business. As stevedores it employed ship carpenters, but had difficulty retaining them to work casually and so to ensure continuity of employment, it was decided they build small rowing boats."
• c. 1955 John Elliott joins Kelly and Hall as boatbuilder.
• 1958 John Watkinson buys Kelly and Hall.
• 1960 Honnor Marine founded by Pat Honnor.
• 1962/63 John Watkinson designs and buils three sixteen foot mackerel boats (wood).
• 1964 John Watkinson sells Kelly and Hall.
• 1965 John Watkinson moves to Drascombe Barton. John Watkinson designs and buils first Drascombe Lugger 'Katharine Mary'.
• 1966 New owners of Kelly and Hall produce Drascombe Lugger in wood.
• 1968 Earls Court Boat Show. Exhibit Drascombe Lugger sold in 20 minutes, 11 ordered. John Watkinson grants Honnor Marine a sole licence to build Drascombe Luggers in GRP.
• 1969 Honnor Marine produces first GRP Drascombe Lugger and exhibits at London Boat Show. John Watkinson designs Drascombe Longboat, a stretched Drascombe Lugger; and Drascombe Cruiser Longboat.
• 1970 Drascombe Longboat and Drascombe Cruiser Longboat built by Honnor Marine in GRP. John Watkinson designs Drascombe Skiff, built in wood. Kelly and Hall ceases trading. John Elliott takes over premises and starts John Elliott (Boatbuilder) with his brother Doug building wooden Drascombes.
• c. 1970 In Llandysul, Cardiganshire, John Kerr sets up his own workshop, building wooden boats ranging from small clinker dinghies to ocean racing yachts, for over 20 years. Following a meeting with John Watkinson, he becomes one of the earliest licensed builders of the Drascombe range. Overall John built approximately 10 Drascombe boats, many finished to the customer's exact requirements. John died in 2001.
• 1972 John Watkinson designs Drascombe Dabber. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP.
• 1973 John Watkinson designs Drascombe Peterboat, built in wood.
• 1974 John Watkinson designs Drascombe Driver. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP. Honnor Marine goes into receivership.
• 1975 Honnor Marine continues to trade under a management consortium.
• 1977 Association of Dutch Drascombe Owners (NKDE) formed. John Watkinson designs Drascombe Drifter. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP.
• 1978 John Watkinson designs Drascombe Scaffie. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP. John Watkinson designs Drascombe Coaster. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP.
• 1980 John Elliott dies. Business wound up.
• 1981 Under the wings of Terry Erskine Yachts Plymouth, Douglas Elliot built one more Drascombe, a Peterboat 4.5 metre, before retiring.
• 1982 Norman Whyte licensed to build the whole line of Drascombes in wood, continuing until 1995.
• 1984 John Watkinson designs Drascombe Gig. Built by Honnor Marine in GRP.
• 1984 Drascombe List started in West Wales by Jeremy Churchouse as a brokerage for used Drascombes.
• 1987 Drascombe Association formed.
• 1997 Liquidation of Honnor Marine. Assets sold to Bob Brown. Besides the boat moulds they also include all the plugs, which are the items for making new moulds as well as all the boat fittings and spars. Bob Brown produces range of boats from the original Drascombe moulds under the name of Original Devon. McNulty Boats Ltd, Hebburn, Tyneside, UK is awarded the exclusive licence to use the Drascombe trademark. It makes new moulds and builds the Drascombe range. John Watkinson dies on 19 December.
• 1998 Stewart Brown (no relation to Bob Brown) takes over Churchouse Boats from Jeremy Churchouse.
• 2000 Stewart Brown joins McNulty Boats.
• 2002 McNulty Boats in liquidation. Taken over by Churchouse Boats, led by Stewart Brown, including license to use the Drascombe trademark.
• 2007 Churchouse Boats exhibits the new Drascombe Drifter 22 at the London Boat Show.