Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders

What Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders does

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders is a Glasgow-based non-profit organization that constructs traditional wooden vessels using time-honoured Scottish methods, including clinker (overlapping planks) and carvel construction. Founded around 2000 by master boat builder Peter Matheson, who built over 150 boats during two decades in Caithness before relocating to Glasgow in 1999, the organization operates from a small shipyard in Govan on the site of the former Harland and Wolff shipyard. Its permanent team is led by Peter Matheson (skipper and founder) and Jimmy Stringfellow (yard manager), with labor supplemented by volunteers and apprentices receiving free training in traditional boat building.

The organization's core offerings span custom vessel construction (from 7-foot pram dinghies to 60-foot schooners), vessel refurbishment, and charter cruises. It operates two main vessels: the Flower of Caithness (a nearly 60-foot schooner built in 1997) and the Boy Peter (a traditionally built wooden charter vessel accommodating 12 day guests or 6 overnight, equipped with a 100HP engine, auxiliary sails, a glass underwater viewing panel, and accessibility features for disabled passengers). Charter services include day cruises, overnight cruises, sea angling trips, marine wildlife watching, and corporate charters.

Its revenue model mixes charter fees (a standard one-week trip is priced at £600), corporate charter bookings, and grants from funders such as the Big Lottery Fund and Awards for All, which subsidize reduced-rate berths for disabled and underserved community members. A volunteer-exchange program lets contributors work at the boatyard in exchange for sailing opportunities, creating a non-monetary labor pipeline. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via phone and email, and customer segments span disabled and underserved community members, corporate groups, tourists/recreational sailors, young unemployed people learning the trade, and community organizations commissioning vessels.

Name

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders

Legal name

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders

Website

https://clydesideboatbuilders.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders is a Glasgow-based non-profit that constructs traditional wooden vessels using clinker and carvel methods, operates two charter boats (Boy Peter and Flower of Caithness) on the Firth of Clyde, and trains volunteers and unemployed youth in traditional boat building while serving disabled, community, tourist, and corporate customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traditional Boat Building and Maritime Services

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Yacht Building & One-Off Projects (IMAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gulet & Traditional Wooden Yacht Cruises (THAEADAE), Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Traditional boat building
• Wooden vessel construction
• Boat building training
• Charter cruise services
• Maritime heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charter cruise fees: Revenue from operating charter cruises on the Clyde with the Boy Peter and Flower of Caithness vessels. Offers corporate charter cruises and individual bookings for day trips, overnight cruises, sea angling, and wildlife watching.
2. Charitable funding and grants: Funding from Big Lottery Fund and other charities for vessel fit-out. The charitable funding enables reduced-rate berths for deserving causes and individuals.
3. Volunteer exchange program: Offering sailing opportunities in exchange for volunteer work at the boatyard, creating an exchange economy rather than direct monetary payment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders is a non-profit organisation that constructs traditional wooden boats using clinker and carvel methods, ranging from 7-foot pram dinghies to 60-foot vessels. The organisation provides free boat building training to volunteers and apprentices, while operating charter cruises on the Firth of Clyde aboard the Boy Peter and Flower of Caithness vessels for corporate groups, disabled individuals, and the local community.

Product overview

Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders operates as a non-profit organization based at the former Harland and Wolff shipyard in Govan, Glasgow. The company maintains two primary charter vessels: the Boy Peter (a ~50-foot traditionally built wooden fishing vessel-style boat accommodating 12 day guests or 6 overnight guests) and the Flower of Caithness (a ~60-foot schooner). Beyond vessel operations, the yard specializes in traditional wooden boat construction ranging from 7-foot dinghies to 60-foot schooners, using both clinker and carvel building methods. The company provides free boat building training to volunteers and community members, while also offering corporate charter cruises and vessel refurbishment services. Additional services include transport/storage (up to 44ft/20 tons) and upholstery/furnishings for yachts through associate partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boy Peter Charter Vessel A traditionally built wooden charter vessel designed on lines of Scottish fishing vessels, accommodating 12 guests on day cruises and 6 on overnight cruises. Equipped with 100hp engine, 5 KVA generator, sails as auxiliary propulsion, navigation equipment, safety equipment per Code of Practice, hot/cold water, shower, and an underwater viewing glass panel. Specially designed for disabled people with accessibility features.
• Traditional Wooden Boat Building Services Custom construction of traditional wooden boats using both clinker and carvel methods, ranging from 7-foot pram dinghies to 60-foot schooners. Includes free training in boat building craftsmanship for volunteers and apprentices. Services include vessel construction for community organisations and maritime businesses.
• Corporate Charter Cruises Charter cruise services on the Clyde River for corporate groups, providing sailing experiences for team building and corporate events. Day cruises accommodating up to 12 guests and overnight cruises for up to 6 guests.
• Vessel Refurbishment Services Restoration and refurbishment services for traditional wooden vessels, including repairs following damage. Volunteer exchange model offered where refurbishment work is exchanged for sailing opportunities.
• Boat Building Training Programme Free boat building training programme offering local men and women the opportunity to learn traditional boat building craftsmanship. Open to young unemployed people and volunteers regardless of sex, religion, or background. Skills taught include both clinker and carvel boat building methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 boats built by the Matheson family during their 20+ years in Caithness, plus additional vessels at Clydeside
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gal Gael TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Peter Matheson was invited by the Gal Gael Trust (specifically Colin McLeod) to help teach boat building in Govan. This led to the establishment of Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders. The Gal Gael moved to new premises in 2005 but Peter and the team remained at the yard. Built vessels including 'The Orcuan' and 'Gift of the Gael' for the trust.
• Amberrose DesignsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner providing design and production of upholstery and soft furnishings for yachts through the boatyard's services.
• The Fairground Community GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate partner that can arrange transport and storage for vessels up to 44 feet and 20 tons for Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders customers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Silvers Marine: Traditional wooden boat builder based in Scotland offering repair, restoration, and custom build services. Comparable in scale and craft focus, operating in the same UK maritime market.
• Bristol Classic Boat Company: UK traditional wooden boat builder and restorer of classic craft. Comparable in heritage-craft focus, restoration services, and custom wooden boat production for private clients.
• Spirit Yachts: UK-based builder of traditional wooden sailing yachts using modern wood-epoxy construction. Direct peer in the custom/semi-custom wooden leisure craft segment with comparable one-off/semi-custom design approach.
• Fairlie Yachts: Scotland-based traditional wooden boat builder producing one-off and semi-custom yachts up to ~70ft. Closest direct comparable given shared Scottish heritage, custom wooden construction, and small-yard boutique operating model.
• Cornish Crabber / Cornish Shrimpers: UK builder of traditional-style wooden and wooden-composite leisure craft inspired by fishing boat heritage. Comparable product category (fishing-boat-line leisure craft) and small-craft focus.
• Fife Boat Company: Scotland-based boat builder and marine services provider. Comparable in Scottish heritage craft boat work and small-yard service model.

Regional players

• Loch Lomond Seaplanes / Clyde-based charter operators: Regional Clyde-area tourism experience operators. Comparable only in charter/regional tourism overlap, not in boat building or heritage craft.

Emerging players

• Gal Gael Trust: Scottish charity that has built traditional boats as part of community regeneration programs in Govan. Closely linked historical partner and operating-model comparable as a community-anchored boat building nonprofit.
• Working Sail: UK charity operating traditional sailing vessels for youth development and community voyages. Comparable business model — nonprofit sailing/charter combined with training programs.

Others

• Scottish Maritime Museum: Heritage organization preserving Scottish shipbuilding heritage including traditional boatbuilding. Adjacent as a heritage/maritime ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Clydeside-Traditional-Boatbuilders-100039790637233

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clydeside Traditional Boat Builders