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69' Scottish Fifie Herring Drifter (1902) - REAPER FR958

  • REAPER1nr

  • Owner’s Description

    REAPER FR958 is a 1902 two masted wooden lugsail built to the traditional Scottish ‘Fifie’ design. She’s on the UK’s National Historic Ships Register. Being from early last century she provides a sense of a bygone era which to most in today’s world is an unimaginably harsh but, in many ways, more cohesive way of life. When constructed, over 2600 square feet of sail (allowing a speed of up to 10 knots) and expert seamanship allowed these boats to be manoeuvred in and out of harbours and return with their catch to the local markets – the first crew home would achieve the best price!

    In 1975, she was bought by the SCOTTISH FISHERIES MUSEUM and moved to Anstruther, Fife. By 1987, she was fully restored but retained an engine. Since then, a dedicated group of volunteers have maintained and sailed REAPER taking the history, on behalf of the Museum, to 57 harbours around Scotland and as far south as Portsmouth in the South of England welcoming aboard over 300,000 visitors and appearing in seafaring documentaries and film projects such as The Boats that Built Britain, Tommy’s Honour and Outlander.

    REAPER is presently undergoing a major refit which has been hampered by Covid 19 work restrictions but the Scottish Fisheries Museum Boats Club Crew hope to have her operational by 2022 when we can again invite the visiting public aboard the last authentic, sailing Fifie Herring Drifter and savour what life might have been like in the early part of last century. From the smell of the timbers to the windage and weight of the 60-foot masts. She’s a magical sight to behold.

  • Photos

    • REAPER1nr 768x345
    • 1. REAPER FR958 wind power 768x512
    • 3.REAPER under construction1902 Aberdeenshire 768x575
    • 4. REAPER Main Cabin 8 bunks with larch and oak beams 768x512
    • 5. Coal stove main cabin all they had in 1902 for heat and cooking 768x1152
    • 6. REAPER Hull refit Rosyth Dockyard 2018 768x598
    • 8. REAPER Education Outreach in Anstruther 768x512
    • 9. REAPER passing The Blocks going home from St Monans 768x549
    • 10. REAPER Crew heading home 768x510
    • 11. REAPER Moray Firth Flotilla from the Isabel Fortuna Crew
    • 12. REAPER in Moray Firth 2
    • 2. REAPER FR958 leaving Portsoy 768x521

  • Video

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  • Comments

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    4 thoughts on “69' Scottish Fifie Herring Drifter (1902) - REAPER FR958”

    • Annie Hill 4 years ago

      What a stunning boat! It’s hard to imagine how tough the men were who sailed her, with those big lug sails and no engine – and all the time after earning their living. I hope there are still a few Zulus around. I know several were converted to ketch at one time. I loved looking at the interior and seeing the heavy timbers supporting the deckhead. Amazing. And the black and white photos are wonderful. Thank you for entering this piece of history.

    • Ian Douglas 5 years ago

      Beautiful boat, great story and presentation by Tom. Love all his videos!
      Quite moving for an old Scottish sailor, as I am, who grew up living close to the fishing boats and once worked “in the fish”.
      Thanks again, OCH!

    • Ian Goodyear 5 years ago

      Great to see Reaper proudly presented at the Boat Show. Videos are fantastic. Ian Goodyear Director Scottish Fisheries Museum