About Thierry Van Elst
On leaving school I decided on a metal working apprenticeship which has been of great benefit during my lifetime. I decide to become a commercial diver working off the west coast of south africa this led to working in the subsea manufacturing and development industry. It was great adventure, testing gear for the navy and commercial outfits. Hyperbaric chambers, mixed gas pumping systems, hot water full -flow heating systems, O2 therapeutic BIB systems and high pressure mixed gas engineering.
As you do when you’re young I decided on a change and went into Physics running a small specialist engineering workshop. The manufacture of diagnostic imaging radio-isotope GRP handling units and associated equipment.
I decided to emigrate to the UK reconnect with family and start over. Decided to follow my passion and reconnect with recreational boating.
In South Africa was a keen scuba wreck diver and Hobie-Cat/ small dinghy sailer. Two years spent doing City & Guilds ‘boat building diploma’ with four distinctions at Lowestoft college. Additional supplementary composites training with ‘dark matter composites’ Hemel Hempstead.
Some of my projects include:
Restored 1960’s Rapier 31 ft motor boat, triple diagonal planked with cascover membrane. These were designed by Len Cox, capeable of 20 knots.
John Welsford designed 17.5 ft cabin Pathfinder, Okoume ply, steamed oak stem and western red cedar cabin planking. I chose to install Permateek synthetic decking for which I’m the East Coast distributor.
Glen L 19 ft Barrelback powerboat. This was commissioned by a client. Douglas fir stringer timber with marine ply for transom and stem. Very popular for cold moulded construction. If you’re a fan of NCIS then Jethro was building this season. Powered by inboard marine engine V8 150-290 cu in.
One of my hobbies has been to rebuild motorhomes, really just boats on wheels. Includes fitting of roof mounted solar panels and control units, bespoke GRP basin mouldings, framing out of the interiors in steel tubing or timber etc.
