Hello,
I have been doing considerable sailing recently on a boat supposed to have been built early 1900's at Crossfields. She is referred to as a Morcambe Bay Prawner although fitted out as a yacht with bulwarks and a large cabin house (probably built this way).
I have a book called 'Lancashire Nobby' which has much information on the type, which she surely is. Her name is not listed in this book, nor have I found any refernce to her except over the past 7 years , where 'Classic Boat' has documented her discovery ashore in England, then re-building and travels. There was also a clip in 'Classic Boat' with a photo of her in the 1960's, apparently under auxilary engine power. The captions comments seem to indicate that she had been in use consistently for some time.

If anyone knows of any source of information on the history of boats of this type, or how I can track the registration history of a particular boat , I would appreciate the help. I would like to authenticate her history in any way possible.

Thanks,
Brian

Hi
Ziska was built by John Crossfield trading as Crossfield Brothers at the top shop on Church Hill Arnside in 1903 or Mr. J W Aspoen. Although Crossfields built many Nobbys, they did also build yachts, using the same hull form, Ziska was one of these. The bulwarks and East Coast smack style steering thwart were fitted during her last rebuild. Crossfield will have fitted her out as a typical Victorian yacht.
Try tracing her through Lloyd's Register of Yachts, I know that she is in the 1919 edition.

Regards
Nick

Thanks for the information, it is similar to what I have heard elsewhere.
I am going to try and find out how to acsess the Lloyds Register, although do not yet know how.

Where did you get the histroy you just listed of this boat ?

Any other tips on where one might look for history ? is there perhaps an gov;t body that managed mooring registrations or something ?

Thanks for your help
Brian

Ziska also appears in the1906 LLoys register . Owner W.J.Ellis Doctor of Law of Dublin. Als had another boat Sea Gull.



Pete T

Pete,
Thanks for the input. What does "Als had another boat Sea Gull." mean ? is 'Als' to mean Ellis ?
Thanks



I have been looking around online and it seems that the only way to acsess these Lloyds Registers is to obtain a copy from a certian year and flip through it ?

In America, where could one find copies ? I see some of your libraries keep them.

I am also interested to hear from Nobby owners on what they know of their boats history.

Thanks folks,
Brian

To access Lloyds Register of yachts from the US of A you could try posting a request on boat forums ,e.g, this one, or http://www.classicboat.co.uk/forums/postli.../Cat/0/Board/cb
asking if any forum members have access to the Registers and would track Ziska for you.
You could also try the Library of the Falmouth Maritime Museum at http://www.nmmc.co.uk/index.php?page=Colle...Research&id=113

For Nobbys try http://www.nobbyownersassociation.co.uk/index.htm
but there is no evidence that Ziska ever towed a trawl, where as nobbys were shrimp and prawn trawlers first and last. The owner of Speedwell is pretty clued up, see also http://www.speedwelldiary.co.uk/

Thanks for the links and leads, I will follow them through and keep an eye open here as well for more info.

Thanks.
Brian