True Vine BH 100

Current boat name

True Vine BH 100

Boat class

7064

Function

Fishing and Hunting

Type

Length (m / ft)

9.14 / 30ft

Beam (m / ft)

2.51 / 8ft 3in

Masts

one

Rig type

Dipping lug

Propulsion

Engine/sail/oar

Date of build

1963

Place of build

Amble

Present use

Sailing

TRUE VINE was built as a 30ft motor coble by J & J Harrisons for R and W Armstrong who registered her at Blythe (BH 100) and used her in the salmon fisheries on the Northumberland coast for forty years. TRUE VINE was built under the White Fish Authority building program and carried a short mast and sail as to comply with the rules: her original engine was a David Brown: this was replaced with a Kelvin which was still in when the Armstrongs sold the boat in 2003. She was sold to Seahouses and R Dawson, the boat builder, fitted a secondhand Volvo which he had removed from a coble. ( the BOYS OWN at Eyemouth) The present owner became aware that the TRUE VINE was down in the South West when she appeared in Sutton Harbour in 2007/2008. TRUE VINE was still in her original open boat format with her canvas dodger at this time. TheTRUE VINE was advertised on a National website for sale at Millbrook and was bought on the 13th of March 2009 from Hugging Brothers Marina. They were the second owners the previous owner fitted the wheelhouse. He did however via the selling agent return the original cover spar and the carling thoft which had the semi circle cut out for the mast. TRUE VINE has been fully restored to the highest standard. She is now in the condition she was when launched. The coble has had: the after section of her gunwales replaced, a new scut, all new thwarts and knees, a new floor stringer and foot hold, new oars and tiller made, a new 27ft mast, 16ft yard and 17ft short mast and a new dipping lugsail and jib. All wooden blocks have been hand made and all steel work associated with a sailing coble have been hand made from stainless steel. The coble has been refastened where necessary and repainted in the traditional way. TRUE VINE is now back to former glory and is one of a growing number of cobles that have been restored. TRUE VINE is likely to be the only one of her type on the South Coast, where sailing out of Brixham, she has turned a few heads with her graceful lines. GH Jan 2012