Museums' Exhibitions
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The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
Index
- Introduction
- CONCRETIAN FCB
- CITY OF EDINBORO H1394 (current page)
- ESTRALITA RX8
Introduction
The Excelsior Trust was originally set up to save the Lowestoft smack EXCELSIOR LT472. Other vessels have been added to assist this original objective.
CONCRETIAN is a wartime mass-produced Ferro Concrete Barge that now serves as a mooring barge for EXCELSIOR at her operating base in Lowestoft's Inner Harbour.
Ashore, in a large boatshed, is the Hull smack CITY OF EDINBORO H1394 and the East Channel lugger ESTRALITA RX8. These vessels are to be 'vehicles' to keep the skills alive that are needed to maintain EXCELSIOR.
The Trust also has two Class 'C' lifeboats, from Lowestoft-built fishing vessels, for seamanship training.
Comments
Plans for a fishing smack
Dear sir. I would like to build a fishing smack from the late 1800's. Do you know where I can purches the building plans. Thank you for your the help. vincent CinturatiVincent Cinturati USA
Add a Comment
The Excelsior Trust's Historic Vessels
Page 2 of 3
CITY OF EDINBORO H1394
CITY OF EDINBORO was built as a Hull smack in 1884. Today she is the last representative of the great fleets of deep-sea sailing trawlers that worked out of Hull - a remarkable survivor.
Owned by the Excelsior Trust, she has been prepared for rebuilding as part of a skills retention project at their base in Oulton Broad. She is not yet open to the public, but she can be seen on Yard Open Days.
History
1884
Keel laid 26th January, and launched 28th April from William McCann's shipyard on Garrison Side, Hull, for Simpson and Bowman, owners of the "City" fleet of Hull smacks. Registered H1394 and named "City of Edinboro". (The spelling of her name is reputedly one of the ways Edinburgh was spelt at the time.) For next 13 years fished the North Sea grounds by trawl.
1897
Sold to Reykjavik, Iceland, and re-registered as RE 13 and re-named "Frida". Line fishing in the North Atlantic.
1908
Sold to Sjavarborg, a fishing corporation based in Hafharfjordur south of Reykjavik.
1913
Sold to Faeroese fishing master Neils Juel Mortensen. Still named "Frida" but re-registered TG546. Line fishing in the Atlantic from Torshaven.
1924
A small auxiliary engine fitted but she remained fully ketch-rigged. She was re-named "Solvaborg"
1943
Sold to Ola Olsen and re-named "Solvasker" and re-registered VN 304. Wooden wheelhouse fitted. Based in the small fishing town of Vestmannshaven.
1957
Powerful Burmeister & Wain Alpha diesel engine fitted with variable pitch propeller but still fully rigged. Re-named "SJoborgin" and re-registered FD48 and sailed from Funding on the main island of Stromo.
1961
De-digged and steel wheelhouse fitted.
1962
Ownership passed to Hans Petur Hojgaard
1980
Bought by Dr Henry Irving and returned to Hull and refitting for up to twenty people. Ketch rig reinstated and the steel wheelhouse removed . B&W engine retained.
1984
Re-named "William McCann" and sailed the western seaboard of Europe as a charter ship based in Hull, Bristol, Penzance, Ramsgate, and finally Douarnenez (France).
1994
Ownership passed to William McCann Trust -based in Hartlepool.
1996
Re-registered as "City of Edinboro".
2000
Sold to Excelsior Trust for £1 and taken to Lowestoft to await restoration.
2004
Taken out of the elements into specially made building at the Excelsior Shipyard pending the start of a skills training programme.
Comments
Interesting. Do you have any more information about the ship builder?Jo Sheffield
Plans for a fishing smack
Dear sir. I would like to build a fishing smack from the late 1800's. Do you know where I can purches the building plans. Thank you for your the help. vincent CinturatiVincent Cinturati USA
Add a Comment
Page 2 of 3
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.
