Shipyard portrait: A visit to the traditional British shipyards Rustler, Cockwells and Dale

English shipyards are known for their tradition of craftsmanship and their focus on quality rather than quantity. This is particularly true of the so-called gentlemen's yachts. We take a look behind the scenes at the traditional shipyards Rustler, Cockwells and Dale.

A text by Adam Fiander

The clothes we wear, the type of house we live in and the car we drive say a lot about our lifestyle - the so-called way of life. We show what kind of person we are by the personal preferences we display to the outside world. In a figurative sense, this of course also applies to our choice of boat.

So what kind of person would be interested in a so-called British gentlemen's yacht? And what could be the attraction of spending a lot of money on a medium-sized semi-displacement yacht that has actually been conceptually outdated for decades?

This type of boat experienced its heyday at the beginning of the 20th century. The boats were mostly made of mahogany planks on oak frames, had long, narrow hulls and were characterised by discreet but luxurious interiors with lots of wood, leather and highly polished brass. They came to symbolise the British lifestyle at sea. At this time, the gentleman's yacht was not just a leisure object, but rather a status symbol.

The boat showed that its owner was cultured, interested in technology and close to nature - a true "English gentleman". To get to the bottom of the mystery of the unbroken love for this type of boat, we take a look at the three traditional British shipyards Rustler Yachts and Cockwells from Falmouth in Cornwall and Dale Nelson, not far away in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales.

We discover the people behind these shipyards who build these beautiful boats, mainly by hand, with the kind of loving care, craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail that is increasingly rare these days.

Rustler

The Rustler shipyard, which began building sailing yachts in the 1960s, has more recently become known for building two yachts for none other than Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The last of these yachts, a 44-foot sailing yacht, was delivered in 2012. Managing Director Adrian Jones is rightly proud to be the favourite yacht builder of the British Royal Family, but discretion and strict royal protocol prevent Adrian from telling us more.

Instead of indulging in royal memories, he shows us the Rustler 41 with its beautiful, flowing lines, designed by the well-known yacht designer Tony Castro in collaboration with the shipyard and with significant input from the owner. In fact, she is Rustler's first attempt at designing a motorboat. Hull number one was unveiled at the Southampton Boat Show last year.

With a displacement of 10.5 tonnes and a draught that ensures a comfortable ride even in rough seas, the Rustler 41 a range of 390 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 23 knots (2,800 rpm). The fuel tank holds 1,200 litres. The boat is powered by two Yanmar V8 engines, each with 370 hp (272 kW), which enable a top speed of 30 knots via shaft drive. The aft deck with all-round bench seat offers space for socialising. Wide side decks with handrails enable safe movement on deck.

The interior impresses with high-quality woodwork and fittings reminiscent of superyachts, including a full-length windscreen. The richness of detail in the fittings is unusual, and inside the soothing smell of richly varnished wood reminds me of a time when trains still ran on steam, the carriages had metal wheels and the ladies wore elegant, flowing dresses and the men wore jackets and ties.

And although Rustler naturally has CNC cutting machines, you won't find any mass-produced items on board. Adrian tells me in passing that the 41 is a complicated boat due to its complex shapes, such as the continuous one-piece windscreen. The Rustler 41 takes around six months to build, which is remarkable considering the high proportion of manual labour and the complex design. However, the basic price is also a hefty £970,000 plus VAT.

Technical data: Rustler 41

• Length: 12,50 m
• Displacement: 10,5 t
• Motors: 2 x Yanmar V8 with 370 hp (272 kW) each
• Maximum speed: 30 knots
• Marching speed: 23 Nodes
• Range: 390 nm at 23 knots
• Fuel capacity: 1.200 l
• Price: from £970,000 plus VAT.
• Info: www.rustleryachts.com

Cockwells

The Cockwell shipyard, which is also based in Falmouth, is building the Duchy 35, among others. Some BOOTE readers will be familiar with this type of boat from television, as it has appeared more than once in the film adaptations of the books by British author Rosamunde Pilcher. Her films are mostly set in Cornwall and show a romanticised version of English society that appeals to the fascination that Germans have for the English way of life in general, and that naturally includes a suitably stylish boat.

Designed by Andrew Wolstenholme in collaboration with Dave Cockwell, the Duchy 35 has a continuous keel and a displacement of 8.75 tonnes. She was created because a customer was interested in a Duchy 27, but wanted a two-cabin version with more space inside and out. The Duchy 35, described by Cockwells as the ideal combination of "classic design and modern luxury", was exhibited for the first time at boot Düsseldorf last year.

The single-cabin version offers a spacious wet room with separate toilet as well as a raised galley in the saloon and plenty of storage space where the second cabin would otherwise have been. The version with galley below, also with a single cabin, is equipped with a combined toilet/shower. There is also generous seating in the saloon. All in all, the customer determines the final layout of the boat and the choice of materials. The forward owner's cabin and the wheelhouse combined with the saloon remain the same in any case. The many seating areas and the large folding table create a relaxed and cosy feeling of space. Two large patio doors lead to the aft cockpit, where up to ten people can be seated and round off the evening in style with a Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin And Tonic from a local distillery.

Propulsion is provided by two Nanni T4 engines with shaft drive (270 hp). This gives the boat a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots. Alternatively, the Duchy is also available with two Yanmar V8 engines with 350 hp. This increases the top speed to 31 knots and the cruising speed to 25 knots. At this speed, the range is 275 nautical miles. Of particular interest to German customers who want to travel on inland waterways is a single-engine version with 370 hp, which is also available. The basic price of the Duchy 35 is £650,000 plus VAT.

Technical data: Cockwells Duchy 35

• Length: 10,67 m
• Displacement: 8,76 t
• Motors: 2 x Yanmar V8 with 350 hp (257 kW) each
• Maximum speed: 31 Nodes
• Marching speed: 25 Knots
• Range: 275 nm at 25 knots
• Fuel capacity: 1.000 l
• Price: from £650,000 plus VAT.
• Info: www.cockwells.co.uk

Dale

Dale Motor Yachts, based at Neyland Marina in Pembroke Dock, has been part of the British boatyard scene for generations. The company is owned by the Reynolds family, who started building boats in the nearby village of Dale in 1961. With its numerous sandy beaches and hidden coves, the county of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastlines in the UK - a real gem.

The current Dale range consists of a total of six models, of which we talked to Dale Managing Director Mike Reynolds to find out more about the Dale 37 Classic. It has been on the market since 2022 and, with a displacement of 12.5 tonnes, is the heaviest of the three boats presented here. Designed by naval architect Arthur Mursell, the Dale 37 The boat is characterised by its narrow bow and long keel, which is intended to ensure driving stability. With two 440 hp (324 kW) Yanmar V8 engines, the boat reaches a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots. At this speed, the range is 220 nautical miles. At a reduced speed of 10 knots, the range increases to 400 nautical miles. The fuel tank holds 1,360 litres.

A special design feature is the foredeck measuring around five by four metres, which gives the boat a generous feeling of space and at the same time creates more volume for the cabin below. The forward-sloping stern with a sloping deck edge, known as a "tumblehome", is not only visually appealing, but also a sign of the quality of the craftsmanship, as a vertical stern shape would be easier and cheaper to build. Customers can choose between different types of wood such as solid oak, cherry or walnut for the interior. The quality of the joinery work is certainly impressive: every piece of wood is sealed, smoothed and varnished by hand in a ten-step process - even in areas that are not visible.

Customers also have a great deal of influence over the layout of the Dale. They can choose whether they want a second cabin with the galley above or below, depending on how many seats they prefer in the saloon. The base price of the Dale 37 Classic is £855,000 plus VAT.

Technical data: Dale 37 Classic

• Length: 11,28 m
• Displacement: 12,5 t
• Motors: 2 x Yanmar V8 with 440 hp (324 kW) each
• Maximum speed: 30 knots
• Marching speed: 24 nodes
• Range: 220 nm at 24 knots (400 nm at 10 knots)
• Fuel capacity: 1.360 l
• Price: from £855,000 plus VAT.
• Info: www.dalenelson.co.uk

Similarities and differences

All three yachts combine classic design with modern technology and offer a solid construction for demanding cruising areas in Northern Europe. However, with their single-engine options and comparatively low clearance heights, they are also suitable for inland waters. All three boats have a high proportion of manual labour and can be individually adapted to the owner's wishes. They are not mass-produced, but are built in small numbers for discerning owners who value quality, tradition and timeless design.

Conclusion

Even if the English gentlemen's yachts look like they come from a bygone era, they have their fans and their justification on the market as charismatic, individual alternatives to today's plastic yachts. They are all-weather, seaworthy and robust boats that are ideally suited to northern European regions. The single-engine options offered in some cases also make them interesting for inland areas where top speed is less important.

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• Netherlands: How shipyards are dealing with the changes in the superyacht industry