Cornish Crabbers

Cornish Crabbers was a British boatbuilding brand based in Rock, Cornwall, specializing in traditionally styled glassfibre sailing yachts and small powerboats. The business was formed in 1974 by boat designer Roger Dongray, together with Peter Keeling and Ken Robertson. It initially operated as Westerly Boats before adopting the Cornish Crabbers name. Its product philosophy combined the appearance and sailing characteristics of traditional gaff-rigged working boats with the lower maintenance, repeatability, and production efficiency of glassfibre construction. The company’s first major design was the Cornish Crabber 24 Mark I. The design began as a wooden boat and was subsequently adapted for glassfibre production, establishing the visual and technical direction that became central to the brand. In 1979, Cornish Crabbers introduced the Cornish Shrimper 19. That model became the company’s best-selling design and was widely described in sailing literature as one of Europe’s most successful trailer sailers. Its compact dimensions, shallow-draft practicality, distinctive gaff rig, and traditional appearance helped it appeal to owners seeking a manageable cruising boat with strong character rather than a conventional modern yacht profile. Over time, Cornish Crabbers expanded its range across several sizes and formats. Its sailboat portfolio included the Cornish Crabber, Cornish Shrimper, Adventure, Crabber, Cormorant, Pilot, Mystery, and related models. The range covered small trailerable boats as well as larger cruising designs. The company also developed the Clam series of compact powerboats. By 2021, its published range was described as comprising 12 sailing designs and three powerboats. The brand became particularly associated with gaff-rigged boats. By 2001, it had established itself as a leading producer in that niche, and its boats developed a strong following among sailors who valued traditional aesthetics, practical coastal cruising, and distinctive handling. The Cornish Shrimper 19 was repeatedly recognized by sailing commentators for combining charm, usability, and performance within a relatively small trailer-sailer format. Cornish Crabbers operated as Cornish Crabbers LLP, a British limited liability partnership. In March 2024, the company declared insolvency and entered voluntary liquidation while owing approximately £1 million in debts, according to the cited Wikipedia account. This marked the end of the company’s operation as an active boatbuilding business, although its designs and the substantial fleet of boats built under the brand remain part of the British small-craft and traditional-sailing community.

Cornish Crabbers was established in 1974 in Cornwall by boat designer Roger Dongray, Peter Keeling, and Ken Robertson. The enterprise was initially formed as Westerly Boats and later became known as Cornish Crabbers. From the beginning, its identity was tied to traditional-looking small craft, especially boats influenced by the working boats and sailing rigs associated with the Cornish coast. The first principal design was the Cornish Crabber 24 Mark I. It was initially constructed in wood and later adapted to glassfibre production. This transition allowed the company to preserve a classic hull and rig concept while offering the durability, reduced maintenance, and production consistency associated with modern composite boatbuilding. The approach became a defining feature of the brand. In 1979, the company introduced the Cornish Shrimper 19. The model became Cornish Crabbers’ best-selling design and was widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading trailer sailers. Its appeal came from a combination of accessible size, shallow-draft utility, traditional gaff rigging, and suitability for coastal cruising. Sailing writers highlighted its unusual blend of visual character, practicality, and performance. The model also helped establish a loyal following for the company beyond Cornwall. During the following decades, Cornish Crabbers developed a broader range of sailing boats. The portfolio included multiple Cornish Crabber and Cornish Shrimper variants, the Adventure series, the Crabber 17 and related smaller boats, the Cormorant 12, the Cornish Crabber Pilot 30, and the larger Mystery 30 and Mystery 35 designs. These models covered trailerable day boats, small cruisers, and more substantial cruising yachts. The company also produced the Clam range of compact powerboats, broadening its offering beyond sail. By 2001, Cornish Crabbers had become established as a leading producer of gaff-rigged boats. Its designs were recognizable for their traditional profiles, bowsprits, tan or traditional-style sail plans, and practical accommodation relative to their size. The company’s boats were sold primarily into the British and wider European sailing market, where they appealed to owners looking for manageable boats with heritage styling and modern composite construction. By 2021, the company was reported to be producing 12 sailboat designs and three powerboats in the Clam series. It operated as Cornish Crabbers LLP and remained associated with the manufacture of small sailing and power craft in Rock, Cornwall. The business encountered financial difficulties and in March 2024 declared insolvency. It was placed into voluntary liquidation with reported debts of approximately £1 million. As a result, Cornish Crabbers ceased operating as an active boatbuilder. Its historical importance rests on the popularity of the Cornish Shrimper 19, its sustained contribution to the modern gaff-rigged boat market, and the continuing presence of its designs and boats in private ownership.

• 2024

  Insolvency and voluntary liquidation

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  Cornish Crabbers declared insolvency in March and entered voluntary liquidation with reported debts of approximately £1 million.

• 2021

  Range included sailboats and Clam powerboats

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  The company was reported to be producing 12 sailboat designs and three powerboats in the Clam series.

• 2001

  Established as a leading gaff-rigged boat producer

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  By this point, the company had become recognized as a leading manufacturer of modern gaff-rigged boats.

• 1979

  Cornish Shrimper 19 launched

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  The Cornish Shrimper 19 entered production and became the company’s best-selling design, helping define its position in the European trailer-sailer market.

• 1974

  Company founded

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  Roger Dongray, Peter Keeling, and Ken Robertson founded the boatbuilding business that later became Cornish Crabbers. The enterprise was initially associated with the Westerly Boats name.

• 1974

  Cornish Crabber 24 Mark I introduced

  [1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s first major boat was the Cornish Crabber 24 Mark I, first built in wood and later adapted for glassfibre production.

Traditional-looking, practical small craft combining gaff-rigged sailing characteristics with modern glassfibre construction. The brand occupied a distinctive niche between heritage-inspired sailing boats, trailerable coastal cruisers, and compact family powerboats.

• Gaff-rigged trailer sailer · 1979

  Cornish Shrimper 19

  Introduced in 1979, the Cornish Shrimper 19 became Cornish Crabbers’ best-selling boat and one of the best-known modern trailer sailers in Europe. Its compact size, traditional gaff rig, shallow-draft practicality, and distinctive appearance made it suitable for accessible coastal cruising and trailer-based ownership. The design became closely associated with the company’s reputation for combining classic working-boat styling with practical glassfibre construction.

• Gaff-rigged sailing boats

  Cornish Crabber series

  The Cornish Crabber family included several traditional-style glassfibre sailboats, ranging from smaller boats such as the Crabber 17 and Cornish Crabber 22 to larger models including the Cornish Crabber 24, Cornish Crabber 26, and Pilot 30. The series emphasized recognizable gaff-rigged profiles, practical cruising layouts, and manageable handling for coastal and inland waters.

• Sailing boats

  Adventure series

  The Adventure range included the Adventure 17, Adventure 19, Adventure 21, and Adventure 26. These boats formed part of Cornish Crabbers’ broader portfolio of traditional-looking glassfibre sailing craft, covering different sizes and intended uses within the small-boat and coastal-cruising market.

• Powerboats

  Clam series

  The Clam series represented Cornish Crabbers’ powerboat offering. Listed models included the Clam 17, Clam 19, and Clam 21. The series extended the company’s traditional and practical small-craft approach into compact motorboats.

• Cruising sailboats

  Mystery series

  The Mystery 30 and Mystery 35 were among the company’s larger sailing designs. They formed part of the cruising end of the range, complementing the smaller trailerable and day-sailing boats with vessels intended for more substantial coastal or offshore-oriented use.

• Sailing boats

  Other Cornish Crabbers models

  The wider historical model list included the Cornish Shrimper 17, Cornish Shrimper 21, Cormorant 12, Limpet 10, Crabber 17, and related designs. Together these boats show the breadth of the brand’s small-craft portfolio, from compact day boats to trailerable cruisers.

• 2024

  Entry into voluntary liquidationOther

  Background

  The boatbuilder became insolvent after accumulating reported debts of approximately £1 million.

  Action taken

  Cornish Crabbers entered voluntary liquidation in March 2024.

  Aftermath

  The company ceased operating as an active boatbuilder, while its existing designs and boats remained in circulation among owners and the sailing community.

  Reported debts. Approximately £1,000,000 (March 2024)

  Source

• 2024

  Cornish Crabbers enters voluntary liquidation after insolvency[1]Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Cornish Crabbers declared insolvency in March 2024 and was placed into voluntary liquidation. The company was reported to have debts of approximately £1 million.

1. 1Cornish Crabbersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cornish Crabbers official websitecornishcrabbers.co.uk