A 102-year-old fishing boat made its first trip to the Isle of Man recently after being fully restored a few years ago.
The boat - Hearts of Oak - is a Morcambe Bay Prawner and was the last to be built in Ulverston where it was launched in June 1912.
It was discovered some years ago by Cumbria local historian Jennifer Snell as a rotting hulk in Ireland.
The boat’s crew member and trustee, Brian Scott, said a huge fundraising and restoration project had followed.
‘When she found it, as a historian she recognised its significance,’ he revealed. ‘It was basically just firewood, nothing more than a hulk and she bought it for £1 then had it transported back to England.’
A charitable trust was formed and lottery funding was secured for the boat, in recognition of its historical significance.
‘It was taken by road to the boat restorer, Scott Metcalf of Waterfront Marine, in Wales but we sailed her back again,’ Mr Scott said.
The boat was built for a Cumbrian publican who used it as a fishing boat and it also spent time in Liverpool before falling into disrepair. Since its restoration the trustees have sailed the boat to various locations where it can be viewed and appreciated.
‘We originally planned to come to the Isle of Man for just one night but it was a slightly rough crossing for an open boat, so we stayed for two very pleasant nights in Douglas,’ Mr Scott said.