A love of narrowboats, combined with a lifelong passion for working with wood, led to the creation of Cluett Carpentry, a family-run business specialising in bespoke furniture and joinery for canal boats.
Founder Dan Cluett did not follow a traditional route into carpentry. After studying classics and archaeology at university, he found limited opportunities in that field and instead began labouring for a carpenter and builder. That practical experience sparked a deeper interest in making things by hand, and after several years working in Brighton, Dan moved to Wales to renovate a house purchased by his brother.
Throughout his twenties, Dan lived a nomadic life, working across the UK and abroad in Spain, Germany and Mexico. These varied experiences allowed him to learn multiple trades before eventually settling into cabinetry. He began by building fitted cupboards and kitchens on site, later moving into a workshop environment where he developed more complex joinery and furniture projects.
Dan’s connection to the waterways has played a defining role in his work. “I love how boats require such specialist carpentry,” he explains. “Everything has to be made specifically for that boat, and because space is so limited, every piece usually needs to serve more than one purpose.”
His introduction to boating came at around 18 years old, when he spent time aboard his best friend’s father’s narrowboat, Pot Belly Pig. A decade later, Dan bought his own boat and began taking on small jobs while travelling the canal network. It was the purchase of his second boat, NB Delph, that truly shaped his future direction. Bought in Barrow upon Soar, Dan travelled south slowly, working on boats, meeting people and building a reputation along the way.
By 2015, Dan had reached London and made the decision to specialise fully in boat interiors, taking on workshop space and focusing exclusively on furniture and joinery for the waterways. In 2019, he met his future wife, Ellie, who was also living afloat. She moved aboard Delph in early 2020, at a time when the boat was still mid-refit and lacking basic comforts. Completing the fit-out together led to a key moment of inspiration.
When Ellie asked for a small bedside table for her tea mug, Dan created a simple fold-up shelf. That design became the Ellie Shelf, now one of Cluett Carpentry’s most recognisable products, and the starting point for a range of bespoke-but-accessible furniture designed specifically for boats.
Dan’s design process begins with listening. Using detailed measurements and 3D modelling, he blends customer ideas with practical solutions that work in real-world boating conditions. His knowledge of timber is extensive, with particular fondness for live-edge wood, tiger oak, elm, London plane and spalted beech. Larger projects, such as wheelhouses, can take up to 500 hours to complete, demanding careful planning and craftsmanship.
While Dan and Ellie have recently moved to dry land following the arrival of their daughter, his connection to the waterways remains strong. “There are not enough people working in specialist boat trades,” he says. “Having been part of the boating community for so long, I know my future will always be closely tied to it.”
Original Article by Alice Elgie
