"The Surveyor"

David W Hopkins, whose father before him was a Shipwright, served his apprenticeship at AH Moody & Son as a Shipwright/  Boat Builder. At this time AH Moody & Son were one of the most famous boat builders in the world, building high-class wooden yachts.

A keen yachtsman in the racing field, David Hopkins achieved considerable success, i.e. was always "in the frame".  He built and raced his own  Merlin Rockets and  National 12’s and also raced Lasers. Following his success at dinghy racing, he went into offshore sailing and successfully skippered his own boats in Class 5, Class 4, Class 3 and Class 2, again with considerable success and always "in the frame".  He has participated in three Fastnets, to date, including the famous 1979 Fastnet and took part in Olympic trials in the Finn, Flying Dutchman and Soling Class.

In 1979 after the Fastnet Race, David Hopkins set out on his career as a Marine Surveyor, setting up business on his own as a Sole Trader.  Prior to that he was employed by Moody’s, in charge of all Moody new boat development at Marine Projects Ltd, now known as Princess Yachts International PLC. 

In 2001, the transition from Sole Trader to a Limited Company, 'David W Hopkins Marine Surveyor Ltd', a family run business managed by Christine Hopkins was established. David Hopkins is a Full Member of the YDSA and has been operating as a Surveyor for some twenty-five years.  He is experienced in small boat and yacht construction and has kept himself up to date with all modern methods of boat building. He has had "hands on" experience in timber, steel, aluminium and fibreglass construction, including high-tech construction, i.e. Kevlar and carbon fibre.

David Hopkins has worked alongside Designers in developing production craft as a Consultant and is well known for his input to the development of the Sigma Class.  Other work regularly undertaken includes pre-purchase surveys, damage reports, overseeing of builds, overseeing of repairs, insurance surveys, work on behalf of insurers, valuations, litigation, mediation and expert witness work, surveying old wooden craft such as gaff rig and the most traditional types of boat, modern wood construction such as cold moulded, strip planking etc., GRP and high tech materials as used in modern racing yachts, steel and aluminium, sail and powerboats.

Although now mostly motor boating in his Nimbus 280, he still enjoys occasional racing and sailing around the Solent in his Memory sailing boat "Shimmer".