My name is Abbey Molyneux, more commonly known as Abbey Boat Builder. I own and run a boatyard in Norfolk where I specialise in the restoration and preservation of historical wooden boats. At 32 years old, I’ve been building boats for over a decade and can safely say it is the only thing that I have ever been good at. Creating beautiful curves in empty spaces is my thing.

I can’t wait to speak at this wonderful event.. In the last 10 years my skill set has gone from making a £500 overdraft last four weeks to balancing big numbers on big projects, learning to do spreadsheets, file VAT returns and the inevitable cash flow issues of every boat yard. Boat building isn’t for the faint hearted. But it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle.

I grew up as the poor kid, the ADHD kid, the kid who couldn’t do maths, didn’t go to school and couldn’t read till she was a teenager. But my parents were practical, my old man had me stripping copper wire on the front door step for pocket money and I was always in the garage making something from nothing.

My speech is the story of a kid with nothing that was destined for Nowhere that had a tenner in her pocket and a taste for adventure. Most little girls dream of getting married and having babies but I only ever dreamt of one thing and that was wanting to be really fucking good at something. I didn’t care what it was, I just wanted to be the best at it. And here I am, 10 years of training later with several cross country moves, running my own boat yard, messing about in sawdust and building boats six days a week. Despite the blood, sweat and tears involved, I wouldn’t change a thing. This is my whole life, me, my dog, my clients and my giant shed full of all the nicest boats and I can’t wait to share the journey of how I got here with you all.

@abbey_boat_builder