Our story actually began a year earlier.

In 2002, Artie and Ruth Chalmers launched the Carefree Cruising Shared Ownership Narrowboat Scheme. Having carefully researched the market, they commissioned their first boat from an established and highly regarded boatbuilder.

It didn't take long for them to realise that a boat designed for shared ownership needed to be built to a very high standard. With the boat experiencing a number of breakdowns and failures, they reached a simple conclusion: if they wanted a boat that looked good and could withstand the demands of intensive use, they needed to build it themselves.

And so, in 2003, Elton Moss Boatbuilders was born.

The first two Elton Moss boats were built for individual customers. Since then, we have gone on to build every Carefree Cruising share boat, including a replacement for that original boat.

These boats aren't occasional weekend cruisers. On average, they are in use for around 46 weeks of every year, cruising more than 2,000 hours, and being enjoyed by 12 different owners, each with their own cruising habits and expectations.

That experience has given us something incredibly valuable: real-world knowledge of what makes a boat work.

It has shaped the way we design, specify and build our boats today.

Since 2003, we have built more than 300 boats, from traditional narrowboats to spacious widebeams and bespoke builds created around the individual needs of their owners.

Our experience extends across every aspect of the boatbuilding process, from hull design and engineering through to interior layouts, electrical systems, finishes and the details that make a boat feel like home.

We understand that no two customers are the same. That's why our standard ranges provide a strong starting point, while our approach allows for bespoke changes and personal touches wherever possible.

Buying a boat is a significant decision, and we believe you should have experienced people alongside you throughout the process.

Our team can guide you through the options, explain the practical considerations and help you create a boat that works for the way you want to spend your time on the water.

Whether you're looking for a narrowboat, a widebeam, a traditional style or a more contemporary design, our experience means we can help turn your ideas into a boat that is both beautiful and practical.