Girvan harbour 1968

just wundering in the 50s  and 60s  were varnished hulls the norm , and painted hulls  rare ?

1968 and no a radar to be seen? Even us raggledy arsed Dunbar prawn scratchers had it in by then lol

SILVER CHORD ARCTIC MOON,ELIZMOR, INCENTIVE ROSEMARY ANNE AHEAD ,THE ALIPEDS  AILSA LADY ,CARSONS SALMON COBBLE.THE ROSEMARY MAN GOT ONE EVENTUALLY.THE AVAIL BA 97 WAS THE FIRST T0 GET THE OLD MK 5 DECCA IN IT WAS A CASE OF TOWING ASTERN OF HIM OR LAND LEADINGS.I LEFT THE ARCTIC MOON IN 1969 THE BIG SET AND THE COMPASS,THE DECCA HAD JUST BEEN FITTED THE OLD SQUARE KH WET PAPER METER THAT WAS THE EQUIPMENT

The Sooth Firth prawners must have been a wee bit ahead of you lads at that rate Jim.As far as I mind(but am open to correction),John James Horne of the Thorntree was the first one on our side of the Firth to put the Decca in.I think I was still at school then so would maybe be '64/65 way.Im sure most of the 50 odd feet Port Seton seiners had it before him,but I think he was the first prawner.The Old Man never had Decca all the years he was at sea,just used land marks to start with then radar.It was into 1968 when we got the radar,a Marconi Raymark 8 and a braw set it was too,far superior to the Kelvin Hughes type 17(in my humble opinion).

Think ur spot on wi the decca Ronnie JJ almost certainly the first o the PS prawners.I think the Bluebell may have been the first in Port Seton.Most of the local fleet carried on 4 yrs wi sounder and  compass . It was mainly the boats that fished Sheilds that fazed the deccas in among the PS fleet

I suppose back then maist of the wee prawners could make mair use of the 7 or 8 quid a week it cost to hire the machine Freddy.Ye certainly wouldnae look doon yer nose at a pound a man extra for yer divide given the chance!

Mind Ronnie i think most o the boats that were based on the Clyde out o Ardrossan like the Silver Crest.St ninian .Star o Faith would have the decca pretty early ST Ninian def did when i was aboard her 65 66.

Top notchers though Freddy,price o' a weeks Decca hire would just be a drop in the arse o' the bucket to them lads lol

Wonder if anybodys got any pics of the Port Seton boats lying in Ardrossan a era gone and forgotten in many ways .Many very good memories of these times from the late 50s when i used to go off with my da and cousin before i started the sea workin out o Ardrossan . No big steams in them days. Civilized way off making a living when u had to be landed for 6 pm for the wagon to be in time for Ayr markket .4 days home thurs teatime Happy Days.