Restoration project
The Good Hope Project was started in 2012 with a view to restoring an 89 year old sailing vessel called the ROBINA INGLIS.
In co-operation with a Berwickshire Youth Group called CONNECT, "Getting Ready for Work", a Government employment initiative and Drysdales a vegetable processing company, BMT was able to secure the funding and expertise to give the vessel a six month restoration. This took place in an industrial unit owned by Scottish Borders Council.
Six unemployed 18 year olds completed the restoration and by Spring 2013, were able to put the vessel back in the water, under the name of GOOD HOPE, the original name of the vessel when she fished from Eyemouth in the mid 1940's.
History of the Good Hope
The Robina Inglis was built in Newhaven (Edinburgh) in 1923 by Martin & Brown and was the first vessel to be built with an engine (30 HP petrol) paraffin Kelvin engine.
The boat was fished from Newhaven until the outbreak of the 2nd World War and was purloined by the Royal Navy to patrol between Eyemouth and Amble, watching out for enemy activity. It was eventually based in Amble as a patrol mine sweeping vessel.
After the war, the Robina Inglis was bought by the Dougal family to fish from Eyemouth. They changed her name to the Good Hope and was the first of several vessels to be thus named by the same family. When the skipper/owner died in 1947, the vessel was laid up on the River Eye, sold back to Newhaven and the name changed back to the Robina Inglis.
The vessel remained in Newhaven until 2012 when Johnny Johnston raised the money to bring this historically important fishing sailing vessel back to Eyemouth.
The Robina Inglis was built in Newhaven (Edinburgh) in 1923 by Martin & Brown and was the first vessel to be built with an engine (30 HP petrol) paraffin Kelvin engine.
The boat was fished from Newhaven until the outbreak of the 2nd World War and was purloined by the Royal Navy to patrol between Eyemouth and Amble, watching out for enemy activity. It was eventually based in Amble as a patrol mine sweeping vessel.
After the war, the Robina Inglis was bought by the Dougal family to fish from Eyemouth. They changed her name to the Good Hope and was the first of several vessels to be thus named by the same family. When the skipper/owner died in 1947, the vessel was laid up on the River Eye, sold back to Newhaven and the name changed back to the Robina Inglis.
The vessel remained in Newhaven until 2012 when Johnny Johnston raised the money to bring this historically important fishing sailing vessel back to Eyemouth.
Future Projects
The next project for the BMT is to build a 55 - 60 foot brand new vessel at Eyemouth. The vessel will be a traditional wooden Fifie built by traditional means by professional boat builders, a trade which will soon be lost to Scotland.
There has never been a new vessel of this type built in Scotland in the last 60 years and this build would last for another 100+ years, thus carrying on our fishing heritage.
If you are interested in this project, please contact us by email: Contact Johnny
The next project for the BMT is to build a 55 - 60 foot brand new vessel at Eyemouth. The vessel will be a traditional wooden Fifie built by traditional means by professional boat builders, a trade which will soon be lost to Scotland.
There has never been a new vessel of this type built in Scotland in the last 60 years and this build would last for another 100+ years, thus carrying on our fishing heritage.
If you are interested in this project, please contact us by email: Contact Johnny