About Us

The history of Val Wyatt Marine is a fascinating account of how people have continually enjoyed boating on the Thames. Established in 1845 at the St.George and Dragon Boat-house in Wargrave, the company originally built punts and skiffs. However, it was to develop at the same pace as the changing marketplace for leisure craft, eventually moving to its current home at Willow Marina in the early 1900. In 1977 the company was purchased from the Wyatt family by Mr. A Baylis who remains the present Managing Director. Its facilities have over the last 30 years been fully modernised to include a slipway and serviced moorings, catering for craft of up to 45 feet. This program of development continues today.

Staffing at Wargrave

If you are interested in joining a small business, have a general interest in Boats and boating, live locally to Wargrave and enjoy being involved in every way required in a boat yard contact us with your details as occasionally vacancies occur.

Guy Girling - Sales Director. Guy has worked with Val Wyatt Marine Ltd since leaving College and over the past 25 years has gained incredible knowledge in all aspects of the River and motor cruiser market. He is particularly interested in ensuring that new clients are placed into the correct craft for their specific use and always ensures that bertholder and new clients needs are always catered for. Outside work his interest continue to be water associated with involvement in training Juniors at Upper Thames Rowing Club in Henley. He is also a keen dinghy sailor and skier.

Sarah Baylis - Finance Director. Sarah joined the family business in 1989 and is now in control of the day to day financial aspects of Val Wyatt Marine. She also assists with sales and marina matters. Her interests out of business are typically lady orientated with shopping and fitness being near the top.

Richard Snowball - Sales & Marina Administration. The team at Wargrave welcomed Richards's wealth of marina management experience when he joined us in 2003 and since then he has excelled in the sales department. Now responsible for the day to day running of the marina whilst remaining our active broker Richard never has a spare moment. Richards's interests out of Wargrave centre on maintaining and enjoying his dearly loved Seamaster 813.

Rob Lambden - Broker/New Boat Sales. Rob has been associated with Val Wyatt Marine for nearly 20 years , initially working with our Subcontract engineers Aquatec and between 1995 and 2005 as Marina manager running the boatyard. After a break of 5 years Rob returns to Val Wyatt with the new role as sales broker. Responsible for new listings and all aspects of our brokerage department. Rob is also experienced in the Dutch Motor sloop market where we represent Interboat known throughout Holland as reputably the best hand built motor sloop available today.

Chris Gent - General Assistant. Since joining us at Wargrave in 2005 Chris has now taken the responsibilities of all boat movements and is particularly confident in the boat lifting machinery. In 2006 Chris became involved in the sales department and is now a face to recognize at weekends and boat shows. Outside business Chris is a keen dinghy sailor and races regularly on our own reach with Henley Sailing Club.

Chris Salter - Marina Maintenance. The tidiness on orderly fashion of our site is entirely handled by Chris with his no fuss; it can be done approach to the challenges of keeping a boat yard tidy. The site is maintained and presented well to all visitors.

Carol Sudbury - Receptionist. An often unseen and unpraised back bone of the office Carol has been ensuring all is in order since 1997. Her calm attitude and methodical approach ensures that all is ready when the need arises.

Andy Bowers - Marina Staff. Andy joined Val Wyatt marine in August 2007 and his larger than life character makes up for his physical size! He can be found carrying out different duties from boat lifting to maintenance to boat demonstrations, all of which he takes in his stride and eagerness. Andy is a keen country man and will go out of his way to assist you wherever he can.

Val Wyatt Marine's name has always been linked to the marketing of established boat builders. In the 1950's the first trials of Freeman Motor Cruisers were here and in the early 1960's we became a Freeman agent. Despite much success the Freeman range was eventually phased out and replaced with the agency for CJ Broom, a relationship that continued until the mid 1990's.

Between 1995 and 2004 our sales office introduced Into the private boat market the partnership of Haines Marine, and the expansion of the Sheerline range from sliding canopy boats to a full inland and offshore range. This all lead to our appointment in March 2004 as launching in the UK and Ireland the Succes Yachts ranges of steel & fibreglass cruisers.

In 2007, following a takeover of this business by Jachtbouw 2000, builders of the Aqua Motoryachts range which we now jointly market alongside that of their Succes brand and Marco Fibreglass cruisers built for Jachtbouw 2000 under licence by Flevo Mouldings.

In addition we launched the Vri-Jon Steel craft to the UK & for our smaller more local boater the Interboat range of traditional Dutch Sloeps, A modern Classic.

As one of the best recognised marinas on the Thames, Val Wyatt Marine offers moorings for 120 vessels, mostly fully serviced with electricity and water and we also offer winter hard standing both in the open and under cover for 200 craft.

As a 'one stop marine centre' we cater for all boating requirements including insurance, finance, chandlery, engineering, boat yard repairs and all other aspects. In 2002 Val Wyatt Marine took delivery of a new boatlift us to cater for craft of up to 45 feet in length and 14 tons dead weight. The lift has modern pad style supports ensuring no squeeze and no damage when hoisting vessels.

Legal Information

Val Wyatt Marine Ltd

Directors A.S Baylis, G.D Girling, S.J Baylis
VAT Registration No. 578 4152 14 Registered in England No. 850451
Registered Office Grenville Court, Britwell Road, Burnham, Bucks, SL1 8DF
All Craft and Equipment Moved, Stored and Moored at Owners Risk
TERMS OF BUSINESS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

To obtain a quote for pleasure craft insurance from Haven Knox-Johnston, please click on the logo.

For advice on any boating matter click on Logo below.

Calendar

23rd - 28th Feb 2010

Birmingham Boat & Caravan show
NEC BIRMINGHAM
Interboat 19
Viking 24
Viking 26cccc
Stand 1044A

1st March 2010

All boats at Willow Marina to be ready for launching

2nd - 7th March 2010

Hiswa Amsterdam Boat Show at RAI exhibition centre
JETTEN YACHTING
40-4 Sedan world Premier
Bommelaer 1500
INTERBOAT & INTERCRUISER
Intender 770, Intercruiser 28
Various Sloepen models

19TH - 21ST MARCH 2010

British Leisure Show
ROYAL WINDSOR RACECOURSE
Displays of Interboat & Viking

Boat Sales

Marina & Services