Standard Drifters
Steam drifters played an integral part of the war effort. They suffered many losses and the Admiralty realised that these vessels would need to be replaced. The replacement vessels would continue the war work and after hostilities ended it would ensure that there were sufficient fishing boats to maintain this vital part of the economy.
The Admiralty decided to put the smaller shipbuilding yards to work and selected a standard design submitted by Alexander Hall & Co, Aberdeen for a steel steam drifter. J Chambers & Co designed the wooden steam drifter. The cost of these vessels was £11,500 for the steel boats and £10,800 for the wooden ones. From 1917, 123 steel and 189 wooden boats were built. They were all given names relating to natural meteorological phenomena.
The Dykers appreciated the seaworthiness of these vessels and after the war many were bought by local skippers as they made excellent drift and line vessels.
These vessels were 86ft long, could steam at 9 knots. 42 HP, with a coal carrying capacity of 37 tons.
Some of the Cellardyke Standard boats
Steel Standard Drifters
HMD Name Local Fishing Name Port Registration
- Flicker Sea Reaper KY 245
- Thunderclap Mace KY 224
- Tidal Wave Norman Wilson KY 228
- Lasher Lasher KY25
- Whirlblast Stella Aurora KY 45
- Snowdrift Fifeness KY 27
- Chimera Twinkling Star KY 347
- Undertow Spes Melior KY 19
- Dusk Cosmea, Coriedalis KY 21
- Nebula Calliopsis KY 223
- Icefield Jessie Watson KY 52
- Anster Belle,
- Campanula, Memoria,
- Radiation Agnes Gardner KY185
- Noontide Noontide KY 6, KY 163
- Sleet Fairhaven KY 173
- Windrise Cassiopeia KY 14
- Foam Menat, Plough KY 232
- Morn Bene Vertat KY 20
- Defensor KY 208
- Current Copious KY 175
- Drizzle Pilot Star KY 48
- Wooden Standard Drifters
- Airpocket Cineraria KY 76
- Fogbank Dyker Lassie KY 75
- Flush Flush KY 184
- Fairweather Fairweather KY 47
- Flame Uberous KY 62