Cockwells will show two pre-owned Duchy motor launches, the 2022 Duchy 27 ‘Zena’ and the Duchy 35 ‘Dolly’, at the 2024 Southampton International Boat Show, both offered through the builder’s own brokerage.
Southampton’s boat show opens on 13 September and runs to the 22nd, and this year the two Cockwells berths, M318 and M320, will be occupied by boats with a few seasons behind them rather than a new launch: a Duchy 27 named Zena and a Duchy 35 named Dolly. Both are being sold through the builder’s own brokerage, and both can go to a new owner the moment the show closes. For anyone weighing up a Duchy in Australia or New Zealand there is more to this than a UK show preview, and I will come to that below.
Why Cockwells runs its own brokerage
The brokerage exists for two groups of people. Existing owners who want to move up to a bigger Duchy, or across to a Hardy motor yacht, need somewhere to place the boat they already have. Buyers who like the product but do not want to wait for a build slot want a route into a previously owned Cockwells hull. Keeping those transactions inside the yard makes sense with a semi-production boat, because every hull leaves the shed with its own options list and the builder knows precisely what went into each one.
Duchy 27 ‘Zena’: launched 2022, lightly used
Zena went into the water in 2022 and has not done a great deal since. Her owners have ordered a new Duchy 35, which is the only reason a two-year-old 27 in this condition is on the market at all; the yard describes her as pristine. The 27 is the model I point couples towards: a cabin for two for a weekend away, a cockpit that seats six for a day out, and a hull that is quick without being a handful. If you want a feel for the boat before you see one, Aquaholic’s video review of the Duchy 27 covers it well.
Duchy 35 ‘Dolly’: grey hull, oak below, well specified
Dolly is the 35 on the neighbouring berth. Her hull is grey, her transom and cockpit doors are varnished teak, and the interior is oak with a single master cabin. The saloon has an opening roof, and on a 35 that one feature changes the character of the boat on a fine day. Her equipment list includes heating, air conditioning, a deck shower and a Bimini, among other items, so she was ordered for cruising in comfort rather than as a base-specification boat. I wrote about what a 35 does offshore after our sea trial off Sydney last year; Dolly is that same hull with a generous fit-out.
We are proud to exhibit two of the finest Duchy Motor Launches we have ever built at this year’s Southampton International Boat Show.
Dave Cockwell, Owner and Founder, Cockwells
Dave Cockwell added that the two boats illustrate the standard of pre-owned craft the brokerage can offer, and that his team will be on the stand to talk through what visitors want from a boat.
Where the 27 and the 35 sit in the range
The Duchy launches Cockwells builds today run from about 7.6 to 18 metres (25 to 60 feet), all on a semi-production basis, with the owner working through a long list of options to suit how the boat will be used. That is why two Duchy 35s can feel like different vessels, and why a well-optioned brokerage boat like Dolly deserves a close look.
What it means for buyers in Australia and New Zealand
Two things. First, pre-owned Duchys are starting to come to market through the builder, and as the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer, Davis Marine Brokerage can bring a boat like Zena or Dolly out here: we import Duchy launches and handle delivery and commissioning in Sydney, and a boat that is already built and proven removes the wait for a build slot entirely. Second, a 2022 Duchy 27 being sold because her owners want a 35 tells you how these boats hold on to their owners. The first Duchy 35 for Australia arrived in Sydney last year, and we can arrange a demonstration on Sydney Harbour. If you would like to see one, or to talk through finance on a new or pre-owned Duchy, get in touch and we will organise a run. The full range is on our Duchy Motor Launches page.
Cockwells’ own announcement of the two boats is on cockwells.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a pre-owned Duchy launch in Australia?
Yes. Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches and imports them to Australia, handling delivery and commissioning in Sydney. Cockwells now lists previously owned Duchys through its own brokerage, and boats such as the Duchy 27 Zena and Duchy 35 Dolly show the standard of what comes up. Call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 to discuss a particular boat.
What is the difference between a Duchy 27 and a Duchy 35?
The Duchy 27 is a weekend boat for a couple with a cockpit that takes six for a day out. The Duchy 35 adds a proper master cabin, an enclosed saloon with an opening roof and room for systems such as air conditioning and heating, as Dolly shows. Both follow the same semi-production approach, so each hull is specified to its owner’s brief.
Why is a two-year-old Duchy 27 being sold?
Zena’s owners are moving up to a new Duchy 35, which is why a lightly used two-year-old boat is on the market. Cockwells set up its brokerage partly to help owners trade up within the range, so the boat they leave behind is sold by the builder that knows exactly how it was specified.
When and where is the Southampton International Boat Show 2024?
The show runs from 13 to 22 September 2024 in Southampton on England’s south coast. Cockwells is on stands M318 and M320 with Zena, the Duchy 27, and Dolly, the Duchy 35, both available to buy through the Cockwells brokerage and ready to leave with a new owner at the end of the show.
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches, Hardy Motor Yachts and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders. To talk about a new build, a demonstration on Sydney Harbour or a pre-owned Duchy, call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 or send an enquiry.
About the author
Sam Davis is the Director and Lead Broker at Davis Marine Brokerage, Fergusons Marina, Mosman. Brokering on Sydney Harbour for over a decade, he is a NSW State Councillor of the Boating Industry Association and the Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy, Hardy and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders.
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