Designers and Builders

[Jon Fuller]

Right, I’ve been racking my brain trying to work out why a boatbuilder/seller would show support for another builder who had clearly ‘Taken’ someone else’s design, and was marketing it as his own. It made no sense to me as most builders are extremely protective of their products and would steer well clear of anyone they thought could potentially be a threat, by that I mean someone who may take a liking to their product and choose it as their next target!

Anyone who’s spent thousands of man-hours, and ££££ creating a unique product would almost want to stand guard over it, for fear of a dreaded ‘Splasher’ getting their hands on one, making a minor alteration, and going to market with it.

Then it hit me!

So,

Hands up everyone who can state categorically “who designed their boat” and, can be absolutely certain that it was built with the original designers knowledge and permission?


Andre??.........no, thought not!

So there it is! Any builder who isn't too sure of the parentage or legitimacy of their craft, has to take the middle lane!

Sad really innit!

This leads me to another point. I started thinking about this whole Splashing thing, and it seems to me, that by far the biggest offenders seem to be the RHIB builders!

I’m compiling a list of British companies who’ve marketed a sports boats and RHIBs that are without doubt solely the work of the company who is building/ marketing it, or, have enlisted and paid for the services of a designer, bought the rights etc. ie, all the British companies who REALLY own their work.

So remember, this is a list of LEGIT boatbuilders, but does not include freelance designers who don’t build themselves. Such as Don Shead, Lorne Campbell etc.

Firstly, the hard boats:

Hunton Powerboats (Jeff Hunton)

Seaquel (Ray Innes)

Dateline boats (Gerry Johnson)

Fletcher (Norman Fletcher)

Marshan (Terry Sleap)

Phantom (Steve Baker)

Ring Powercraft (Mike Ring)

Shakespeare (various, inc Mike Ring, Lorne Campbell & Victory design)

Extreme Marine (Mike Ring)

Revenger boats (Don Shead / Lorne Campbell)

Avenger boats (Don Shead)

Driver boats (Doug Driver)

Tremlett (??????)

Cougar Marine (various, inc James Beard, Clive Curtis, Peter Berkett…spelling??)

Crusader (Mike Ring)

That’s all I can think of at the minute, but I’m sure there are many more, and I welcome any suggestions/additions.


Now RHIBs:

Scorpion (David Marsh)

Humber (………)

Ribcraft (…….)

Phantom Evolution (Steve Baker & Neil Holmes)

K4+ (Adam Younger)

BananaShark (Lorne Campbell)

Pascoe International (Ocke Mannerfelt)

Revenger (Don Shead/Lorne Campbell)

I'm pretty sure the first 3 rib Co's are proper, but need some help with designers names.

[Matt]

Do you happen to have a good transom shot of a P18 ya could mail me?

[Jon Fuller]

No. I've been looking myself! Will get one sorted soon.

[Matt]

What a coincidence.

[Matt]

Bananashark can be added to your list.

[Jon Fuller]

done

[Gav]

Picton boats?
simms?
plancraft?

[Matt]

k4+ rib

[Jon Fuller]

ok cool! gav, are these three definitely own, or legit payed for design? if yes, who are the designers?

K4+...of course!

[roofer]

this is the only one ive got,i'll take some more this week

[Jon Fuller]

looks very familiar!

Can't see too well from that pic, are they reverse chines (do they angle downward)

[roofer]

appears very similar to leeways rib or do my eyes deceive me .

[Gav]

Originally posted by Jonny
ok cool! gav, are these three definitely own, or legit payed for design?

K4+...of course!

im pretty sure Dave picton is owner designer of his range.....
simms also pretty sure
plancraft........couldnt say but thought they were family owned company who designed their own?

[Jon Fuller]

we need to be sure, this 'legit list' needs to be spot on.

[Jon Fuller]

Originally posted by roofer
appears very similar to leeways rib or do my eyes deceive me .

Your eyes must be deceiving you, coz Leeways rib is 95% his design.

[roofer]

bet he wont say which 5% he stole,borrowed or copied then

[Jon Fuller]

I'm not sure if maths is his strong point

[Captain Chaos]

As far as i'm aware Pictons have always been in house by Dave/Hugh ot thier father before them.

Plancraft? Think they're all legit designs....for eg, I know the sabre was originally sommink to do with trios.

what about Stapley.......I thought they were all part & parcel of the Driver stuff + also made cats.

Marshan..........thought they were in a similar vein but a totaly differnt boat to Phantoms etc.

looking for a p18 transom.

[Captain Chaos]

?

[Jon Fuller]

I don't doubt any of that, just need to be sure!

Marshan are on list you blind fkkr, designer/builder, Terry Sleap