Freebody Peter & Co

General information

The Freebody Family have been living and working on the middle Thames, as boatbuilders, bargemen, fishermen and ferrymen, since the 13th century, at Hurley and previously at Caversham, Berkshire.

In 1933 Peter Freebody's mother and father took over the site at Hurley from Peter's grandmother, and it was here, a year later, that Peter was born. The boatyard in which Peter grew up was typical of Thames family boatyards of that era. Wooden boats were built - by hand, and by line-of-eye - in ways that had changed little in a thousand years.

But in the 1950's things were changing. People were embracing plywood and plastic, classic launches were falling out of favour, and the tradition of wooden boatbuilding on the Thames was in decline. Peter was determined to keep the family craft alive, and after serving an apprenticeship building clinker dinghies downstream at Wootten's Cookham yard, he returned to the family boatyard and began to shape it into the business which stands today.

New sheds were built, new machinery installed, and a slipway dug. Peter and his friends worked hard, building and repairing wooden boats to exceptionally high standards. And the work paid off. The demand for their craftsmanship, and for wooden boats, rose.

We are the most prolific builders and restorers of the greatest variety of river and lake craft in timber in the UK. We design, build and restore every type of launch from the smallest dinghy through to electric canoes, motor launches - slipper, saloon, electric, petrol & steam up to 80ft. Using our knowledge and skills we have satisfied and given great pleasure and pride to many customers throughout the western world.

By owning one of our launches, you can be assured not only of the quality of our workmanship, but also of the continuing help and care we offer. With moorings and winter storage available and on site engineering facilities we can provide as much or as little in the way of after sales service as required.

After sixty one years of successfully playing his part in continuing the Freebody family tradition of boatbuilding on the Thames, Peter sadly passed away in December 2010.

Today, Peter's son Richard is at the helm, assisted by his sisters Melanie, Katie and Helen and the team at Hurley, and the Freebody tradition continues.