Side trawler, rigging, gallows and gear details

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Following on from my query regarding information on the steam trawler "Nerine'; can somebody point me to where I can obtain details of typical rigging, gallows set-up and associated gear for an early to mid- 20th century steam trawler. I'm particularly interested in what appears to be some sort of shock absorber mechanism attached to fore- and aft masts, and cable leads from gallows to winch.

My internet searches bring up loads of trawler pics but no deck details pics and none of my few books on ships and ship modelling have much to say about trawlers with the exception of modern stern trawlers.

Thanks in anticipation ……

Robin

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

The old Shipwright plan of the steam trawler Navena has some detail but the plans are not currently available and the image I have in an old book is pretty small and very difficult to make out. I can email you a scan if you want, there is also a simplified exploded view of the trawl winch.

Colin

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Many thanks AGAIN, Colin. Yes, please. I would appreciate a scan of the Navena details and trawl winch. Even if poor quality i they would be 100% more than I have right now!

BTW, I have written to the Aberdeen Maritime Museum people regarding the drawings of the 'Arum' and received a very prompt reply.

Regards,

Robin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Robin,

I have sent you some scans, hope they are of use.

Colin

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Many thanks again Colin. The scans received OK. The trawl winch info will come in very useful as the Hall Russell yard drawings don't show this in any detail.

Regards,

Robin

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Me back again! All the helpful advice and pics (above) have gone a long way to educating me on what's what on old steam trawlers.

There is one thing that 'bugs' me, and being a hard nut when it comes to exact scale models, is the positioning and layout of the steering chain from wheelhouse to quadrant. I notice on other Aberdeen-built trawlers the chain goes through a trunking that runs along the deckhouse and straight through to the rudder quadrant. Sadly there are no details like this on the Hall Russell drawings

Regards,

Robin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Robin,

Have a look at the Mountfleet Models St Nectan: **LINK**

Although the prototype was built in Yorkshire you can see the steering chain arrangement clearly in the slideshow photos, angling down from the wheelhouse to deck level and along the main deckhouse with one of the last ones showing the chains running into the rudder quadrant housing under thepoop.

Colin

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Colin,

Many, many thanks – again. Bingo! Now I know what to look for I have found a not too clear pic which does show the chain duct running vertically down from the wheelhouse, around a pulley and along the deckhouse running aft and, presumably, straight through to the quadrant.

Just goes to show – when in doubt ask the expert. Many thanks again,

Robin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Robin……it wasn't all chain from the wheelhous to the quadrant.the chain came out of the wheelhouse, over a roller, across a top roller itted onto the deck house side, through the trunking, around the bottom roller, onto the open chain channel……and from there it linked to solid bars which ran down the chain channel, finally linking to more chain which ran to the quadrant.

neil.

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Many thanks Neil,

Quite a complex set-up. From what little I can make out from the fuzzy pic I have, it would appear that one cannot see the chain-to-bar nor bar-to-chain links as they are hidden within the trunking.which appears to be cylindrical (pipe) in section.

Much appreciated.

Robin

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hello Robin,

had the same problem with build of my Kingston Peridot lack of deck detail on plan ,

so see that boat now on the bottom of the north sea having to make it up has i go a long ,

found a bit of info on the hull model group web site, and on trawler web site .

posted a couple of pictures of winches i have found and scrachtch built using photos ,

not quite a true but will pass i will never be rivit counter but i get by ….

likeyour models nice to see some rusty bits ………..Larry….

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Hi Larry,

Many thanks for the interesting pics. I too am not a rivet counter – one can sometimes go too far with absoluite scale. Although I am a perfectionist in that I like to show every piece and to true scale dimensions I draw the line at trying to show plating lines, rivets and every nut and boolt.

Thanks too for your comment on my models. Yes, in my book a working boat needs to look like a working boat – not like 'Daddy's new plastic toy straight from the Southampton Boat Show'! That doesn't imply I apply sloppy paint work – I airbrush to a good finish and then 'muddy the water'.

Your mention of the Hull model group sent me searching and I found an Aberdeen group and am hoping that somebody there might have more information on Hall Russel trawlers.

Regards,

Robin

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