Roy Todd

For Roy, building boats has been a lifelong passion and hobby resulting in extensive experience in wood and fiberglass small craft construction as well as repairs and customization.

• About Roy
  
  South-African born Roy Todd has been "messing about in boats" since the age of 13, when he started to build and race his own kayaks. He has won numerous races, and received many "Best Built Boat" awards.
  
  In 1969 at the age of 17, his first year taking part, Roy and a fellow paddler won the Junior Doubles Division in the famous 'Duzi' Canoe Marathon, a race held annually in Kwa-Zulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The 110-mile long race takes place on the Umsunduzi River, starting in the capital of KZN, Pietermaritzburg and finishing in the coastal city of Durban.
  
  He then went on to earn a gold medal, winning the Senior Singles Division in the 1972 Duzi Marathon, at the age of 21. Roy raced the 'Duzi' for nine years. For seven of those, he was awarded 'Best Built Boat' for his kayaks. He started out his working life as a Land Surveyor, but his love of the water found him building his own 31ft Lavranos-design sailboat, culminating in a trans-Atlantic passage with his wife Nicky in 1987. After living and working in the Caribbean for three years, they returned to South Africa, where Roy took up his second career - building sailboats.
  
  He first headed-up the construction of a steel Dudley Dix 'Charter 59' sailboat for an entrepreneur, who liked it so much, he commissioned Roy to build the plug and mold for the 'Maxim 37' Catamaran. Approximately 50 boats were eventually produced from the mold. In his spare time he continued with his hobby and built and sold among others, several 12' plywood paddle-skis (for surf fishing).
  
  In 1999, Roy was recruited by a local sailboat sales company in Annapolis, MD, to come to the USA and be a part of their Services department. A regular Jack of all Trades in all things nautical, Roy is particularly known for his exquisite interior woodwork.
  
  The company sells boats for various Sail and Powerboat manufacturers, one of the most significant being the French based company, Beneteau. Twice Roy has been awarded the prestigious "Top Gun" Beneteau Achievement Award for his expert service, the most recent one being in November 2014. And in 2012, he received one of Eastport Yacht Club of Annapolis' "Outstanding Marine Wizard" awards, recognizing individuals in the local marine trades.
  
  Since moving to the United States in 1999, Roy has built numerous classic strip-built, fiberglass, and plywood canoes and kayaks, some commissioned by individuals. He also makes exquisite wooden paddles.
  
  He used his boats, too. In the early 2000's, Roy and his two young sons participated in numerous canoe and kayak races in and around Maryland and Delaware, with many wins.

  
  Awards
  
  Winner - 1969 Dusi Canoe Marathon Junior Doubles Division
  
  Winner - 1972 Dusi Canoe Marathon Senior Singles Division
  
  Multiple "Best Built Boat" awards Dusi Canoe Marathon
     -Learn More about the Dusi Canoe Marathon Here
  
  2008 OkoumeFest MD - Best In Show - awarded to "Mystery"
  
  2007 "Top Gun" Beneteau Achievement Award recipient
  
  2009 Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival in St. Michael's, MD:
     1st place - Paddling Canoe - awarded to "Wee Lassie"
     1st & 2nd place - Paddling Kayak - awarded to "Mystery" & "Patuxent 19.5"
  
  2012 Eastport Yacht Club of Annapolis' "Outstanding Marine Wizard" award recipient
  
  2014 "Top Gun" Beneteau Achievement Award recipient