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With a background of building and going to sea in high specification semi-displacement motor yachts and pilot vessels, Barry Kimber formed the company of Seaward Marine Ltd in Guernsey in 1980. The very first craft completed by Seaward was an all weather 40ft pilot boat design to full Lloyd's certification. This craft was followed by a Nelson 44 motor yacht and a 65ft pilot cutter for Milford Haven. The next vessel, a luxury Nelson 45 motor yacht made it's debut at the Southampton boat show in 1982. A series of orders for Nelson 45 and 42 motor yachts followed over the years along with contracts for pilot boats for Trinity House and Forth Pilots. The combination of safe, all weather sea-keeping craft for professionals, and the luxury fit-out required for the Nelson motor yachts, found the all important niche and reputation for Seaward boats that has continued to the present day.
In 1983 the company decided to go ahead with the development of a mini sized version of their larger craft. TT Boat Designs, the Nelson designers, were commissioned for the design work on account of their vast experience with semi-displacement hull designs. The craft was aimed at the customer requiring a true seagoing vessel but of a more convenient size. Just like her larger sisters, the little Seaward 23 was offered with a specification that included twin diesel engines on shaft drives, twin fuel tanks and twin battery systems. The first Seaward 23 motor cruiser made its debut at the Southampton boat show in 1985 where it was an outstanding success. By 1988 an owner's club had been formed called the 23 Squadron. The owners enjoyed the first of what was to become an annual squadron cross Channel rally. The success of this little 23ft boat, with orders coming from as far away as Japan, was gradually taking over the factory. Due to customer demand models 25 & 29 were introduced in the 1990's.
An important order was won by Seaward to build a replacement marine ambulance launch for the St. John Ambulance & Rescue Service of Guernsey. The craft 'Flying Christine III', which operates from St Peter Port, is based on a Nelson 45 hull with a one- off superstructure, incorporating a twin stretcher cabin with full paramedic facilities. The craft undertook over 70 missions in her first year of operation, to nearby islands and also to pick up injured and sick crewmen from passing ships entering the English Channel.
The new millennium brought into service a new Seaward built Nelson 33 pilot vessel at St Peter Port to cater for the increasing number of visiting cruise liners. Record orders at the Southampton Boat show in 2000 and the introduction of the first Seaward 35 motor cruiser in 2001 forced the company to look for larger premises.
In January 2002 the company purchased a 23,500 sq ft factory at Cowes and relocated the whole of its business there from Guernsey. The Isle of Wight is proving an ideal location for Seaward, with all the necessary skills and training available for future expansion.
By the end of its first year in Cowes seven craft were in build at the factory, including a new Seaward Talisman 49 motor yacht, a Seaward 35 for Japan along with three Seaward 29s and two Seaward 25s.
From the new Cowes location Seaward are
also able to offer full service back up for Seaward boats old
and new, utilizing its purpose built hydraulic trailer to move
vessels from the River Medina to the factory. Seaward owners therefore
have the assurance of support direct from the manufacturer if
required, be it to upgrade their existing craft with additional
equipment or simply to have a pre-season clean-up and engine service.
Early in 2007 an opportunity presented itself to Seaward when
their long established trading partners, VT Halmatic, decided
to drop production of pilot boats in order to concentrate on military
craft. A new 29 foot pilot cutter had recently been produced as
a joint project between Seaward and VT Halmatic for Casablanca
Pilots. This new model Nelson 29 along with the existing Nelson
35, 40 & 42 pilot boats are now all available in the product
line up from Seaward Marine. We are absolutely delighted to take
on this extra work, particularly as the company is well geared
up to one off production.
I trust you have found this information of interest and I hope you will page mark the Seaward web site for regular visits.
