The Alert, BF70

The Alert was built of steel in 1907 by Alexander Hall of Footdee, Aberdeen for Peterhead owners as PD506.  In its December 9th 1924 edition, the Banffshire Journal records her new owner as Henry Findlay, Shillinghill, Portsoy.  George Pirie, Church Street and G.G. McRobie, grocer, also had shares.  Henry’s sister Mary was the first wife of Joseph Mair, skipper of the Daisy and the Boy Andrew (q.v.).  By the 1937 Olsen’s Almanack the owners are listed as G.G. McRobie and others.  Steam Drifters Recalled lists an owner as “A. Findlay” in 1924. If the "A. Findlay" is correct, this could have been Henry’s brother Alexander.  Alert was scrapped in 1938.

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The Golden Ray, BF54

The Golden Ray was built of wood in Peterhead in 1914, for William Wood, Portsoy.  The Almanack lists her owners as “Wm. Wood senr. and others”.  The William Wood is likely to have  William (Wildie Doo) Wood, 1852 – 1935, the "senr." indicating that he had a son, also William, born 1874.  By 1924 the registered owner has changed to J. Wood, the Portknockie fishmerchant.  The vessel served in WW1 as a minesweeper; in 1915 her Captain was George Wood, 72 Church Street and her Mate John Slater, 34 Schoolhendry Street.

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The Banffshire Reporter of March 18th. 1914 gave a full report of her launching:

NEW DRIFTER FOR PORTSOY - Launched at Peterhead - Another wooden drifter was launched on Thursday from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Carnegie and Matthew, boatbuilders, Peterhead.    Built to the order of Mr. William Wood, Portsoy, the vessel is an excellent specimen of the handiwork of the firm, and her beautiful lines and superior finish were greatly admired.   The measurements are: - Length - 84 feet; beam, 18 feet 9 inches; and depth, 9 feet 9 inches.

          Notwithstanding dull weather, there was a large attendance of spectators within the shipyard, and the quays were also lined with an interesting crowd.  As the vessel was leaving the ways, Miss Wood, daughter of the owner, named her the "Golden Ray", breaking a bottle a bottle of wine on the stern in doing so.  The "Golden Ray" took the water amid loud cheers from the crowd, and was brought alongside the quay in a smart manner and without the slightest hitch.

          Thereafter a large company were entertained by the builders to a cake and wine banquet  -  Mr. Carnegie presiding.

          The Chairman said he was glad to see such a successful launch.  (Applause).  That was Mr. Wood's first venture along with his sons in the steam drifter line.  He asked them to join him in drinking to the success of the "Golden Ray" and to the prosperity of the owners.  (Cheers)

          Mr. John Slater, Portknockie, said he was pleased to be there, because Mr. Wood was an old playmate of his.  Coming to Peterhead reminded him of his boyhood days and of the circumstances under which their forefathers lived.  In Mr. Wood they had a good and worthy master and he was sure they all wished the "Golden Ray" prosperity, and hoped she would gladden the hearts of and rejoice the owners, and also the builders who had put out such a fine vessel.  (Applause.)   He asked them to drink to the success of the builders and owners.   The toast was heartily pledged.

          Mr. John Sinclair, fish-curer, on behalf of the builders, presented Miss Wood with a handsome gold bracelet for naming the vessel in such a graceful manner.  (Applause.)

          Mr. Donaldson, chemist, Portknockie, suitably acknowledged the gift on Miss Wood's behalf.  Mr. John Wood, Portknockie, proposed the toast of "The Builders of the Golden Ray," which was given with musical honours.

 

The Home Friend, BF257

Home Friend was built by Herd & Mackenzie at their Findochty yard in 1911, in wood, as BCK89.  In 1931 she was sold to Alex McKay and others, Sandend.  Olsen states Portsoy!  Because Sandend's harbour is very small, the larger boats often used Portsoy as their home port.  In 1936, Mrs M. McKay is listed as an owner.  The last entry is for 1939 after which the Home Friend was scrapped.  She served in WW1 as a boom defence vessel.

 

The Ocean Hope, BF29

Ocean Hope was a wooden drifter built by J & G Forbes of Sandhaven in 1912.  First registered in Yarmouth (YH732), she was sold in 1929 to William McKay of Sandend (listed in Olsen’s Almanack 1930 as W. McKay, Portsoy).  She was registered BF29.  In 1932 William McKay was working as Mate, her skipper being his son, Findlay McKay.  William sustained a fatal injury while working at the steam capstan and died shortly after in hospital. 

 

Ocean Hope fished until 4th August 1936.  On that date she was involved in a collision with the steam liner Fern Bank of Aberdeen five miles off Fraserburgh and sank.  All the crew were saved.

 

The collision was reported thus:

The drifter Ocean Hope was sunk in a collision five miles off Fraserburgh yesterday morning.  All the crew except one man were below at dinner when the Aberdeen steam liner Fern Bank struck her forward.  The Ocean Hope’s stern was carried away and the water rushed in through the gaping hole. An attempt at towing was abandoned and the crew of nine of the Ocean Hope saved only their personal belongings.  They boarded the liner just before the drifter disappeared and were taken to Fraserburgh.

The Ocean Hope’s home port was Sandend, Banffshire.

The Courier and Advertiser 6 August 1936

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The Pansy, BF1312

Pansy, BF1312 was a wooden steam drifter.  She was built by Fellows, Yarmouth in 1903 for William Wood, Banff. 

 

The Banffshire Reporter noted her arrival in Portsoy in its May 7th 1913 edition:

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TWO MORE DRIFTERS FOR PORTSOY - We stated last week that Portsoy has now possessed two additional drifters - the "Pansy" and the "Spey Bay".  The former craft belongs to George Wood, Schoolhendry Street, and others, and the latter to John Mair, Barbank, and Henry Findlay, Church Street.  Both vessels have been fitting out for the early herring fishing and before leaving made trial trips on Saturday in order to set the compasses.  A large number of people left the port on both vessels and greatly enjoyed the trip.  It is gratifying to see new bigger craft increasing in this way.

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The owners are given in Steam Drifters Recalled as G & J Wood and G. Mackay, Portsoy.  Olsen wrongly states Banff.  She was requisitioned for war service 1915 – 1919.  In 1925 she was sold on to J. Wood, Portknockie. Offered for sale in 1932, her boiler had been newly re-tubed, however there were no takers and she was scrapped.

 

The Spey Bay, BF601

Spey Bay was built in 1907 at Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, of wood, for Buckie owners.  Registered BCK5, she came to Portsoy around 1913, when sold to John Mair, Henry Findlay and G.G. McRobie, grocers, and was re-registered with the fishing number BF601.

 

In January 1913, two steam drifters were for sale on the front page of the Buckie newspaper, the Banffshire Advertiser:

"The Gem, BF 313 built by George Smith, Buckpool, in 1906 and engined by Gauldie and Gillespie, Glasgow. Offers to Wm. Murray, 70 West Church Street."
The other was "The Spey Bay, BCK 5, built at Lowestoft in 1908 by Reynolds. The engine was by Wm. Burrell of Great Yarmouth. For details apply to the skipper, Joseph Smith 'Miss', Ianstown." (Records of Buckie Heritage Centre).

 

Requisitioned 1915-1919, she operated as an anti-submarine net vessel and minesweeper.  In the local 1915 Roll of Honour, Portsoy crew are listed as William Mair, 58 Church Street, Captain and John Mair sen., Barbank, Mate; James McGregor, 8 Aird Street, Trimmer; William Still, 2 Church Street, Second Engineer.  She was broken up in 1928.