Boat repairs and maintenance
About Fremantle Shipwrights
Fremantle Shipwrights is owned and run by Stephen Handley from Shed 8 at the Fremantle Sailing Club.
The shipwright
Stephen's story
Stephen has been a shipwright for over 30 years. His apprenticeship was at Mariner Cruisers in Sydney, now Riviera and Maritimo, and it covered every part of boatbuilding, from the mould through the fit-out to the finished vessel.
After his apprenticeship he took a job refitting a 50-foot timber sloop called Van Demon on Pittwater in Sydney. In the traditional way, the timbers were drawn from a trunk of Huon pine and slabs of Celery Top and Blackwood, all Tasmanian, and the fit-out replicated parts from his employer's antique collection. The job took two years and gave him invaluable experience in what is now a dying art.
After working around the slipways of Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River, Stephen came to Perth for the America's Cup. He started at Fremantle Boat Manufacturers in the Freedom Marine yard on Mews Road, Fremantle. When the owner moved north, Stephen bought the business and ran it for 15 years, until the yard was sold for redevelopment.
Buying Ship Shape Marine gave him the chance to move to the Fremantle Sailing Club. He grew the business from antifouling and respraying into every part of shipwrighting and boat repair, and renamed it Fremantle Shipwrights. He kept Ship Shape's clients for their regular maintenance and looks after their shipwright work to this day.
Stephen is on every job.
The team
Shipwrights, painters, polishers and labourers
Alongside the shipwrights, Fremantle Shipwrights has a full team of painters, polishers and labourers. Between them they cover antifouling, Propspeed, polishing, two-pack resprays, gelcoat repair, sandblasting and re-coats, plus full and partial fit-outs, teak and cork decks, bow thrusters, hull extensions, fibreglass repairs and just about everything in between.
The yard
Shed 8, under cover, in one place
We work out of Shed 8 at the Fremantle Sailing Club on Marine Terrace. Boat lifts, hard standing and undercover sheds are all organised in house, including a dedicated sandblasting shed, so your boat stays in one place under cover from haul-out to launch.
- On-site lifting and hard standing
- Undercover sheds, including a dedicated sandblasting shed
- A list of trusted electricians, plumbers, engineers, stainless welders, trimmers and canopy builders on hand for the job
Insurance work
A Preferred Insurance Repairer
Fremantle Shipwrights is a Preferred Insurance Repairer, working alongside Club Marine, Nautilus Marine, Trident Insurance Group and SGIO. Insurance work is part of what we do every week.
See insurance repairs
Reviews
What owners say
Stephen Handley and Fremantle Shipwrights completed the extensive repair to Argo Navis to a level of quality and workmanship that I cannot fault.
Over 25 years and 5 big boats I always struggled to find a complete shipwright service. Steve has a great ability to spot a potential problem before it develops. Fremantle Shipwrights give me great value for money.
I approached Stephen to discuss a major restoration to my 20-year-old yacht, Sovereign. He and his team had a wealth of restoration experience, presented in simple, understandable terms. They take great pride in their work.
I had a hardtop put on my catamaran in Queensland and it was a pig's ear of a job. Stephen pulled it to bits, redesigned it and put it back together as a real showpiece hardtop, which is admired by many.
Bring it in
Bring your boat to people who have seen it all
Call Stephen on 0403 265 676 or send a few details through and we will sort a quote.