Fish class boats (Rudd, Shad, Skate, Tench and Trout)

This is the final extract from my 2004 article for the Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club. As I’ve said previously, the details of a number of these boats have changed significantly since this article was written, indeed all but one of the has changed hands more than once, but this is how they were at that time.

Rudd

Iron hull, built at Yarwoods, Northwich. Yard no 485. Left 22/11/35. Cabined at Saltley. Commissioned 02/36 Registered Birmingham 1582. FMC fleet no 323.

The boat lay at Northwich yard until 1979, at which time it was moved to the wide below Nantwich. It was purchased and restored with a longer engine room (7’ as opposed to the usual 5’) to accommodate the 15hp Bolinder engine fitted at the time (ex. Astor.) Unconverted composite hull with wooden cabin/deck and in BWB blue livery. Based at Leigh.

Shad

Iron hull, built at Yarwoods, Northwich. Yard no 486. Launched 11/11/35. Left 25/11/35. Cabined at Saltley. Commissioned 03/36 Registered Birmingham 1583. FMC fleet no 324.

Sunk at Northwich depot in 1979. The boat was moved to Ellesmere Port in 1979 with Lamprey. Has been part of the Boat Museum collection since then. Unconverted in BWB yellow livery. Lister HA2 fitted.

Skate

Iron hull, built at Yarwoods, Northwich. Yard no 487. Left 30/03/36. Cabined at Saltley. Commissioned 06/36 Registered Birmingham 1596. FMC fleet no 325.

Thought to have been scrapped in the 70’s. (See Mullet.)

[Note: I have never seen a photo of this boat – do any exist?]

Tench

Iron hull, built at Yarwoods, Northwich. Yard no 488. Launched 18/06/36. Left 02/07/36. Cabined at Saltley. Commissioned 09/36 Registered Birmingham 1600. FMC fleet no 326. Renumbered 214/49 when acquired by BWB.

Rebuilt at Horseley Fields dock; owned by Midland Canal Transport and now based in the arm at Dimmingsdale on the Staffs & Worcs. In 1982, travelled from Middlewich to Northampton via the Shropshire Union with Seaford and Lynx, carrying a one-off cargo of road salt, which attracted significant publicity at the time but did not lead to any regular work. The boat subsequently attended a number of boat gatherings, but it has apparently not now moved from the arm at Dimmingsdale for several years.

Trout

Iron hull, built at Yarwoods, Northwich. Yard no 489. Launched 07/07/36. Left 24/07/36. Cabined at Saltley. Commissioned 09/36 Registered Birmingham 1599. FMC fleet no 327. Renumbered 214/51 when acquired by BWB.

Captained by George Page in the 1960’s, then by Clark Walters in the 1970s. A two-cylinder Bolinder engine was subsequently fitted but this proved very unreliable and was replaced with a JP2. This is in turn about to be replaced by a Kelvin. Current owners have had the boat for 4 years and base it at Shardlow. Partial conversion under canvas.