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Reaper - FR958


Reaper - FR958

Reaper - FR958 seen here in Anstruther Harbour, Scotland on 17th May 2010.

Courtesy of the Scottish Fisheries Museum @ http://www.scotfishm...aper/facts.html

"REAPER is a classic Fifie from the great final years of commercial sailing ships.

Her significance is acknowledge by her inclusion as one of the 60 vessels in the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Ships.

Following the introduction of the steam capstan in the 1880’s, which provided the power to handle larger sails and heavier gear, the size of the Fifies had been growing until by 1900 sailing drifters like REAPER reached their ultimate development.

Renowned for their power and speed under sail they were a magnificent sight entering and leaving the crowded fishing harbours of the East Coast from Wick to Lowestoft. With the introduction of the steam drifters the decline began but it was the development of reliable internal combustion engines that finally brought an end to the reliance on sail which had been the way of life for hundreds of fishing communities The Reaperaround the coast for centuries.

Keel laid 1901
Builder - J & G Forbes at Sandhaven nr. Fraserburgh.
Registered at Fraserburgh in 1902 (FR 958) and later at Lerwick LK707)
Purchased by The Scottish Fisheries Museum and restored to her 1902 rig.
Construction – Larch planking on oak frames.
Length overall 70’ 4” ( 21.43 m)
Beam 20’ 4” ( 6.19m)
Depth over keel and deck 10’ 8” (3.23m)
Draught 8’ 8” ( 2.62m)
Tonnage 61.3 Tons deadwt.
49.15 tons gross
29.04 tons net



    Talking to the Anstruther boys the other week at the North Queensferry classics, she has "a bit of an engine problem", new one required

    Bob
    Was at the yard today engine is now out broke the crank at the front pulley outside block possibly caused by wrong torque on the pulley bolts from the factory according to the guys off Reaper.  Unusual failure yards never seen one before, they seam very reliable usually.

    BigAlan