Neil Thompson

Neil Thompson Boats and our story

We are a small and dedicated team of boat builders who aim to create something that is beautiful and truly unique. We believe, the Norfolk Range offers you a sailing experience onboard a boat that is timeless with its own classic appeal.

All of our boats are hand built to your individual specification, we build them to order so we can meet our customers specific requirements. They are not part of a production process, every single part is manufactured on site or from our trusted suppliers. We guarantee that there will be no compromise on quality.

The boats are designed for sailing within creeks, estuaries and more specifically the North Sea which can be demanding on both the sailor and the boat. The unique build features and qualities of the Norfolk Range make sailing under these conditions a real pleasure.

As a Norfolk Range owner you join a wider family of people who share your passion and as a company we like to build a relationship with the boat owners and the boats alike.

Neil Thompson Boats is the hub for all boating related activity on the North Norfolk coast.

We are the proud builders of the Norfolk Boats. We run a successful and skilled boatyard, which houses a chandlery and offers a personal and professional boat brokerage service.

 

Boat yard move to Wells-Next-The-Sea

After 17 years at our site in Glandford, Neil Thompson Boats has moved to a larger premises in Wells-Next-The-Sea. The move allows the company to expand and offer more employment opportunities in the local area.

Explorer 3 & 4

Latest Norfolk Explorer gets a Teak foredeck with a custom stainless steel stem head fitting as standard.

2017

Back at the Southampton Boat Show after 20 year absence

Many boat owners ask why we don’t exhibit at the boat show and the answer is simple, although it sounds a little arrogant. We don’t need to. We’re always very busy with boat servicing, refurbishing and building (in the summer only) so we don’t need to go to boat shows to drum up extra business. Our boats and boat yard has a good reputation that is known globally for building high quality boats and performing skilled and top quality work with care and integrity.

2017

Press launch of Norfolk Explorer

April 2014

Opening of the chandlery - this has continued to grow and flourish complementing the work undertaken in the boat yard

April 2014

First two orders for the new Norfolk Explorer

2013

‘Holkham Show’ exhibition

Displaying boats and Honda out boards – selling Norfolk Oysters and Honwaves!

January 2013

Awarded Honda outboard dealership

January 2013

London Boat Show

Receiving lots of favourable press attention

2012

‘Holkham Show’ Exhibition

Experiencing a resurgence of interest in boats and yard services

2010

The Rights

Neil and Richenda buy the moulds and rights to build the Norfolk Range boats from Charlie Ward

2008

Charlie retires

Charlie Ward retires from building and servicing Norfolk Boats and encourages customers to contact Neil Thompson for servicing work needed

2006

Nautical ceremony

Neil and Richenda get married on Norfolk Trader 45 ‘Juno’

January 2005

Service schedule

Neil takes on contract to service Norfolk Range boats for Charlie Ward Traditional Boats Ltd. Richenda is employed and trained up by Neil and Charlie to service Oysters and Gypsy’s.

2004

The yard

Neil sets up his own yard in Glandford servicing sailing dinghies and providing a safety boat services to the local sailing school. During the winter months he secured a contract with Charlie Ward Traditional Boats Ltd to undertake all of the varnishing work for the Norfolk Range.

January 2000

Juno

Work begins on first Norfolk Trader 45 “Juno”

1999

Joining Charlie

Neil begins work with Charlie, building and servicing the Norfolk Boats

1996
Neil Thompson Boats

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Norfolk Range

Tweets from the yard

© 2013 Neil Thompson Boats