THE owner of Isle of Wight company MB Boats — Mike Brackenbury — has been celebrating 60 years in the marine industry this year.

The company was established by Mike in the 1970s while he was working in Aberdeen — then eventually moving to the Island in 1999 to re-establish himself as a glassfibre boatbuilder.

But Mike began his life-long love affair with the marine industry as a crewman on a superyacht, in the Mediterranean in 1963. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Mike Brackenbury at his yard in Bowcombe, near Carisbrooke.Mike Brackenbury at his yard in Bowcombe, near Carisbrooke. (Image: Anne Brackenbury)

And after working on several different yachts, Mike worked at the Hamble yard of well known powerboat designer, Bruce Campbell, as a glassfibre boatbuilder.

Campbell famously designed the Christina, so learned from the best. 

Having done this for a few years, an opportunity arose for Mike to start his first business in 1969, along with business partner, Mike Connis — establishing the company, Conbury Composites. 

Mike went on to work for various marine-based companies as an area sales manager, before he moved to Aberdeen in 1975 to supply boats, engines and equipment to oil companies and related businesses operating in the North Sea.

It was in Aberdeen, Mike met his wife of 45 years, Anne, who works alongside him at MB Boats.

They chose to live on the Island because of the many pleasant memories coming to it as a child — and doing business during the 1970s. 

Much of that business was conducted while in Scotland, when he was an agent for taskforce boats — manufactured on the Island by the Horne brothers.

It involved Mike making several trips to the Isle of Wight.

When Mike moved to the Island, he returned to glassfibre manufacture with his range of Seaspray dories, Coastworkers and microboat tenders.

Mike, a regular Southampton Boat Show exhibitor, can boast making more than 2,000 boats over six decades — and says he has enjoyed every moment of it! 

"The business is full of very pleasant people, suppliers and customers, who I've worked with over many years — and established a great number of friendships with," he said.

Even at 79, Mike has no plans to retire from making industrial mouldings.

“Why should I? I enjoy what I do and have a good reason to get up in the morning," adds Mike.

"I'll keep on working for as long as possible — and enjoying life on the Isle of Wight."