Tremlett Boats For Sale

Tremlett History

Chris Tremlett, the founder, is dead. He died after a long illness, and he passed away aged 71. Chris was a prolific boat designer/builder, and he brought the relatively expensive sport within reach of enthusiasts who would otherwise have been spectators on the shore. His interest began with a pram dinghy at the age of 14 before slowly progressing to larger boats. His later ownership of a Fairey 14 was a hot moulded sailing dinghy that began a long association with this form of construction.

The Fairy 40 used thin strips of mahogany and waterproof adhesive compressed over a mould in a hot oven to create a shape. Chris Tremlett felt that hot moulding was the best way to make a strong hull but had neither the space nor capital for a custom-built autoclave and the equipment that he would need to do this. Instead, he chose an easier route. His method was simple. Strips of veneer were laid over a wooden mould before covering a rubber blanket and removing the air. A long blast then cured compressed veneers and glue of hot air. Although less glamorous, the result was a strong, affordable hull. This method he adopted after establishing his business on the banks of the River Clyst, a tributary of the Exe near Topsham, Devon, in 1961.