What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Ovation Boats

Builder of quality, fully fitted Narrow Boats and Wide Beams
Marine Boat Surveyor for all variety of boat surveys Chris can be contacted on 07963 974793.

Located on the river Soar in Leicestershire, Chris Williams trained as a professional small craft surveyor, boat safety examiner and Gas Safe registered marine gas engineer before establishing Ovation Boat Services Ltd in 2005. Boat surveying was introduced to the business in 2012 and became independent of the maintenance and installation side of the business in 2016 under the name Ovation Boat Su

rveys. Holding a Small Craft Surveying diploma from the International Institute of Marine Surveying, Chris offers a comprehensive package of boat surveys plus Boat Safety Scheme examinations for all types of vessels including commercial and residential. Marine surveying and Boat Safety Scheme examinations are undertaken at many locations over the wider Midlands. Having lived and worked in the marine environment for many years, Chris’ accumulated knowledge and expertise ensures a professional and friendly service. Feel free to contact Chris for free, independent advice and to discuss your requirements.

12/09/2026

🚤💙 Visit us at Southampton International Boat Show 💙🚤

We’re delighted to be back for our third year, on the British Marine stand: ‘Discover Britain’s Inland Waterways’

We'll be there both weekends - 19th-20th & 26th-27th!

Featured in our gallery is ‘Silver Ghost’, our hybrid narrowboat, voted Second Favourite in Show at the UK’s Inland Waterways Boat Show at Crick.

Proudly designed and built in the Midlands, Nottinghamshire.

We look forward to meeting some new faces and catching up with old friends.

09/09/2026

Built by boaters, for boaters. 🚤

At Ovation Boats, our team doesn’t just build boats — many of us live on the water too.

That first-hand experience gives us a real understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and the little details that can make life on board so much better.

Real experience. Quality craftsmanship. Boats built for living.

Watch the clip to hear from Chris, from his podcast with Big Picture Spotlight 👇

07/09/2026

🍷 W**e not?!

A bespoke w**e rack detail being crafted for ‘Aurora’ — and we’re rather pleased with this one!

This oak w**e rack has been made from scratch to fit the space perfectly, with gently curved shelves, individual bottle supports and plenty of attention to those small details that make a piece feel really special.

It’s not just somewhere to store the w**e… it’s another little bit of Ovation craftsmanship going into ‘Aurora’. 🍷⚓️

06/09/2026

Why choose Ovation Boats? 🚤

Because your boat deserves quality, knowledge and experience.

✨ Exceptional craftsmanship
⚓ Years of boat building expertise
🤝 Personal service and customer aftercare you can rely on

From your first idea to stepping aboard — and beyond — we’re with you every step of the way.

Ready to start your journey? Contact Chris today on 07963 974793.

02/09/2026

Ovation Boats 🤝 Waterways Chaplaincy

We’re delighted to announce our new partnership with The Waterways Chaplaincy, a nonprofit organisation doing amazing work supporting people across our inland waterways.

Life on the waterways is about so much more than boats — it’s about people and community. The Waterways Chaplaincy provides a constant, trusted presence, offering support with everything from mental and physical health and financial hardship, to boat licensing, mooring issues and personal relationships and the bigger questions of life itself.

As part of our partnership, Ovation Boats will be making a monthly contribution to the charity, helping them continue their valuable work supporting waterways communities.

We’re proud to play a small part in supporting a charity that makes such a positive difference to life on the water. 💙

30/08/2026

The end of an era. ❤️

This week we said goodbye to the Ovation van after 10 years of loyal service. It’s been a familiar sight over the years and has certainly earned its retirement!

It feels particularly poignant saying goodbye as the original signwriting was done by the late Jon Leason, who is sadly missed.

A little piece of Ovation history heading off into the sunset. 🚐💙

27/08/2026

Looking forward to another exciting Southampton Boat Show! 🚤

Once again, we’re proud to be supporting Discover Britain’s Inland Waterways at Stand L66.

If you’re considering commissioning an inland boat build, come along and have a chat with us. It’s a fantastic show, a great opportunity to explore what’s out there and chat through your ideas.

We’ll be there both weekends — 19–20 & 26–27 September.

We’d love to see you there! ⚓️

25/08/2026

🛠️ It’s all in the detail…

A little look at the bedroom porthole surround taking shape on Aurora.

Floating homes need to be practical, but that doesn’t mean compromising on style. We think the smallest details can make the biggest difference, and this bespoke porthole surround is a perfect example.

Our experienced cabinet maker, Mike, has been busy crafting this beautiful feature with the precision and attention to detail you’d expect to find throughout an Ovation boat.

From the curves to the finishing touches, it’s the craftsmanship behind the scenes that makes a bespoke boat feel truly special. ❤️

Aurora is coming together beautifully!

23/08/2026

The signwriting on each boat is personal. It can tell a story, capture a memory or carry a meaning that is incredibly powerful. 💙

This is one of those times.

Russell's signwriting is now finished, and Claire at Norton Signs has done an amazing job of bringing the owners’ ideas, thoughts and vision to life.

A truly personal finishing touch to a special boat. ✨

19/08/2026

🚿 Aurora’s shower room is taking shape! 😍

We’re loving the bolder colour choices coming together, with the statement tiles and cabinetry really bringing this space to life.

And just wait until you see the sink… 👀✨

Another little glimpse of the bespoke details going into Aurora. We can’t wait to show you the finished room!

Address

Ovation Boat Services Ltd
Ratcliffe On Soar
NG110EB

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447963974793

Website

http://www.ovationboats.co.uk/

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