Bruce's | National Historic Ships

Registration number 1378

Status Archived

a12admin

BRUCE's - alongside, starboard side. ref: Assoc Docs.

BRUCE'S - dried out, port side. Ref: Assoc Docs

BRUCE's - bow from starboard side looking aft. Ref: Assoc Docs

BRUCE'S - aerial view of deck. Ref: Assoc Docs

Previous names

1927 - 1950 Celtic

Details

Function Fishing Vessel

Subfunction Drifter

Location NONE

Vessel type Fifie

Archive reason Disposed

Current use None

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Miller, James N & Son Ltd, St Monans

Built in 1926

Hull material Wood

Rig Gaff - Other

Number of decks 1

Number of masts 2

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

14.00 feet (4.27m)

Depth

6.00 feet (1.83m)

Length: Overall

48.98 feet (14.94m)

Tonnage: Gross

19.00

History

BRUCE's was a unique, unmodified motor Fifie, built by J N Miller at St Monans and launched 26 December 1926. She began life as a herring drifter and long liner. In 1950, she went over to purse seiner and general fishing. She was owned by the family of 'Bruce's of Arbroath' and was eventually sold in 1980.

Around 1990, she sank but was later raised in 1993. Re-nailed between 1994-5, she was converted to a live-aboard but kept as original as possible.

BRUCE's was registered with National Historic Ships UK in 1992 and was a vessel on the National Historic Fleet. She was subsequently reported to have been broken up in January 2020.

This craft is a previously registered historic vessel which no longer survives. At the time of its loss, the vessel details were entered on the National Archive of Historic Vessels. However, NHS-UK holds insufficient data to fully complete this record. If you are aware of any information, images, sources or other material relating to this vessel, please contact us on info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk.

Key dates

1926 Built in St Monans and named CELTIC
1926-1950 Worked as a herring drifter and long liner
1950 Used as a purse seiner for general fishing and re-named BRUCE’S
1980 Sold for private use
1990 Vessel sunk
1993 Vessel raised and salvaged
1995 Planks re-nailed
1996 Bought by present owner and converted to a houseboat
1997 Engine replaced
1998 Steering gear renewed
2005 New owner
January 2020
Vessel reported broken up - as yet unconfirmed.

Grants

April 2012
A Sustainability Grant of £1,500 towards the costs of work on the hull was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships
2007
A Sustainability Grant of £750 to cover the costs of lifting her out of the water, prior to work being done, was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships