He thought it would make good pulley blocks and winches and so produced the first Tuphblox and Tuphfittings. He made his first sale to Captain O M Watts and the company was off and running.

Nearing the end of his working life, Ron Barton realised his son was not interested in taking over, so he made David Coleman an offer he couldn’t refuse…

And a great crowd of people turned up to help Coleman celebrate 20 years of owning and running Barton Marine, including heavyweights like BMF president Peter Methven, Brian Peters OBE of Peters~Opal, retiring BMF treasurer Geoffrey C Warde MBE and BMF chief executive Rob Stevens.

Various presentations were made to Coleman, each accompanied by plenty of gratuitous insults and heaps of glowing tributes – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Especially after Brian Peters had made a special presentation that included a recommendation of a new use for Barton’s DAME Award winning Clamseal. Portsmouth Poll has further details…

Coleman, in thanking all those who had helped him along the road, made special mentions of his production team at Barton, early investor Rob Underwood, ex-Prout and now Broadblue Catamarans, and Pat Carter, who has worked with Coleman since he walked in the door in September 1986.