Beacon Boatyard

Welcome to

Beacon Boatyard

Beacon Boatyard Rochester is a small traditional boatyard located at Wickhams Creek in the village of Borstal. Located between Rochester Bridge and the M2 Motorway Bridge which is approximately 14 nautical miles from the mouth of the River Medway. Beacon Boatyard is a secure and peaceful place to keep your boat positioned beside Baty’s Marsh a Local Nature Reserve, with great views towards Rochester’s Norman Castle and Rochester Cathedral. Boat Moorings and hard standing are available, also trailer storage. We also welcome boat owners who are carrying out maintenace on their boats or are undertaking more significant overhauls of their vessels. The boatyard is only a 20 minute walk along the riverside into the centre of Historic Rochester.

Beacon Boatyard is home to The Boat Shed Coffee Shop which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week from 10am to 3pm for bertholders and members of the public serving coffee, cakes, ice cream and toasties.  Skipper’s Marine Coatings UK office is also based within the boatyard, who are the distributors of the Italian Marine varnish and paint brand.

Our History

The boatyard has a long history of boatbuilding being owned for many years by one of the River Medway’s well-known fishing families. Historically a boatyard where some of Medway’s traditional fishing boats were built, such as the Medway Bawleys and Dobles. In the 1980’s the boatyard was bought by local boatbuilder Morris Tolhurst, and for the last 40 years has been used to carry out the rebuilding, repair and restoration of classic and traditional boats and yachts from around the South East.