Reeves Boat Builders goes

ONE of the few remaining long established  boat builders has now followed the all too frequent trend, and gone out of business,  another casualty of the ever shrinking demand for boats.

Reeves Boat Builders was a very highly regarded family business of 20 years standing, having the enviable reputation of producing shells for established boat fitters, in addition to its fully fitted boats.

Downturn

But like so many others it has been struck by the downturn in boating, and a combination of lack of orders coupled with ever increasing running costs took its toll, and the firm has gone out of business.

The company had an excellent reputation for quality products, with even in the present financial climate its second-hand boats holding their own in a falling market.  Borne out by other boat fitters using its shells exclusively for many years.

High quality

The business was run by Graham, Julie and family and in its heyday employed over 20 staff producing upwards of 100 shells/boats a year of consistent high quality.

As the boat building business went into recession costs were reduced with employees having to be made redundant and the firm reducing the  manufacturing space rented.

Not protected

However, it was not a limited company, which resulted that when it went out of business the partners were not protected, and thus responsible for all its debts, including redundancy payments and paying off the disputed lease of the premises, resulting in the brothers most likely losing their homes that were re-mortgaged to keep the business afloat.

Unlike in all too many similar circumstances, we are told that no customer has been left out of pocket.

This follows such other long established boat builders such as Wardle, Louis & Joshua and many more that have gone out of business.