Bream

• Build Year: 1933
• Builder: Fellows Morton & Clayton
• Length: 45ft
• Style: Tug

HISTORY

BREAM was built in 1933 as a Fish Class narrow boat by W. J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd of Northwich for Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. Her hull was built of coppered steel, unlike other Fish Class vessels, lined with pitch pine planking in the style of a 'Josher' with a pointed bow. Her British Waterways index number was 053621 and her fleet number was 130. She was registered at Birmingham. Her original engine would have been a Bolinder 9hp BM type.

The Fish Class of single motors, carrying up to 32 tons, was designed as a special fleet of fast express boats, each with a hold two feet longer than the standard motors, enabling them to carry 25 tons easily. They could be more flexible and offer an express service in response to increasing competition from rail and road. 

BREAM was the first built, ordered as the prototype vessel, and was aptly nicknamed the MAURETANIA by the crew after the Blue Ribband Cunard liner of the time. She is believed to have broken all records for the fastest runs, fully laden.

In the late 1960s, BREAM was cut into two halves. The 15’ Stern section was converted to a pusher tug/icebreaker by riveting the 30’ fore end of an LMS day boat. At this point, her original engine was replaced with her current engine, a more powerful Armstrong Siddeley AS3, but retained her original Bolinder fuel tanks. BREAM’s Stern section is one of the few survivors of boats that were specially created from earlier boats at a time when costs of new craft were prohibitive. 

Bream is registered with national historic ships and further information and pictures can be found here:

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2121/bream

Overview

Bream is a well presented historic craft that offers the extra accommodation that makes for more comfortable boating. 

The back cabin is traditional as expected and laid out in the normal style with a back cabin stove, table cupboard and side bed then a larger fold down cross bed. Doors into the engine room where the powerful armstrong AS3 sits as well as all electrical equipment. Breams original 1932 Bolinder fuel tanks are a nice feature that the craft retains.

The forward cabin is accessed by means of the doors from the tug deck or a set of side doors opposite the galley.

Inside is a good seating area at the bow which can convert to a double bed in the evening, a reflex diesel stove, and then a galley area with useful storage. A small bathroom with shower and porta potti toilet is located at the stern of this cabin.

A good advantage of this layout is that both cabins offer complete privacy if you were boating with 2 couples or with children / guests etc each with its own toilet and individual heating. 

Construction

Length: 45ft

Width: 7ft

Draft:  3ft

Construction: Steel/iron rivetted sides and welding bottom and footings

Builder: W J Yarwoods (stern section for FMC) 

Built Year:  1932

Recent Survey: No.

Last Hull Blacking: 2025 

Cratch: No - Tug deck

BSC Expiry: July 2027

Engine

Engine:  Armstrong AS3

Gearbox: Parsons

Hot Water: Calorifier

240 volt: yes - shore line - dynawatt 2000 engine mounted generator system.

Battery System: 12v with designated start battery.