About Helm Marine Shipwrights

HELM MARINE HISTORY.
Helm Marine Shipwrights began in November 2013. Starting with vessel repairs in mind, Helm Marine's first contract was quite unique. Our brief was to build display cases and interactive models for a forensic science education company.  
Moving forward and excited to be trading, Helm Marine undertook a kitchen renovation in an apartment. As the kitchen area wasn't much bigger than that of a luxury galley in a yacht, I felt quite at home designing and installing the galley kitchen.
It wasn't until later in 2014 that Helm Marine started working on the water. I Installed cabin side portholes on a J35, and built a new laminated transom board on a Mariner 30, and a Teak boarding platform on a Grand Banks 47.
Recently, Helm Marine completed a fully bilge restoration on a 6m inflatable tender. This involved completely removing all stringers and divisions in the rear bilge, rebuilding and strengthening.
Being noticed by neighbourly boat owners, they approached me to look at their own boats, mainly a 75 foot Johnson which required regular maintenance and upkeep, as well as a 100 foot Norman Wright boat which I converted a foredeck seatee into a lounge bed with under base storage. Whist also undertaking a teak laid deck on the boarding platform on an Azimuth 62 and general maintenance.

It was mid 2017 when a job brought me down to Pittwater’s Careel Bay Marina where I met up with the owners Bluey and Annemarie. I agreed to do some work for them using their workshop facilities which quickly moved to becoming the lead shipwright and expanding my small business.

Taking on my first apprentice in 2020 we have grown to be a healthy thriving Shipwirght shed with a large portfolio of exciting and enriching jobs.

I have expanded from common varnish and fitout jobs to producing one off keel builds, boarding platforms, bow thrusters, engine bed installations, insurance repairs, cabin rebuilds, internal fitouts, paint jobs large and small, classic sport boat re-sprays, to valve installations, bearings servicing, prop changing and timber hull caulking. Also rubber dinghy both Hyperlon and PVC vessel repairs.

Although this is a brief history, Helm Marine is looking forward to developing itself into a strong identity based at Careel Bay in Sydneys Pittwater. 

MARCUS' HISTORY.

Marcus Patterson created Helm Marine Shipwrights in 2013. Marcus started Helm Marine to give him the satisfaction of creating exceptional modifications, fit outs and repairs to his customers' vessels.

Marcus' interests in boat building started as a young sailor on the Parramatta River, with Concord and Ryde Sailing Club. He progressed from cadets and JH dinghy's, to skippering his own scow moth for several seasons. Whilst sailing, Marcus learnt to repair minor breakages which led him to take up an apprenticeship with a local shipwright.

Starting his apprenticeship in 2001, Marcus showed a keen interest in all aspects of the boat building and shipwright trade, especially in the traditional techniques that he has embraced and excels in. Starting his career on Sydney Harbour, Marcus learnt the necessary basics of vessel maintenance, from antifouling, varnishing and detailing before fine tuning his timber vessel repairs, caulking and roving skills. In 2003, Marcus moved to Cowan Creek where he took on leadership roles and completed major interior bespoke fitouts, engine and thruster installations, teak decking, fiberglass mouldings and gelcoat repairs.

Enjoying a very positive carrier in Australia for 10 years, Marcus moved to England on a 2 year visa. Quickly finding work with a small family run business on the Thames, he led a team of tradsemen to repair and maintain the company's timber hire fleet. In 2012, Marcus undertook a major refit of the company's flagship vessel. The "Interceptor", was completely repainted from hull to flying bridge, and a major refit of the forward saloon and galley where completed in time for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, in which the "Interceptor" was apart of the Queens flotilla. 

Whilst in the UK, Marcus also restored a 105 year old Gentleman's Launch that is still used today in the Royal Henley Regatta as an official dignitary vessel. 

Returning to Australia in 2013, Marcus quickly found employment on Cowan Creek with another Halverson restoration. Feeling very much at home with the restoration and completing the vessel with perfection, Marcus decided that it was time to start putting his name to his own work.

Over the past 14 years, Marcus has improved his skills on Sydney Harbour, Cowan Creek, Pittwater and the Thames in London, completing many different and challenging projects. 

Marcus has a keen interest in all forms of vessel maintenance, with an extremely high level of customer satisfaction and an exceptional eye for detail. Interior and exterior fit outs are all carried out with impeccable care, confidence and attention detail.

Marcus' aim is to keep customers informed, satisfied and impressed with all forms of work completed, beyond their expectations