Museums' Exhibitions
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Historical Fishing Vessels
Index
Introduction
East Anglia has a diverse collection of historical fishing vessels ranging from the little 19th century Yarmouth shrimper CORONATION YH671, to MINCARLO LT412 which was the last diesel 'sidewinder' trawler to be built entirely in Lowstoft in 1961.
Some vessels, such as the Lowestoft Smack EXCELSIOR LT472 and the Yarmouth Steam drifter LYDIA EVA YH86 have been nationally recognised and are included in National Historic Ships Core List of vessels of outstanding national importance.
Other resident vessels such as the CITY OF EDINBORO H1394 of 1884 or ESTRALITA RX8 of 1948 do not relate to area's history, but nontheless are very interersting in their own right.
Historical Fishing Vessels
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ESTRALITA RX8
ESTRALITA RX8 is a large East Channel Punt. These vessels were built to work off the exposed shingle beaches of Kent and Sussex.
They were lug rigged and drifted for sprats, herring, and mackerel, or trawled for soles and plaice according to the season. The equivalent vessels in Suffolk are the beach boats of Kessingland, Dunwich, Aldeborough, etc.
History
1948 Built by Harry Phillips of Rock Channel in Rye without an engine as late as 1948!
1950s Engine fitted, with twin shafts leaving the stern post and rudder intact.
1991 Sold and eventually abandoned on the foreshore at Dungeness.
2000 Wreck salvaged by the Excelsior Trust as it was considered sufficiently intact and historically interesting enough to be worthy of restoration back to her original sailing condition.
When completed this interesting vessel will make the powerful lug rig available to sailors who want to widen their experience.
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Exhibition: Historical Fishing Vessels
Exhibition: The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
CONCRETIAN on the slip.
CONCRETIAN on the slip at the Excelsior Yard, Lowestoft, in 2005 having been sunk for 55 years.
WILLIAM McCANN, formerly CITY OF EDINBORO
CITY OF EDINBORO as the charter vessel WILLIAM McCANN after her return to the British flag
CITY OF EDINBORO on the slip
CITY OF EDINBORO on the slip at the Excelsior Yard. The man is 6 ft. tall which illustrates her great size. She has a typical Victorian counter stern.
EXCELSIOR under full sail
EXCELSIOR under full sail consisting of Jib, Jib topsail, Foresail (smacksman term), Mainsail, Main topsail, Mizzen sail, Mizzen Topsail.
ESTRALITA proposed appearence
An elevation and sail plan of ESTRALITA RX8 showing her rig as built, and how she will appear when completed.
