Meet the Maker: Tiffany Gale-Haynes on Crafting Exceptional Narrowboats at Kingsground

Meet Tiffany Gale-Haynes, the driving force behind renowned Oxfordshire-based boatbuilders, Kingsground. From childhood memories along the canal towpaths to becoming a key figure in the boatbuilding industry, Tiffany shares her inspiring journey, the craftsmanship behind Kingsground boats, and her vision for the future. Discover what sets Kingsground apart and why their bespoke narrowboats are some of the most sought-after on the waterways.

An Introduction

Who is Tiffany? Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into boat building?

Born in Stockport, Greater Manchester and growing up in Tameside, I spent a lot of time around the canal system. When I was younger, it was my playground and as I got into my teenage years, the towpaths were used to get from A to B both by bicycle and on foot. I would pass narrowboats frequently and I recall once being sat on the towpath near Ashton-under-Lyne, watching the sunset, listening to the tinkling of a wind charm on a nearby boat. However. I had never, ever wondered where the boats came from, I just accepted that they were there.

When I was 14, I was diagnosed with bone cancer which saw me spending a few years under the care of The Christie Hospital in Manchester. Heading into the hospital there were big artwork tapestries with narrowboats on. I remember feeling reassured by the artwork and blessed to be able to go and see them from time to time when I felt well enough. My world had completely changed and seeing the canals and the boats again all seemed like a distant memory. Years later and my world looked much different but I think it was these roots that led to me finding my way here, to boatbuilding. The boats had stolen my heart.

What inspired you to become a boat builder, and how did you join the Kingsground team?

Kingsground was founded in 1995, so it was well established when I came across it from the caravan side of the leisure industry. I was working at the Boat and Caravan Show at the NEC when I saw my first ever narrowboat out of the water and I asked if I could hop aboard, and the Kingsground team gave me a tour of the two boats that they were exhibiting. Both of the boats were very different, one more modern than the other, and one had an owner while one was up for sale. I don’t think anyone forgets their first time on a narrowboat, it’s such an experience!

At the show I was lucky enough to meet the owner of the more traditional boat, who was as lovely as the Kingsground team. I also met Jim Sparks of Alexander Boatbuilders, who made me feel very at home. As the days went by, I saw the arrivals to their stand were familiar faces, friends, boat owners, suppliers etc., and I could see that this was, in comparison to the caravan and lodge side, a place where you truly mattered.

Glancing back to 2009, it was a difficult time in the leisure industry, certainly on my side, and I had seen a lot of change caused by the impact of the economic climate. With redundancies and factory closures, I was seeing friends leave the industry and emotionally it was a tricky time to navigate as I don’t much enjoy change. However, I also saw great fighting spirit emerging from the likes of Peter Nevitt, former Cosalt MD, who inspiringly decided to join forces with a local company JR RIX & Sons to give a new lease of life to the Cosalt factory, under the new name of ‘Victory’. Part of me wanted to stay, but with my world changing and crossing paths with Kingsground, I think I felt it was my time to walk across the exhibition floor and dip my toe into the inland waterways, but the story of Victory wasn’t lost on me. I would later come to be inspired by Peter Nevitt and his resilience, when Kingsground had to relocate to make way for a housing development being built.

In 2010, after working remotely on admin duties, I moved from the Fylde Coast to Oxford, became a partner and I haven’t looked back. The industry is everything that I thought that it was. I have found my way and I have flourished because of all of the friendly faces that surround me and from admin to being hands-on, I can do so much more now, and I am still growing and learning! I am so grateful to so many people for parting with their knowledge, supporting, encouraging and guiding me, and I will always be keen to pass that on.

When you’re not building boats, what are some of your favourite activities or hobbies?

The hours at Kingsground are intense, it takes over 2000 hours to build a narrowboat and as the years go by, the customers want more and more, which takes more and more time, so I am committed to giving it my all and that simply leaves so little time to enjoy the things that I used to do.

From cycling to spontaneous travel, my hobbies have somewhat shifted to accommodate my work and I am more likely to be found flicking through a poetry book these days than a novel. Poetry is a great escape for me, the words on a page are often like puzzles for the mind. You can take what you want or need from poetry. The words are quick to absorb and can keep my mind busy throughout the day while I try to work out the meaning and break it down. So, I may not be exercising my legs on those long cycles that I used to love, but instead I am exercising the brain, as reading poetry is found to be beneficial in stimulating every day decision making!

Craftsmanship & Process

What sets Kingsground apart from others in the industry?

Kingsground are not alone or unique in our belief that the bones of the boat are the most important part of the build. If that part isn’t right, then the finish is compromised in the long term. We build intentionally, with a view that we want our boats on the water, telling our story, long after we have left the earth.

I think the people that come to us for a build appreciate that we do what we do with love. Does that set us apart? I’m not too sure. Boatbuilding takes dedication and knowledge that comes over time, determination and resilience. Every boatbuilder that’s stood the test of time must have all of those things and more because there’s not enough money in it for that to be the main driver. It’s addictive though. You make one, you learn something new along the way, and you want to apply that to the next, and the next, and so it goes on. The desire to do better each and every time is one of the things that keeps me personally excited about boatbuilding.

What materials do you primarily use in your builds?

Most of the designs and builds at Kingsground are customer led projects, and that primarily determines what we use, but our customers do seem to be timber heavy. That means we get to work with a lot of really beautiful hardwoods, and my favourites are cherry, walnut and ripple figure maple, but it's more rare to work with the latter.

Are there any specific techniques or innovations you’ve incorporated into your boats to reflect your vision on craftmanship?

Again, I think the bones of the build are the most important. Visually, there’s not much to see, but they’re worth spending the time and investing the money on. When it comes to the craftsmanship, each carpenter has their own style, though the execution of piecing it all together to stand the test of time, is certainly distinctive.

The bedroom on-board narrowboat 'Highgrove'

Where do you look for inspiration when it comes to designing a new boat?

If we are leading the build, from start to finish, then I always use nature and a location as inspiration when considering the interior. I am a firm believer that nature has all the answers and if it grows together, it goes together!

If the customer comes full of ideas, then there’s little chance or opportunity to make much of a creative mark. Buying a boat is a big investment, and by the time a customer is ready to commission a build, they’ve usually worked out what they need where on their new craft. This knowledge will have been developed over years of research, fact finding, dipping into waterways-related magazines, taking boating holidays, and even buying a pre-loved boat. Customers come with some great ideas and our input could be limited to simply bringing our knowledge for guidance and our skill-set to turn their dream a reality.

Highgrove Gardens, Tetbury - the inspiration for narrowboat 'Highgrove'

What factors do you consider when designing a new boat?

Functionality. It doesn’t matter what colour the blinds are and how pretty the sofa is, a good boat that’s been designed with knowledge will have all the things that are needed to propel the new owners into the adventures that the waterways have to offer. The pretty things are simply the cherry on the cake!

How do you approach the balance between traditional and modern?

Things have changed over the years when it comes to the aesthetics in the design of a boat, but I think they’ve shifted back a little, and there’s now much more of a balance.

For Lakeland Leisure Estates, Kingsground wanted to demonstrate the passing of time over four different boats, and even though we had the customers input on some, as they sold part way through the build, I think the story-telling of the passing of time really worked.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a boatbuilder?

The economic climate will always impact the boatbuilder. From the price of materials shifting overnight and not for the better, to the wobbles that people feel when there’s an upcoming budget or general election, there are a lot of potential impacts that can feel like challenges. However, that’s all just a part of it, and over the years you realise that though we work on still waters, it all can feel a little like we are on rough seas at times. This comes and goes and we’re not alone, it is usually the case that if one boatbuilder is having to weather a storm, we all are!

What is the most rewarding aspect of boat building?

The most rewarding part of this job simply has to be the people I get to meet along the way. Nothing compares.

Kingsground narrowboat 'Simplicity' arriving into Great Haywood Marina

Can you describe a typical day in the workshop at Kingsground?

We are a very small team of six, so it’s busy here at Kingsground, and we fundamentally have to work some different hours with an overlap.

No day is the same! With a little marina to run, with 110 people on site, we’re often busy with boat repairs and attending boats stopping by to buy diesel, gas, coal and logs. There is a busy slip-way which sees at least one blacking each week between the start of February to the end of November, and a dock that always has a repaint being worked on, so we are more than just boatbuilders and we rely on one another. We are like a little family.

About Highgrove

What inspired you to create Highgrove, where did your inspiration come from?

We always knew that we wanted the quartet - the four Lakeland Leisure Estates narrowboats - to be unique. It’s definitely more motivating to be enthusiastic about individual builds with a backstory than churned out or recycled replicas of your previous work. I’m really proud of the look-book that we achieved over the four boats and the story that they tell.

The initial moodboard for 'Highgrove'

What’s your favourite aspect of Highgrove?

It’s simply how it makes you feel when you’re aboard. That sounds silly, but if you’ve been on Highgrove, you’ll know just what I mean.

Can you share any unique features or design elements in Highgrove that you’re particularly proud of?

I am really proud of some of the recycled items. For instance, we’ve used copper salvaged from an old calorifier around the top of the flue. I’m not claiming that those little things will make a huge impact on the environment, for me it’s more that a part of another boat got to live another life, on another boat!

The Future

What does the future look like for Kingsground? Are there any projects or innovations you’re currently excited about?

This year, Kingsground celebrates 30 years of boatbuilding. We’ll be celebrating in a few different ways over the coming months but perhaps one of the most exciting ways we’ll be marking the occasion is by building the jewel in the Kingsground crown for Lakeland Leisure Estates: ‘Kingham’, the 65ft x 12ft widebeam. This craft will be heading to Crick Boat Show 2025 and we really can’t wait!

This boat features everything a widebeam boater would need on board, whether they’re in a marina or out on the waterways.

The future of Kingsground will most likely go where our children decide to take it, we’ll have to watch this space.

Twins, Helier & Millie, at their first show in 2011 and Crick Boat Show 2024

What advice would you give someone considering purchasing a boat?

If someone is looking to commission a new boat, they really do need to find a builder that they’re going to gel with. It’s a very intimate process, and they will not only want to enjoy the experience, but they will want to be sure that following the bespoke route will mean that they get what they wanted at the end without feeling rushed off the floor.

Some people want new, without the hassle and the waiting time. There are usually plenty of good spec boats on the market which have been designed and built by boatbuilders, often using the most popular layouts, materials and components. Sometimes prospective owners will be in the right place at the right time and find the project when it is in build, meaning they can add their own finishing touches, like worktops, tiles and the exterior colour!

Not everyone wants a new boat, some want a project, and some want something more turn-key ready but there’s no desire for it to be new. There’s a brilliant selection of pre-loved boats available. While there are online sites for boat sales, I think I would opt for a day or two with a broker, where they can show people around their boats and be on hand to answer questions.

What would you like to tell someone considering becoming a boatbuilder?

Dear Boatbuilder-to-be,

Welcome to our little corner of the world. It may take you some time to find your feet and there may be times that you think it’s just too hard. The hours are long, and you will often wake up in the night worrying.

If you’re waking up in the night worrying, you’re just the right person for the job. What we do, we do out of love. It’s when you stop worrying that you’ll need to worry!

We often work alone or in small teams, and it will take you a long time to realise that other boatbuilders are just colleagues under another roof. So, when you need a bit of reassurance or guidance, you only have to call!

I promise that all the blood, sweat and tears are worth it in the end, if only for the people you’ll meet along your way.

You’re going to be great, just you wait and see!

Tiffany Gale-Haynes

Curious about new boatbuilding?

Come and speak to the Kingsground team at their ‘Meet the Makers’ day on the 7th April 2025 at Roydon Marina Village. Whether you’re looking to buy a new or used boat or even embark on a project of your own, the team will be on hand to answer all your questions.

Not only will you meet the team, but they’ll also be in really good company! On the very same day is the Waterways World Beginner's Boating Course, designed to help aspiring narrowboat owners and navigate their way onto the British inland waterways. On completion of the course, participants will be confident that they’re equipped with the knowledge that they need to make the right choices in the right order, to help them become boat owners.

You’ll find more information about the beginners courses, sponsored by Promarine Finance, Haven Knox-Johnston and Kingsground, on the Waterways World website.