News
January 2010
FBC Iroko Yacht Furniture Released
FBC are delighted to release the new range of iroko yacht furniture, handmade in
the UK, and carefully branded with our own logo. The furniture includes a mobile
phone holder and a binocular rack. For more information about this robust range
of woodwork, please look at the link to Yacht Furniture above.
Price Freeze!!
Following the increase in VAT on the 1st January 2010 from 15% to 17.5%,
Forbes Boat Care have made the decision to freeze our VAT inclusive prices,
effectively dropping prices of all stock in our chandlery. In addition to this
we still have some great promotions and offers - see for yourself!
August 2009
Dancing Bowman Project Completed
The Dancing Bowman Project is completed and the boat is sold and FBC are
delighted to announce this popular boat will be kept in the area by the new
owners. Furthermore, another boat was given to FBC in part exchange for the
Bowman, which will become the latest project for the business, continuing to
provide employment. The new boat is a Pandora 700, which will be for sale late
spring/early summer 2010.
July 2009
Forbes Boat Care unveiled as new
dealer in Argyll for Beta Marine diesel engines
We are proud to announce that we
are now a dealer for Beta Marine engines. Having sold 8
engines and gensets within the last year, 5 of which
fitted by Creran Engineering on site at Creran Marine,
we have grown to know the whole engine range and built
up a stock of spares for all of the engines.
June 2009
Forbes Boat Care
Chandlery Opened
Due to demand for marine products
in the yard at Creran Marine, Forbes Boat Care were
delighted to announce the opening of the chandlery on
site. The open day drew a crowd of boat owners and
locals alike with a barbeque and complimentary wine. A
raffle was held in aid of RNLI with prizes donated by
local businesses, including 5 pairs of tickets to go for
a trip on one of the Coastal Connection RIBs. The raffle
raised over £100 for the RNLI. Thanks to everyone who
came along!
March 2009
Company
Training Award
FBC have won 3rd place in the small
business category in the British Marine Federation's
company training awards. This was the result of training
arranged around the Dancing Bowman project along with
the business funding sail training for employees, part
funded by the BMF.
July 2008
Dancing
Bowman Project Begins
A grant from the SJ Noble Trust to
aid employment and training has allowed Forbes Boat Care
to buy a boat in order to carry out a complete
refurbishment and sell in the summer of 2009. The money
was used to buy a Bowman 26 in the yard at Creran
Marine. The boat when new in 1969 was regarded as top of
the range but had fallen into disrepair in recent years
and needed a new engine and a lot of painting,
varnishing and other repair and maintenance tasks. The
project allows FBC to take on their first full time
member of staff.
May 2007
PSYBT/RBS
business awards, regional winner 2007 for Argyll and the Isles
-
read more
April 2007
Article
featured about the business in the Daily Telegraph -
read more
Summer 2006
Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur
of the Year 2006 Scottish Finalist
Michael Forbes wins the Shell
Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 for Argyll,
the Isles and Dumbartonshire for the business start-up
of Forbes Boat Care. Michael goes on to compete in the
Scottish finals 2 months later in Edinburgh along with 9
other finalists.
Forbes
Boat Care at Creran Marine
With much of the business coming
from the rapidly expanding Creran Marine, Forbes Boat
Care moves into a workshed in the yard. A move that
helps to steady the flow of work, FBC also sub-contract
to Creran Marine to help with the launching and shoring
of the boats stored and moored there.
Summer
2005
Michael
Forbes goes self employed under the trading name "Forbes
Boat Care"
Upon realising the potential in
Argyll for a complete boat management business to look
after the large number of boats owned by people who live
elsewhere, the concept of "Boat Babysitting" was
invented. Boat owners can leave it up to Forbes Boat
Care to check on their boats wt regular intervals
throughout the season, carry out any cleaning and
maintenance along the way, and arrange to carry out any
other task. The concept allows boat owners to get the
most out of their boats and also helps to maintain the
value of those boats thus to some extent paying for
itself. This proves to be a very popular service and
quickly a large customer base is formed.
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