In the peace and quiet of a spring morning with the sun filtering through the trees, it's tempting to talk about a backwater - but that would be to do a disservice to both the delightful River Avon and this particular boatyard and boat-builder. Amid the tranquillity as the Avon gears up for its run through Bristol, a grinder starts up with a whine on a 60ft Dutch barge under construction, the sound of a radio drifts across the yard from a sailaway being fitted out by its owner and Rod Boyce appears around the corner, phone pressed to his ear to query something with his daughter, Charlotte, who's just stepped out of the office. Appearances can be deceptive.
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