Construction Firms of Floating Homes: Past to Present

The construction of the floating home seems to be a more complex process now than it was in the past. Although tools were historically limited and most of the traditional boats were built by hand, the narrowboats of modern times require modern fittings such as plumbing, electricity and gas. The key difference between then and now is that, historically, firms built fleets of boats to transport goods and were primarily built for work purposes, whereas now, narrowboats are built with comfort in mind.

William Clayton of Saltley, Birmingham

One of the largest canal carriers in Birmingham, England, William Clayton of Saltley operated a fleet of liquid cargo narrowboats as well as some solid cargo. These carriers and some assets were then transferred to a new company Thomas Clayton Oldbury Ltd. run primarily by William Clayton’s son. Their merger with Fellows, Morton and Co. was not yet complete before William Clayton’s unfortunate passing.

Fellows, Morton and Clayton Ltd

Probably the most famous narrowboat building firm, this one was first founded by James Fellows who concentrated on canal transportation but also conducted some work on the railways. They had several wooden, horse-pulled boats but also designed narrowboats in steel. However, these did not prove to be very durable. They were the first firm to design narrowboats with an elm bottom and riveted iron sides making these more durable boats than the original wooden and steel ones. These narrowboats became known as Joshua’s, named after the founder’s son, and the next partner in the business Joshua Fellows. Some steamers were built by the firm after Frederick Morton joined the company and, as time went on, diesel powered engines became the norm for narrowboats. In 1889, Thomas Clayton Oldbury Ltd. joined with the company. FMC was the largest narrowboat company in England at the time but went bust in 1947.

Modern Companies

Nowadays, there are a plethora of narrowboat building companies to choose from. Some people prefer to build their own floating home but this can be more expensive and professional boat builders can ensure the boat is durable and safe for long-term use. Some examples of companies with a good reputation include Stenson Boat Builders who are located in the Midlands, near Derby, England.

The main difference between narrowboats today and those from the past is obviously the level of comfort. Modern narrowboats are designed to be long term homes, whereas historically the houseboats were originally designed as working boats. The houseboat has become so popular of recent years and the number of building and manufacturing firms present today reflects this.

A lot of firms will build your narrowboat from scratch and tailor it to your own personal taste at your request. One company which does this is Boat Building UK, who will also provide advice on building your narrowboat should you need it. Today’s floating home companies are trying to look to an environmentally friendly future as narrowboats still burn coal. Boat Building UK have an environmentally friendly hull which prevents disturbance to water life.