Your Local Narrowboat Builders in Derbyshire
Looking for "boat builders near me" in the Midlands?
JD Narrowboats is a local, family-run business located in Shardlow, near Derby. We build reliable, ready-to-use vessels perfect for your weekend escapes.
"It was great to find a professional 'narrowboat builders Derby' so close to home. The convenience and personal service from JD Narrowboats were a huge plus." - S. Miller, Derby
Based in Shardlow on the Trent & Mersey Canal
Convenient for Midlands-Based Customers
See Our Craftsmanship Firsthand
Get Personal Service from Our Team
A Truly Bespoke Narrowboat: Craft Your Dream Luxury Home on the Water in 2 Months With the UK’s Leading Builders.
You have a specific vision for your narrowboat, a floating home that reflects your style and an uncompromised level of quality. But you've found that many builders claim to offer a bespoke service, only to present you with a limited set of pre-designed options. You’re looking for a genuine partnership with luxury narrowboat builders who can truly bring your unique ideas to life, from the layout to the smallest detail.
JD Narrowboats helps you design and build a truly unique narrowboat. Say goodbye to a compromise and a limited choice and hello to a one-of-a-kind, luxury vessel that is an extension of your own vision. You get:
Dedicated Design Consultation: We work with you to plan every detail. This ensures your bespoke narrowboat is tailored precisely to you.
In-House Craftsmanship: Every element is built in our workshop by our skilled family team. This end-to-end control delivers an unmatched level of quality in every bespoke narrowboat build we complete.
Over 50 Years of Heritage: Our deep expertise guides you, ensuring your new narrowboat is not only beautiful but also perfectly suited to your needs.
Schedule a Workshop Tour
Why JD Narrowboats is the Right Choice For Bespoke Build
Attention to Detail
No outsourcing. No shortcuts.
Every stage of your boat’s construction is handled in our dedicated workshop.
We oversee every weld, electrical wire, and wooden join so you can be confident in the quality of every detail.
Experienced craftsmen
Over 50 years of boat building experience
As expert boat builders, JD Narrowboats brings together time-served skill, technical knowledge, and the kind of insight that only comes from building hundreds of boats.
We are experienced and professional.
“We would visit the workshop every few weeks to see the progress of our boat. We are delighted with the result. Thank you!”
“Andy and Darren offered amazing insights and experience in regard to our build. We would highly recommend JD Narrowboats.”
“We sailed away on the 12th April safe in the knowledge that if anything broke then it would be fixed. We also have 5 years warranty on inverters and such”
“Every potential problem we came to Andy and Darren with, they provided a solution. We have every confidence in their approach because they’ve seen it and done it all before!”
Proven Track Record
Over 200 boat projects complete
We’ve created everything from compact cruisers to luxury liveaboards. Each boat is a one-off just like the people who own them. Over 200 new builds which we’re incredibly proud of.
Your Peace of Mind
Every build includes up to a 5 year warranty
Every boat comes with up to a 5 year warranty on our workmanship.
There will also be manufacturer warranties on key systems which can be up to 5 years.