What’s in a name?
Gunfleet Marine is named after a well known sandbank in the Thames Estuary which runs east to west about 5 miles off the Essex coast adjacent to Clacton and Frinton. The Gunfleet lighthouse on the northern end of the Gunfleet sands was built in 1850 and is still standing. In 1964 when pirate radio started in the UK Radio Caroline moored inside the Gunfleet taking shelter from the North Sea, but just outside the UK 3 mile territorial limit. In 2010 the Gunfleet wind farm came on line with over 50 large wind turbines mounted on the sands. Today the Gunfleet name is becoming widely recognised in quality yacht building.
Our Mission
Gunfleet’s mission is simple - to efficiently build comfortable, fast, seaworthy cruising yachts of exquisite quality and support them with an after sales service that is second to none. Built with pride in Great Britain, Gunfleet yachts combine innovative and stylish design with the latest technology and are rich in practical, seamanlike features because, while design moves forward, the sea never changes.Before creating Gunfleet, Founder, Richard Matthews, spent over 35 years building up one of the UK’s most successful yacht companies, Oyster, which he sold in 2008. Looking for a new challenge, the idea of utilising all these years of experience to form a new yacht building brand proved irresistible and the Gunfleet range of performance, variable draft cruising yachts was launched. The Gunfleet brand is operated by Windboats Marine. Moulding and fitting out is carried out at their two sites in Norfolk, then the yachts are launched and commissioned at Fox’s Marina in Ipswich, where the Sales Office is located.
Windboats is one of the oldest yacht yards in the country, now approaching it centenary. It has a rich history, which includes thirty years of fitting out nearly 300 Oyster yachts up to 72ft.
Better by Design
This much used slogan first appeared in publicity material from Westland Aircraft almost 100 years ago and in the context of Gunfleet yachts is just as relevant today.
Technologically empowered using 3 -D design tools, our team combine a flair for innovation with a down to earth approach on things that really matter. Gunfleet yachts are built on a semi-custom basis and our design team is on hand to translate buyers's requirements and wishes into yachts that surpass their expectations.
We believe Gunfleet yachts really are Better by Design.
The Quality Alternative
A moulding team of perfectionists, plus Finite Element Analysis of Gunfleets' composite construction designs by SP-High Modulus ensures laminates of immense strength and structural integrity.
Not just laminating, but the engineering, advances electrical systems and superb joinery and cosmetic finishing are all combined with innovative design.
The result really does make Gunfleet the quality alternative.
Our Production Facilities
The long established Windboats yard in Wroxham is now approaching its centenary and has built thousands of vessels. In recent years these have included nearly three hundred Oyster yachts up to 72ft, and this is now the fitting-out base for Gunfleet. In 2013, Windboats acquired Hardy Marine www.hardymarine.co.uk of North Walsham, the highly regarded motor yacht builder, where Gunfleets are moulded to exacting standards in climate controlled conditions.
With Windboats vast experience, and Richard Matthew's facility at Fox's Marina and Boatyard in Ipswich, where Gunfleet yachts are rigged, commissioned and handed over, we have an unrivalled team of professionals and all the resources to meet our exacting quality standards and to ensure that Gunfleet owners get exemplary on-going service throughout their ownership.
Flightdeck
The Flightdeck steering pedestal is a good example of the creative thinking that goes into every Gunfleet yacht. It has been designed and developed by the Castro/Gunfleet team in conjunction with Lewmar exclusively for Gunfleet yachts. No more playing Russian Roulette with the wheel spokes while trying to operate an autopilot, chart plotter or other pedestal mounted equipment.
The Flightdeck pedestal is sized to accommodate the very latest chart plotters such as the 12” Garmin system which gives a range of sailing and navigational information presented in an ideal position for the helmsman. With the C-Zone digital control system fitted to the Gunfleets, the helmsman also in effect has the main switch-panel at his or her finger tips, as well as full monitoring of the batteries, tanks and other systems.
