HOW IT ALL BEGAN & WHERE WE’VE COME FROM
When commissioning any large project a good working relationship is required. Its important to understand the company you’re working with, who they are and where they’ve come from.
The Fit Out Pontoon began its journey back in 2004 when Mark Speakman (the business owner), aged 24 and fresh out of university, as an absolute amateur first started living aboard. With an education focused on Design Management, Product Design & Furniture and just under a decade’s experience working for a company providing bespoke engineering solutions, hopefully you’ll see how his experience and skill set has played a pivotal role in directing The Fit Out Pontoon to where it is today.
To Date
We continue to push boundaries…
The Fit Out Pontoon are now well established as one of the UK’s most prestigious high end bespoke narrowboat & widebeam builders. Our niche is the more interior design led projects that challenge tradition.
July 2018
The Fit Out Pontoon employ a team of high end boat fitters…
After the successful completion of several canal boat fitouts using local contract boat fitters and an expanding build schedule, The Fit Out Pontoon feel the time is right to employ a dedicated team of boat fitters.
If you’ve looked around our website you know at heart we’re a canal boat design consultancy with an ever-growing demand from our clients to manage the entire build and fitout process.
As a design consultancy we are not fazed by pushing boundaries, implementing new techniques, or by using new materials.
To be able to offer truly bespoke, unique, high end canal boat fit outs we decided to employ accomplished shop fitters who are used to working with the likes of Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and high end restaurants and bars.
The addition of our new fitters is very exciting and they can’t wait to get involved in our projects and start building high end, bespoke luxury narrowboats & widebeams.
March 2018
The Fit Out Pontoon & The Creative Pontoon make the move…
The Creative Pontoon settle in to a new design studio, whilst The Fit Out Pontoon conveniently sign the lease on a neighbouring workshop to accommodate our ever growing demand for custom built canal boats.
Early 2017
New Website, First Handover – New Chapter!
After 6 months development we launch a new website reflecting our current business model. We handover our first canal boat build and following its success the decision is made to redesign and build a new widebeam to replace the one we designed in 2012.
Late 2017
Employing Dedicated Designers & Fitters
As demand rises it is time to employ an additional full-time designer. We start exploring designing, building and fittting dinettes and bespoke furniture with a team of dedicated fitters. As one of our canal boat designs proves to be too risky for mainstream canal boat builders, The Fit Out Pontoon are commissioned with their first build project – a 57x12ft apartment style canal boat.
Early 2017
DIY Canal Boat Design Plans
2017 saw expansion, a partner company The Creative Pontoon is launched, aimed more towards the private sector to compliment The Fit Out Pontoon which focuses more on B2B design work. The Creative Pontoon starts by investing in a large format to facilitate our DIY Design Service, helping members of the public design their own canal boats to scale. This online service housed on The Fit Out Pontoon’s website automates the ordering of canal boat drawing sets of any sized canal boat, narrow or wide beam. From these orders we produce, print and post 1:25 plans in parcel tubes. This service proves to be very popular from the start and demonstrates the potential for growth in the private sector.
2015
The Switch To Full Time Canal Boat Design
As demand grows in 2015 The Fit Out Pontoon’s focus shifts to designing canal boats for the trade, and we set about streamlining the processes involved and playing with different methods of illustrating the details with a view to becoming the UK’s only independent canal boat design consultancy.
2014
Canal Boat Design Demand Grows
We get to know many the of UK’s boat builders, and find interest is growing around the design skills displayed for the build of our 69x11ft widebeam; so much so that start to work with several builders in the background producing and illustrating canal boat layouts for production purposes. Boat brokerages also start commissioning boat layouts of brokerage boats for information purposes.
2013
The Fit Out Pontoon Website Goes Live
After nearly two years of hard work and commitment The Fit Out Pontoon’s online canal boat building resource and directory goes live with nearly 200 pages of decision making information and a 2000 strong company directory. A great achievement for all involved.
Late 2012
Widebeam Design Drawings & Animation
After six months working on the entire design process The Fit Out Pontoon complete their first canal boat design project. This includes 4x detailed drawings and 2x computer generated animations. Little do we know this will prove to be one of the most detailed canal boat design processes ever executed.
2012
A Fully Fitted Widebeam Build Is Commisioned
As circumstances change in life and financially so do the needs of living aboard. A widebeam suitable for family living is now required. After visiting The Crick Boat Show 2012 an order is placed for a fully fitted 69x11ft widebeam built to The Fit Out Pontoon’s design. Time to couple professional design skills with practical live-aboard knowledge and requirements.
2011
Work Begins On The Fit Out Pontoon Website
Work begins on The Fit Out Pontoon website… Researching and copywriting over 180 pages, creating an up-to-date list of nearly 2,000 suppliers and adding them to a custom design database driven website! Being completely honest we were unprepared for just how much work was involved but we’d started now so there was no going back!
2010
Initial Business Model Conceived
After several years working within marketing for a company designing and manufacturing bespoke engineering solutions I realise that there is a growing trend for online directories. I see a gap in the market for a niche directory which offers its visitors decision making information which then creates a need for the suppliers in the directory. The obvious subject matter is canal boats – with the steep learning curve I’ve experienced there is a huge amount of information which could have saved me time and money in hindsight. With this in mind I realise a resource focused around fitting out canal boats with an up-to-date directory of suppliers could have real potential.
2008
Purchase 2nd Narrowboat
Aged 28, armed with a credit score and a secure job I purchase my second boat, a 2004 45ft traditional narrowboat. The intention being not to do any work to her and just enjoy her; this lasts about 8 months before I start updating the entire boat! Being just 4 years old this boat, with its modern engine and current on-board equipment and central heating, proves that living aboard can be much more like a home from home.
Early 2004
Live-Aboard Boating Begins
Aged 24, fresh out of university, extremely low on funds but high on enthusiasm I purchase a 1976 30ft narrowboat, with a wooden top and canvas roof, propelled by a 1970 single cylinder inboard engine. This boat is responsible for a steep learning curve and for the 4 years that I own her I never stop working on her… Leaks and all, I thoroughly enjoy the entire experience.
