The British Fishing Industry is steeped in tradition, superstition, and to some extent, suspicion, and this made it slow to embrace change of any kind. The move from sail to steam was a prime example of this reticence and was it not for the foresight of a few forward-thinking owners, it would have taken even longer.
The industry’s next move from steam to motor was yet another classic example of this adversity to change but, gradually the advantages and reliability of the internal combustion engine saw it replace both sail and steam within our fishing fleets. Also, as with steam, the motor-powered side trawler reached its peak as well as its demise within one person’s life span.
In this book, the author traces the development of motor power from its initial installation in sailing smacks (where it was used as a secondary form of power) to the early petrol/paraffin motors and later heavy oil engines and finally the powerful marine diesels and diesel-electric drives of the 1960s.
Not only did the motor-powered side trawler achieve reliability, speed, and excellent towing capabilities, it also made for a more comfortable living environment for its crews, with heated cabins, hot water on demand and diesel-powered generators gave ample power for modern navigation and radio communication systems.
British Motor Trawlers: From Development to Demise provides a comprehensive history of these vessels, which were important to the British fishing industry. Well-illustrated throughout with over 400 black & white photographs. Hardback. 424 pages.