Larkman’s Boatyard, based in Suffolk, UK, has been acquired by Sam and Kayleigh Whitworth.
The family-owned boatyard was established in 1959 and moved to its present location in Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1966.
The 5.54-acre site on the banks of the River Deben has developed and grown since its inception and is now one of the largest boatyards in the area, offering a range of boatyard operations, including maintenance, engineering works, rigging services and lay-up packages.
Services include cranage up to 15 ton maximum, storage and a variety of lay-up packages from which it generates significant recurring income each year.
The location also offers three river moorings and a chandlery.
Gradual expansion
“The company was started by Dick and Dawn Larkman. It has always been a family-run business in which three generations of Larkmans have worked,” said Fred Larkman.
“The company has gradually expanded from being a storage yard for 30 boats to its present size with capacity for 200 plus yachts up to 45ft in length.”
Significant life events were the catalyst for the purchase by the Whitworths, driving a desire for change.
“Life threw us a pretty major curve ball in the form of a significant health challenge and we started to question how we were living our lives and if we were giving our children and ourselves the best we could,” explained Sam, whose background includes boat building and engineering.
“We decided to stop in and look at Larkman’s Boatyard during a break on the north Norfolk coast and we subsequently knew we wanted to take the yard on.
“After seven months, after it was all finalised, we sold everything in Hampshire and relocated to Suffolk to take on the yard.”
Working boatyard
He added: “I started my career at Spirit Yachts, training first as a boat builder and then a marine engineer.
“Towards the end of my time at Spirit, I studied for a degree in mechanical engineering.
“This led to opportunities designing systems to refuel aircraft in flight, setting up a modular building factory and developing hydrogen refuelling systems to decarbonise heavy transport.”
And he explained that Kayleigh’s background is in education and business administration, with both of their previous roles set to provide a mix of technical skills, customer-facing service and organisation.
The couple plan to keep the facility as a working boatyard, rebranding it as Deben Boatyard.
“We will sympathetically update the yard over the coming months and years. We want to increase the number of boats in the yard and offer a wider range of services,” said Sam.
“We know there is a lot of hard work ahead, but we couldn’t be happier or more excited for the future. Kayleigh and I are really excited to be embarking on this adventure together.”
