Chris Somner Dinghy Services was born in January 2004.
Chris started boat building in 1998 for Bob Hoare Ltd, building Contenders and Poole AB’s whilst undertaking a City and Guilds in Yacht and Boat building which he completed in 2003. Then a period of employment at Latham’s Boatyard working on and repairing wooden yachts and working in the office propelled Chris to feeling confident/ready to start out on his own in 2004.
From our original premises, a small workshop on Sandbanks Road, we have moved to much larger yard in Balena Road. The main focus is still on building and repairing boats, specialising in the specific requirements of dinghies and small yachts. We took on the contract to build Cadet sailing dinghies using the class association moulds, and purchased the Wavelength/ Bob Hoare contender moulds and the Poole AB moulds. In October 2006 we also started to work in conjunction with the Yachting World Dayboat class to build new boats and rejuvenate the class.
Our aim is still the same but, as the business has grown we now aim to provide the ‘one stop shop’ to the small boat owner whether their main interest is in racing at competition standard or just to potter around on the water at the weekend. We are able to repair damage, carry out general maintenance, offer advice, check and repair rigging and repair holes in a cover all the jobs can be completed under the one roof.
We have a strong team here at Chris Somner Dinghy and Yacht Services, each of us is mad about sailing and keen to assist others that are equally keen about getting out and about on the water. We basically live and breathe boats of one size or shape and are lucky enough to have found jobs that encompass this love.