Build you own boat

f you’ve ever wanted to build a boat, it’s never been easier.

The Balmain Boat Company creates flat-packed, DIY boats which are simple to put together, and are all about making parents and grandparents look like legends. Fun for the whole family, the Balmain Boat is the perfect gift for a fun weekend project for anyone who loves to be on or around the water.

Sydney designer and co-founder, Andrew Simpson speaks of his inspiration for starting the company, “I love the prospect of engaging people with building something with their hands again. Everything is built by someone at some point - it’s about not being afraid to get in there and get something done”.

The Balmain Boat Company was featured in the 2011 VIVID Sydney festival in the DIY segment. This segment was all about empowering people to become citizen engineers. Simpson said at the festival, “if you can hammer a nail and ice a cake then you can do this”.  Check out Andrew at the festival here: http://youtu.be/DSsryGlEuz8

Building a Balmain Boat is the perfect project for any parent and/or grandparent who has ever dreamt of looking and feeling like an absolute legend.

Or are you simply someone who loves building things with your hands? The Balmain Boat might be the perfect weekend project.

Do you own your own business? What do you do for employee team building? Building a Balmain Boat can also be an excellent activity for corporate team building.

“How do I do this myself?”, you may be asking. The Balmain Boat Company will provide you with a Classic Boat Kit. This kit contains everything you need to make your boat and comes complete with easy-to-use instructions. All you will need to add to the finished product is paint and the oars (your arms might get tired after a while).

It should take approximately 16 hours over two weekends for you and your family/best mates/work team to build your very own Balmain Boat. That’s two weekends of hard work, and then the rest of the summer for some quality fun in the sun.

You don’t need to be sailing Australian waters to buy a Balmain Boat. The Class Boat kit can be purchased by anyone in the world for just $1599 + shipping.  The standard Balmain Boat is made of pine, however there is the option to custom order the wood of your choice - prices will vary.


The Balmain Boat Company was established in Sydney Australia 2010 by Andrew Simpson and Nicole Still. Combining their passions of sailing and DIY-projects Andrew and Nic say “If you can’t buy it, you can build it”. The Balmain boat is a beautiful, classic rowboat that almost anyone can enjoy the experience and satisfaction of building.

A little more on the inspiration of the company...

In 1900, an American named Joshua Slocum was the first person to sail alone around the world. He is still considered a sailing legend.         "In Sydney, I saw all manner of craft, from the smart steam-launch       and sailing-cutter to the smaller sloop and canoe pleasuring on the bay.         Everybody owned a boat. If a boy in Australia has not the means to buy       him a boat, he builds one, and it is usually one not to be ashamed of."                                                                                             Joshua Slocum    What he saw in Sydney is the inspiration for our boats. In his book, "Sailing Alone Around the World," Slocum described a local boating culture where means and money were no factor in whether a person could take to the water of the most beautiful harbour in the world.  It's this boating culture that has inspired the creation of our Balmain Boat; a beautiful, classic rowboat that almost anyone can enjoy the experience and satisfaction of building.

If you would like more information on the Balmain Boat Company and how to purchase a Classic Boat Kit, please call Nic Still at +61 401 812 624 or email Nic at nicole.still@thebalmainboatcompany.com