Well, well, well, what can I say? It’s finally here! I’m not going to lie, when we launched our first-ever boat competition last year, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Honestly, I think we’ve made it look easier than it was. While the actual building process has been relatively seamless for us, the advertising, marketing, strategy, and expansion from just me and Mollie to a larger team—well, that was a daunting task in the beginning. But with the incredible support of everyone who has been involved, the experience has been nothing short of profound for us.
Announcing our first winner
From the moment we announced Louisa Kariannis as our first-ever winner on 30th November last year, it’s been exactly one full year (30th November 2024) since we moved her and Mike into their new home. It definitely wasn’t our intention for it to take this long, but honestly, we didn’t know what we were doing at the start. Because we never knew if we had to cancel the competition and refund everyone, we hadn’t booked any slots or made arrangements. Then came the delays with haulage, steel suppliers, and to top it off, growing our family from five to six.
Add in two narrowboat renovations and a tight deadline to deliver the winner’s boat to London (or they’d lose their mooring due to old maritime rules), and we had no choice but to reach out to our friends at Boatfitco to help take some of the pressure off. Let’s just say we bit off more than we could chew!
The build: Overcoming delays and partnering with Boatfitco
That said, partnering with Boatfitco was a no-brainer. We knew they would match the quality and craftsmanship we hold so dear at Marwood Makes. And, wow, did they deliver! We’re absolutely thrilled to share the beautiful results with you. Louisa and Mike have made some amazing choices, from selecting the largest boat at the time to meet their needs, to the stunning brass fittings, all crafted in our signature style, which we couldn’t be happier with.
Step Aboard: A tour of the stunning narrowboat
A warm welcome: Open-plan living and kitchen
As you step aboard from the stern, you’re greeted by a spacious open-plan living area, complete with a lovely kitchen and a dedicated workspace along both sides of the boat. It’s designed with hosting in mind—a place for making delicious meals and enjoying time together.
Clever design: A multi-functional second bedroom
The second of two bedrooms is a true multi-functional space. It comfortably fits a double bed but also doubles as a study, thanks to cleverly concealed sliding doors. When neither room is needed, the doors can be opened up to make the space feel even larger and more connected, all finished in beautiful birch plywood to maintain the seamless design throughout the boat.
The bow corridor: Bespoke shelving and thoughtful details
As you move down the corridor towards the bow, you’ll find bespoke shelving that runs the full length of the boat, perfect for storing books, personal items, and lush plants.
A show-stopping bathroom: Luxury on the water
Before we reach the master bedroom, prepare to be blown away by the most epic and dramatic bathroom you’ll ever see on a boat. The space is spacious enough to swing a cat, with stunning green tiles, high-end brass fittings, and a luxurious basin and bath. Honestly, it’s so beautiful that you will be tempted to spend the whole evening just relaxing there.
The master bedroom: Comfort meets functionality
The master bedroom is equally impressive, with a king-size bed, his-and-hers wardrobes, drawers, and plenty of under-bed storage. The handcrafted steps also serve as seating and feature a retractable step for added functionality.
The final touches
In our humble opinion, the design, craftsmanship, and high-end materials that went into Louisa and Mike’s boat make it a true statement piece. And it’s not just us who think so—the boat is set to be featured in an upcoming TV series and will soon be published in the mainstream press! We’re incredibly grateful to have been part of this journey, and while it took longer than expected, every detail, from layout to custom features, was absolutely worth the wait. After all, great things take time, and creating your own bespoke floating home is a process that deserves to be savoured.
That said, now that we know what we’re doing and have built even more valuable connections, we’re confident that future builds will be completed in 7–9 months from the end of the competition.
Exclusive Opportunity: Why Competition #3 Is Extra Special
Which brings us to our next point: The current competition (Competition #3) will be the only boat built and lived on in 2025, making this prize even more exclusive! We have other exciting plans in the pipeline after this competition, so the current boat may be shelved for a while. Stay tuned!
