"On the death of our father my brother and I inherited his 20 foot steam lunch Puffin sad to say that in his latter years and the fact she was moored on the Avon nr Tewkesbury the hull was in a sorry state. However we moved her to the Thames and used her but the bilge pump was worked hard and eventually in 2005 she was taken out of the water for a full inspection by Colin Henwood who pronounced the hull was beyond economic repair “a sad day”.

Brother Nick and I decided that we would replace the hull the debate was traditional wood or GRP we visited several yards looking for the right hull but nothing fitted the bill, until I visited the Beale Park boat show in 2006 passing a beautiful 20 foot clinker built Hull named Bamboo Viper, I struck up a conversation with the builder Nick Smith, which started a chain of events ending up with a cruise on the Viper in a choppy Solent a day which proved her sea going credentials, by the end of the trip brother Nick and I agreed that this Hull was the one for us and the deal was struck in the local bar over a pint.

So the build began as did the relationship / friendship with Nick Smith, as the build progressed we where sent weekly pictures and updates of the build with visited to his yard at key stages in the build. We supplied Nick with both the engine and boiler from the now scrapped boat and Nick built in substantial bearers to support the weight.

I would describe Nick as a traditional boat builder, I only saw a tape measure used once when we where deciding on the final beam of the new boat. The day came when we paid a very fair price and Puffin was delivered with new stern tube, boiler and engine installed ready for my brother and I to re install the pipework.

S.L. Puffins first introduction to the water was fittingly the Beale Park boat show 2007 she sat perfectly on her water line and performed faultlessly throughout the weekend being admired by the traditional boat fraternity. 

We jump forward to 2020 lockdowns etc. Puffin is still in near new condition as she returns to Nick every few years for him to carry out any remedial work required but to be fair this has been very little.

Puffin has in the past 14/5 season’s attended several Steamboat Association events around the country including steaming from Beaulieu across the Solent to the Medina river and back which proved yet again her sea going credentials.

I was very happy to be invited to write this review for Nick a great boat builder and friend. As my brother says we enjoy and pay for Puffin but she will always be a Nick Smith boat."

Roger Powell owner of Puffin

Nick Smith was recommended to me to build an 18 ft. Clinker-built launch by a well-known professional builder and restorer of wooden boats.

I’ve been into wooden boats for some 75 years; during that time owning more than fifteen different ones. Nick built “Oracle” for me; a clinker built, 18 foot, half decked Salcombe “Cove” boat which is the finest of them all; beautifully made, elegant, practical and at a very reasonable cost.

Nick is a master craftsmen; refreshingly straightforward and a delight to work with. He’s now a well trusted friend.

Douglas Stuart, owner of Oracle

"I met Nick at Beale Park in 2016 and commissioned him to build a 16’ half-decked Salcombe bass boat, to be based on the upper Thames. Nick built Sauzon to my exact requirements. We interacted frequently during the build, and in subsequent years made minor adjustments to tweak to my wishes and improve, a rewarding process for both parties.

Sauzon receives regular compliments from fellow boaters. I cruised in Finistere sud with Sauzon in 2018 and found her very seaworthy at up to 12nm offshore. Nick is a master of his trade and builds unique, very personal and beautiful boats."

Chris Burrell, owner Sauzon built for use on the Thames and around the Brittany coast. Half decker for weekending and coast hopping and going through the Thames locks around Henley.

"We have a high regard for Nick - his love of traditional boat building shines through in his skilled use of wood, from the initial selection of the right timber to his unique finished article - really superb - Louise is a gem and handles beautifully on the water.

Throughout the build, Nick kept in touch with regular progress reports with photos and he was pleasure to work with.

Highly recommended!"

David & Jacki Eschbaecher, owner of Louise 16 foot launch powered by a 11hp vetus , built for the River Yealm in Devon

"Nick Smith built me a boat in honour of my late father John Guy, the boat is exquisite and very precious to me and my family.

Nick’s craftsmanship and attention to detail is remarkable and I recommend him to you if you are after a traditionally built boat.

"

Robert Rusling, owner John Guy

"Having my boat Bella built by Nick Smith turned out to be one of the most rewarding things that I have done, it's a process that requires a really good relationship with your chosen boat builder and Nick delivered an exceptional service throughout the design and build process. Nick took the time to understand my requirements and then use his exceptional boat building knowledge to design and deliver a really fabulous end result. I highly recommend him to anyone thinking of having a boat built."

John Soper, owner of Bella

"Nick build a fantastic craft that shows his artisan and hand craft skills, the detail and finish is outstanding. Joints and abutments are so precise they could have been created by CNC machine. More to the point they stand the test of time as detailed in the pictures now over 20 years old. Wood is always moving but with TLC and one coat of traditional varnish each year she will last decades. Clinker lands are so tight she takes up within 2 days after a winter in storage. A sight to behold on the Thames receiving many admiring comments of the fine art of wooden boat building." Keep building Nick"

Adrian Mettem owner of 'Moiety' 16 foot 4 mahogany Thames launch driven by a ten hp Volvo Penta. Lives in Henley on Thames. For exploring and picnicking and always has a bottle of 'good Claret' inside the engine box at exactly the right temperature.