I SHALL BE AT BEALE PARK BOAT SHOW, NR READING 6,7 & 8TH JUNE WITH SOME FANTASTIC OFFERS

Welcome to Traditional Boat Supplies.


Photos © Richard Johnstone-Bryden

Traditional Boat Supplies was born after I bought a 'Wreck'. SWEET PROMISE is her name and what a misnomer....... 1931 Scottish 'Fifie' built by Weatherheads of Cockenzie, Larch on Oak and used to be owned some years ago by Lt Cdr `Buster' Crabb.

Mention her name up on Tyneside where I bought her and they all say `Aye, Crabbies Bawt she were.' Whilst taking out the rot and Ye Gods was there a lot, I kept trying to convince myself that it was a good decision in buying her.

Commencing the major restoration it became very clear that to find traditional tools was going to be difficult. Boat Jumbles displayed old mallets with great cracks, bands to hold them together, caulking irons chipped and broken with worn out grooves and so it went on.

Necessity being the mother of invention I started to copy traditional tools to the well proven designs of old. All this and living with my partner, Maureen, who freely states that the restoration of SWEET PROMISE was far more expensive than my having a mistress. At least, she states, I would have arrived home each day with a smile on my face...

Well to Maureen, boat is a four letter word. Well it is isn't it? How little was she aware that I did have a mistress. A girt great lump of wood around 18 tons whose shape was totally alien to me. As a Cornishman, living on the East Coast with a double-ender defies the norm for a Janner. However the tools don't and I sincerely hope you enjoy, as I do, using them.

In general, all products in our catalogue have been used on my own vessel. Perhaps I am somewhat different to the usual chandler.

John Greenaway

We now accept the following credit cards :

Please note: All prices now plus VAT