POPULAR narrowboat builder retires after more than 20 years at Northamptonshire marina.
A POPULAR narrowboat builder has hung up his welder after more than 20 years of graft at a marina.
Dave Thomas, aged 62, decided to close his specialist business at Braunston Marina to begin his retirement and said fond farewell to his colleagues along the canal.
His interest in the waterways was sparked by holidays on hired-boats in his 20s, and after completing a boiler making apprenticeship took a job as a welder at Braunston Bottom Lock before launching David Thomas Boatbuilders.
He became well known for his skill at putting together Dutch barges and unique boats. For his last assignment with carrying out major repairs on one of the marina’s most distinguished moored boats, the 71 foot 1938 former working narrowboat, Dover.
Dave, who said that Braunston has become ‘special to him’ said: “I’m pleased that my first and last assignments on the canals were repairing old working boats.
“When I arrived at the Bottom Lock I set to on restoring the Cleopatra, as a result of which she is still out there, still owned by the same owner.
“But the one that gave me most pleasure was the re-riveting and repairs to the Nutfield.
“There was the challenge of recreating genuine authenticity.”
Tim Coghlan, the managing director of Northamptonshire based Braunston Marina, said he was sad to record the closure, and believed it was a result of the collapse in narrow boat building.
He added that Mr Thomas and his sensitive work would be greatly missed
Pete Flockhart, who owns Tradline Rope and Fenders along the marina, said: “He is a real character, he will be really missed around the marina and by his customers.
“He joined the trade towards the end of the working boat era, and things have changed a lot since then, but he had that traditional way about him.
“He never had to advertise because he was so well known by word of mouth and people always wanted their work undertaken by him.”
Mr Thomas, who is originally from Cheshire, often travelled to The Netherlands and France during his career.
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