The 'Reaper' FR958 is an iconic traditional fishing boat and member of the National Historic Fleet. Crewed and maintained by volunteers at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, she brings heritage and tradition to every port she visits. To keep her sailing, she needs essential maintenance work this winter.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
The 'Reaper', the Museum’s 1902 sailing Fifie, having being largely confined to harbour for seven years, returned to the open sea under sail this summer. This was achieved by a group of the Museum’s volunteers dedicated to the restoration, maintenance, and operation of the Museum’s seagoing boats. However, the boat now needs repairs too intensive for the volunteers to manage. The hull is sound but without replacing the caulking, it will not be watertight and the boat will be unable to sail.
Solution
The 'Reaper' can get the professional attention she needs at Mackays Boatyard in Arbroath, the only nearby yard with the expertise and facilities to care for a wooden boat of this age. The volunteers will sail the boat to Arbroath where she will be taken out of the water so that the skilled shipwrights can access and repair the seams between the planks in the hull. A survey has shown the extent of the work needed and we are confident that this will ensure that the boat returns to sea in 2025.
