Dawn-Craft, not Dawncraft
The most comprehensive source of the history of boats found on the Norfolk Broads must be the database, compiled over many years, by the late Craig Slawson. It seems clear he was concerned about the possible confusion between the Norfolk and Staffordshire boat builders that both used a similar sounding name. His solution was to refer to the Norfolk based company as "Dawncraft of Wroxham", and on some screens "Dawncraft, Wroxham".
However, evidence has recently emerged that should clarify the issue. While Craig, along with many other people, spell both the Wroxham and Kinver based companies as "Dawncraft", the evidence now suggests that, at least during the period while the Hampton Safari was being constructed, the Norfolk builder and hire fleet operator spelt the name as two hyphenated words.
Dawn-Craft (Wroxham)
The discovery of a builder's plaque on a Safari MkII shifts the mystery on to why no connection was made with a third, short-lived, hire fleet appearing in the database as "Dawn-Craft (Horning)". This was photographed by a surveyor and appeared in a Blog Post about a Safari MkII that he had surveyed on 25 October 2011. After a general description of the Safari, quoting extensively from the Shorebase site, he refers to the boat being surveyed saying:
This one was fitted out by John Claburn when he worked for Dawncraft Boats Ltd, and she also went into private owership.
Leaving aside the issue of the spelling of Clabburn, Steve Truss's note could be interpreted as suggesting that the plaque indicated that Dawn-Craft had bought the mouldings and John E. Clabburn & Co Ltd had done the fit out. Enquires on a local forum suggested something rather different. A past Chairman of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Yacht Owners' Association responded saying:
The company in Wroxham still existed with its premises and was bought in the early 70s by John Clabburn to design and fit out GRP hire boats. John was (is) a naval architect from Vospers and was one of the designers of the Solar 37 - now known as Bounty 37 - of which Dawncraft built the early ones before they were fitted out by yards all over the Broads. I didn't realise he also fitted out Safari 25s but apparently he did.
Dawn-Craft (Horning)
During the exchanges on the forum it emerged Dawn-Craft (Horning) was also owned by John Clabburn, further cementing the view that Dawn-Craft (Wroxham) was the appropriate form to use for the company Craig terms in his database "Dawncraft of Wroxham". It also seems highly likely that both the Horning and Wroxham yards were set up as independent Limited companies as another contributor reported:
The 1963 Blakes catalogue has three different styles of name for the company:Their auxiliary yacht Golden Dawn; The "Months" class April Dawn etc and Fleecy Dawn are listed under: Dawn-Craft Ltd., Wroxham.
Silver Dawn is listed under: Dawn Craft Ltd., Wroxham.
The "Colours" class and Radiant etc are listed under: Dawn Craft (Wroxham) Ltd.
One thing you can say is that the Blakes catalogue is consistent about the limited liability status of the business and about the two word format for "Dawn Craft", even if it is not consistent about its hyphenation.
Overall, it seems clear that use of the single word "Dawnncraft" should be reserved for the Kinver-based company and it is probable, as the owner of the Norfolk yards chose to use the form, that Dawn-Craft should be hyphenated.
A Further Puzzle
We also have a puzzle concerning what the Shorebase site calls the "Mk1D Dawncraft 26" Safari. They are identified by having a single cabin side window and it is pointed out that all these craft appear to have been built with MkI moulds. This is a surprise as all were built by the time the MkII appears to have become the standard boat. Visit the Dawn-Craft Variant page where we have further information about these boats.
If anyone can provide evidence that further confirms the issues discussed on this page please post it in the History area on the Forum.