The new year sees a new owner of the Penpol Boatyard at Restronguet after Butler and Co bought the yard from the Ocean Yacht Company.

The new owners specialise in building, maintaining and restoring traditional vessels. Previously located at Old Mill Creek in Dartmouth and for a short while based at Gweek Boatyard, the company has been keen for a while to be a part of the traditional yacht construction scene of the rivers Fal and Helford.

During the last year managing director Ashley Butler worked on prestigious classics in Palma, Majorca and was joined by company shipwrights in Southampton to help plank the 1928 Fife designed Cambria, the first of the Big Class which preceded the J-Class.

Butler and Co was established 12-years-ago by Ashley Butler, following his return to the UK after six years of cruising in his engine-less gaff cutter Sally B. Brought up in Whitstable, Kent, interest in boatbuilding began at an early age and Ashley developed his skills by attending Falmouth Marine School.

The company has already built up a reputation for the quality of its workmanship and since 2004 it as built 15 new wooden vessels and restored a further six, including the 100 tonne sailing trawler Pilgrim. The Butler and Co team, which includes employees of the previous company, are currently working on four major renovation projects.

Butler and Co, as well as undertaking rebuilds and refits of classic craft, will be undertaking custom designs and builds and the construction of their three stock classes. The smallest being the Lily Class, a lug rigged dinghy, the Skye Class, a Tosher style gaff sloop with inboard and finally the Mayflower Class, a range of classic yachts from 34 to 50 feet.

The yard has swinging moorings, pontoon and alongside berths and dry storage. Craneage and slipping for all types of vessels is also available. Future plans for improvement of the yard include upgrading the pontoons during the coming year.

Ashley said: “I am looking forward to the company being able to contribute to the dynamic marine construction industry of West Cornwall and look forward to a new era for Butler and Co."