News
July 2011
FBC Marine Products released
Forbes Boat Care have finally released the long awaited Polish and Cutting Compound for marine use. The products have hit the ground running and should be readily available throughout the UK for the spring of 2012.
2 years of Beta dealership
Looking back on the past 2 years since we bacame an official dealer for Beta Marine engine, we take great pride in the positive feedback we have had from the customers we have served. In this time we have supplied over 25 units and installed over 20 of those.
September 2010
Staff Count
As of September 2010 FBC are employing 2 full time and 2 part time members of staff to cope with the workload. We pride ourselves in staff training, so please feel free to approach any of the Boat Babysitters with any questions or work requests.
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.
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
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.