Review of XR&D Boat Builders, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire

Finding and choosing a narrowboat hull builder is an incredibly difficult decision, especially when it's your first narrowboat. Where do you start?  How do you go about finding the company that will build exactly what you want? What if you get it wrong?  This is the story of how and why we chose XR&D:

XR&D  were recommended as one of the best hull builders by our boat fitter – Narrowboats of Distinction. Our first meeting with Garry and Lee confirmed they were definitely the company to build our hull. In fact we feel extremely fortunate to have found the dream-team combination of these two businesses working together to create our long-awaited narrowboat. 

Garry and Lee spend as much time as you need and are so positive and enthusiastic about anything that you want incorporating into the design. Genuinely, nothing is any trouble and you are welcome at their premises any time to see your boat being built. 

Here (below), the hull is about one third built - this was our first viewing. 

Garry and Lee with NB Seaglass in their Ollerton workshop

On our second visit, the hull (below) is much more advanced we recognised that these guys really are true craftsmen in every sense of the word.  We also realised whilst viewing the boat that there were a couple of additions wanted - extra roof drains and two little portholes in the rear barn doors.  Was it possible to have this done? Could it be done in time? "Absolutely no problem - we can do that for you" Lee said with a grin.  And it was done

  

On our last visit where we signed the hull off as acceptable, we were truly stunned by the quality of the build and the attention to detail throughout - even in the parts of the boats that will never be seen again. We had definitely made the right choice. 

The quality of what we saw is up there with the very best boat builders (and the biggest names) available in the UK and more people need to know about the incredible work Lee, Garry and their team are producing in their Nottinghamshire workshops.

Thanks guys - you've done a cracking job.  We're taking NB Sea Glass to Crick Boat Show May 2019 so anyone who wants to come and see her for themselves - we'll be in the main marina exhibiting here with Narrowboats of Distinction