"Classic Boatworks" was founded by Rupert Latham who came to the industry as a young man via a mixture of boatbuilding and engineering. His experience with boatbuilding techniques was acquired from several years of helping out with the family's wooden hire fleet in Norfolk and later on from a spell at sea as a qualified marine engineer in the merchant navy. He was largely responsible for the resurgence in interest in electric propulsion in the late 1980s when he set up the Steam and Electric Launch company.
The company built the ever popular range of Frolics at their Norfolk base in Ludham, exhibiting regularly at the London Boat Show, building for many public organisations such as the National Trust, and exporting to a number of countries throughout the world.
The original Frolic was in fact a steam boat and there is still a steam engine proudly displayed in a corner of the workshop. Out of "Steam and Electric", as the eponymous company became known, grew "Stelco" whose remit was to give advice on electrification as the world turned an ever brighter shade of green.
Other companies began to realise that electric propulsion, after a brief appearance in Edwardian times, was now here to stay.
Rupert has become one of the experts in this field and services the market for the provision of propulsion packages for other boatbuilders.
While still continuing to supply propulsion packages,
the main focus of Rupert Latham's business in the last ten years has been on undertaking major restoration projects for a predominantly British customer base who appreciate the level of
skill and service offered by Rupert's team which is still based in rural Norfolk.
A team of 5 highly skilled traditional wooden boatbuilders work out of the company's picturesque premises in the village of Woodbastwick.
Restoration is a collaboration between the boatbuilding team and the customer. While much can be discussed by email and over the phone with digital photographs adding to the ongoing progress report, many customers enjoy the opportunity to visit at least a couple of times during the project. Rupert prides himself on providing detailed estimates whether it be for a revarnished deck or a complete bow to stern rebuild.
In recent years several of the major restoration projects have won prizes at the prestigious Thames Traditional Boat Rally in Henley on Thames. Rupert is particularly proud to be associated with the Thames scene having been brought up in a timbered riverside house in Lower Shiplake where undoubtedly his passion for river boats was nurtured.