Trawler Mincarlo

Trawler Mincarlo

Side Trawler Mincarlo
Heritage Quay
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0AP

Tel: 01502 565 234
E-Mail: enquiries@lydiaeva.org.uk

Web: Trawler Mincarlo

About Trawler Mincarlo

Mincarlo is the last of her kind. A floating tribute to the men who braved the North Sea to provide our fish, she is the last surviving fishing vessel built in Lowestoft with an engine made in the town.

Mincarlo was launched from the famous Brooke Marine yard on September 25th 1961, one of three single-screw motor vessels built for W.H. Podd Ltd at a cost of £75,600 per ship. She and her sister vessels - Bryher and Rosevear - were named by the Podd family after small islands in the Scillies.

Her fishing career lasted 13 years, during which she was among the top half-dozen vessels in the 50 to 60-strong Lowestoft fishing fleet. Her catches mainly consisted of cod, plaice, haddock, skate and sole.

Mincarlo was known as a sidewinder because her nets went over the sides, unlike the now universal stern or beam trawlers. Her fishing gear comprised two otter trawls, each of which was fitted with otter boards - trawl doors designed to keep the net open. The nets were attached to heavy 40 ft long ground ropes which held them on the seabed and ‘tickled up’ any fish lying on or below the sand.

Putford Enterprises bought Mincarlo and continued to use her for fishing until June 1975. Two years later she was converted and began a new career as a rig standby vessel in the busy southern North Sea gas fields. She was renamed Putford Merlin but in 1989 at the age of 28, she was made redundant, replaced by a purpose-built standby vessel, and laid up at Brooke’s yard.

Putford eventually sold her for £1 to the Lydia Eva Trust, which had been set up to preserve the world’s last surviving steam herring drifter. The organisation was renamed the Lydia Eva and Mincarlo Charitable Trust and work began on restoring the two historic vessels.

A newly refurbished Mincarlo was opened to the public in 1998. They are living reminders of East Anglia’s fishing heritage.

2011

At the grand old age of 50, MINCARLO is looking much better than for a long time and about to move into the spotlight. After a thorough survey in dry dock, a detailed report of work need to restore her to her former glory has been produced. It is likely to be followed by the launch of an appeal for £200,000+ in 2012 to compelete the refurbishment. Earlier this year (2011) MINCARLO underwent cosmetic repairs by Small & Co.and so was able to open her doors to visitors on Lowestoft's seafront over the summer. Then, in September, she underwent a full hull survey. Other minor works were carried out to the hull, together with inspections of the propeller, rudder and steering, and sea inlet valves.