Name: Silvery LightCertificate number: 1838 |
Status:Function:Sub Functional Area:Type:Location:Amble, Northumberland, England Current use:Restoration
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Web address
http://www.silverylight.co.uk/
Builder
- 1884, William Robert Williams, St Ives, St Ives
History
SILVERY LIGHT, herring drifter, was built in 1884 on the beach at St Ives, Cornwall, by William Robert Williams. She was launched on 10 July 1884. Having missed the early tide that day, the superstitious refused to launch on a Friday. However, the owner would not wait until Saturday and pay them to do nothing in the meantime, so SILVERY LIGHT was launched at 23.45 on the Thursday night. Her official number was 89055.
She began work as a herring drifter at Great Yarmouth, but in 1890, she was sold to a Norwegian for cod fishing, re-named RAUST and converted to a trawler. She was considerably strengthened at this time, with additional oak frames and thick planking of three to four inches instead of the normal two inches. She was also re-fastened with treenails.
By 1922, she had retired from fishing and began work as a coastal freighter, supplying isolated settlements in North Norway and the Arctic. An engine was fitted in 1931 and a counter stern was added in 1949. She was later abandoned, but was bought by a new owner in 1988. He brought her to England for restoration and changed her name back to the original.
SILVERY LIGHT was re-caulked and fitted with a new steel bulkhead and accommodation for up to twelve people. Other work has since been carried out to bring her up to MCA standards. Her owner, an educational psychologist, used the boat to help treat his patients. She spent six years chartering in the Azores, where she was also hired for whale watching and research.
SILVERY LIGHT was brought back to the UK in September 1999. She is intact and sea-going and now works as a Sail Training Vessel with her home port at Eyemouth, Scotland. Her hull is carvel built with oak frames and oak planking fastened with iron nails and treenails. She has one deck and two timber masts and is rigged as a gaff ketch. Her current engine is an inboard diesel made by Cummins (B Series), with six cylinders and 115 horsepower.
These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
Subsequent developments
15/07/2008: Information from owner: vessel now based at Ambl;e, Northumberland and awaiting restoration
Previous names
- 1889 - 1989, Raust
Bibliography
- Rolt, Peter, 2000, Survival of the Fittest, Sailing Today, January, pp. 186