W. Trout & Son Ltd is a family business offering a full boatyard service undertaking all kinds of work to new and old boats. And if we are not working on your boat then we are probably playing on ours - we are boat people through and through! With a mix of traditional skills rooted in our 100 years of boat building and repairing history and the latest training our team can tackle any job. See below for more on the individual skills and experience we have to offer.

Michael Trout - Director
Started work at the age of 15 in the workshop which is now the front bar of the Lighter Inn. Michael was apprenticed to his father and grandfather for 5 years, learning all the wooden boat building skills he still uses today, 46 years later.

When the business moved over to Ferry Road, Michael helped his father build the quay alongside the yard. With the introduction of fibre glass to the boat building world, Michael started the production of the Exe 17s, Raleigh Dinghies, fitting out bigger boats and repairs in the new material alongside the wood which is still his first love.

Lynn Trout – Director
Married Michael in 1965 after falling at his feet in Topsham mud! In 1986 Lynn started to assist Daniel with the administration taking over by 1988. Lynn has now passed the every day paperwork to Heidi and is left with the more challenging administrative tasks and Saturday mornings in the office.

Mark Trout – Director
Started working with his father & grandfather while still at school, went to Falmouth College and did the Yacht, Boatbuilding & Design course in 1986 – 87. Mark’s first project after leaving college was to design and build the wooden Exe 20. Since then he has worked alongside Michael, building, repairing, painting, rigging the many different types of boats that have come through the yard. Mark is now managing the boatyard and developing the business in new directions.

At every opportunity Mark is found out on the water wake boarding, wind surfing and sailing.

Heidi Trout
Married Mark in 1992 and has worked in many business before bringing her many talents to join Trout’s in 2000. Heidi is in charge of the everyday administration for the boatyard and is usually the person who answers the phone in the first instance.

Heidi is a qualified Yacht Broker having completed an Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents' course in 2004.

Heidi enjoys sailing, wakeboarding, the gym alongside running Mark and their daughters, Holly and Zoe.

Steve Hockings-Thompson
Steve did a Yacht, Boatbuilding & Design course at Falmouth College in 1985 – 86. He then worked at a local Sail makers, McNamara Sails, Exmouth followed by 12 years with the Marines as their Boatman at Exmouth, then on to Spinnakers as an instructor, before joining Trout’s in 2002.

Steve is a qualified RYA coach and powerboat instructor. He made the grade to be taken to do the Olympic training sailing 470s sailing dinghies. Steve’s leisure activities include being the Deputy Coxswain on the Exmouth RNLI lifeboat, sailing, kite surfing, cycling, running marathons, including the London Marathon and his allotment and family.

Jason Toyne
Jason left college in 1987 after doing a BTEC Recreation & Leisure management course. Qualified as a dinghy instructor he headed to the warmth of the Caribbean. Where he ended up running a 65ft catamaran on charter. When not chartered he looked after the parasailing and dive boats. 1990 took him to the Mediterranean. There doing yacht deliveries all over the mediterranean landed him working for Sunsail Turkey teaching windsurfing / sailing in dinghies and yachts. Then on to the Expo 97/98 Around the World Rally as 1st Mate. Jason then captained the Nelson Merrick ULDB 68 along with a Bashford Harrison 41' through 2 successful Caribbean race circuits. This culminated in him becoming 1st mate /co captain on the Maxi 80' Bols Sport, 2nd in Gotland Runt and 1st in IMS Sydney- Hobart 2001. Jason then spent 6 months on the J Class yacht Endeavour before returning to Topsham.

Jason is a qualified Yachtmaster and dinghy instructor and has completed roughly 165,000 miles at sea. His leisure time is spent playing hockey, squash and most sports which get him on to the water.

Sean Selley

Sean was born in Topsham and after leaving school at the age of 16, spent 17 years working at Retreat Boatyard learning all the boat building skills he could, progressing to the position of Yard Supervisor, before seeking a change and taking employment with us in 2006. His strengths are hull painting and finishing and GRP work, in particular matching gelcoat colours so his repairs will blend in usually invisibly.

In his spare time Sean is a fitness fanatic and does different forms of exercise each week. He is Manager of the Trouts Boatyard Topsham 5-a side football team, currently playing in the Tuesday Pitch Invasion Championship League. Sean is also in training for the Great West Run half marathon and hoping to beat his previous time of 1 hour 33 minutes. In addition he enjoys cycling and this summer he swam in the Topsham to Turf charity swim.

Working in boat yards all his life has turned him into a keen sailor. He owns a 31ft Harmony Sailing Yacht which he is currently re-vamping in order to sell to buy a house with his partner.