Gavin Atkin's weblog for the sort of people who like looking inside boat sheds. It's about old boats, traditional boats, boat building, restoration, the sea and the North Kent Coast
A 49ft 1926-built fifie built by Miller, James N & Son Ltd, St Monans for use as a herring drifter, Bruce’s is registered in the National Historic Fleet.
She was formerly owned by the Bruce family of Arbroath, and has been converted to a live-aboard, though with as many original features kept as possible.
The current caretaker of the vessel would love to see her go to a good home, as she is now in need of restoration. She’s up for sale for just £1.
For more information, click here and here.
This fifie built in 1897 by James Weir of Arbroath is for sale on eBay. I’ve seen and admired her many times at Conyer, but it has been sad to see her decline.
This is what the yard folks have to say on the eBay ad (though obviously Intheboatshed can’t vouch for every word!):
‘This is the last privately owned fifie. The vessel is currently in a very poor shape moored/sunk at our yard at Conyer. The boat has been owned by couple who did not have the resources to maintain her.
‘She has had holes drilled in the bottom of the boat to stop her bursting her planks each time she fills up with water.
‘The boat needs a new owner with a good understanding of the vessel and her issues.
‘The owners are allowing us to work on their behalf and would like to boat to be passed on. They are happy to give the boat away to someone capable of rescuing her.
‘It is registered with the National Historic Ships Register and a new owner may be able to apply for a grant to help with the cranage or refloating
‘The boat will be in this position until the new year, if a new owner has not come forward by this time the boat will be dismantled and destroyed.
‘If you are aware of anybody keen on rescuing a piece of Scottish history please get in contact.
‘The new owner would be responsible for mooring fees and removal of the vessel.’
Humber keel Daybreak has been made national flagship for the year by National Historic Ships UK.
The award goes to the owners of the vessel with the most impressive seasonal programme of public events in the forthcoming year and is designed to increase the public’s appreciation of historic vessels in the UK’s heritage.
The winning vessel receives a broad pennant to fly from its masthead wherever it goes, and a grant of £1000 towards the cost of keeping the vessel in operational condition and opening her for public viewing.
Daybreak is a 61-ft keel built by Richard Dunston of Thorne and launched in 1934, which makes her one of the last keels built. She was owned by Hanleys, a firm of Doncaster flour millers.
Motorised in the 1940s, she was restored to sail in 1986, and has been based on the River Thames for the last 38 years.
Daybreak’s has an extensive public programme for this year including festivals, barge matches, open days along the East Coast and a reconstructed trading voyage under sail from Hull to Doncaster.
Daybreak is on the National Register of Historic Vessels (NRHV) held by National Historic Ships UK.
The Scottish Fisheries Museum Boat Club’s extensive programme for the herring drifter Reaper from Anstruther to the Yorkshire coast caught the judges’ eye, and the organisation has been awarded runner-up, with a grant of £250.