Please Note: Mincarlo is closed till 1st April 2025

The Fascinating History of the Lowestoft ​Side Winder Trawler “Mincarlo LT412"

The Mincarlo is moored on Heritage quay south pier Lowestoft.
​From the 1st April 2024 Mincarlo will be open from Monday to Sunday 1000 till 1600 (subject to volunteers available)

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Mincarlo is the last of her kind. A floating tribute to the men who braved the North Sea to provide our fish, she is the last surviving fishing vessel built in Lowestoft with an engine made in the town... ​The ship is moored on Heritage Quay, South Pier, Lowestoft. This year we will be running our Main engine whenever we have enough water to do so. Come down and see a bit of Lowestoft's history come alive, and also see a momentus year for Mincarlo, she will have been in the trust's ownership for over half her life. Entrance is free but donation's gratefully accepted.

What's happening with the Mincarlo?

We have now completed the winter painting works and we have had our 5 yearly dry docking costing over £16,000 Any extra support financial or practical is welcome. While The Mincarlo - Lowestoft’s own Sidewinder Fishing Trawler, which was built by Brooke Marine in 1961-2 for the local fishing Family WH Podd & later owned by Boston Putford with the name of ‘Putford Merlin’, rocks gentle on her moorings at The Heritage Quay, Lowestoft, her restoration is now slowly continuing.

​Mincarlo was launched from the famous Brooke Marine yard on September 25th 1961, one of three single-screw motor vessels built for W.H. Podd Ltd at a cost of £75,600 per ship. She and her sister vessels - Bryher and Rosevear - were named by the Podd family after small islands in the Scillies. Her fishing career lasted 13 years, during which she was among the top half-dozen vessels in the 50 to 60-strong Lowestoft fishing fleet. Her catches mainly consisted of cod, plaice, haddock, skate and sole.

Mincarlo was known as a sidewinder because her nets went over the sides, unlike the now universal stern or beam trawlers. Her fishing gear comprised two otter trawls, each of which was fitted with otter boards - trawl doors designed to keep the net open. The nets were attached to heavy, 40 ft long ground ropes which held them on the seabed and ‘tickled up’ any fish lying on or below the sand. Putford Enterprises bought Mincarlo and continued to use her for fishing until June 1975. Two years later she was converted and began a new career as a rig standby vessel in the busy southern North Sea gas fields. She was renamed Putford Merlin but in 1989 at the age of 28, she was made redundant, replaced by a purpose-built standby vessel, and laid up at Brooke’s yard.
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Putford eventually sold her for £1 to the Lydia Eva Trust, which had been set up to preserve the world’s last surviving steam herring drifter. The organisation was renamed The Lydia Eva and Mincarlo Charitable Trust and work began on restoring the two historic vessels. A newly refurbished Mincarlo was opened to the public in 1998. They are living reminders of East Anglia’s fishing heritage.

At the grand old age of 50, Mincarlo is looking much better than for a long time and about to move into the spotlight. After a thorough survey in dry dock, a detailed report of work needed to restore her to her former glory has been produced. It is likely to be followed by the launch of an appeal for £200,000+ in 2014 to complete the refurbishment. Earlier this year (2011) Mincarlo underwent cosmetic repairs by Small & Co.and so was able to open her doors to visitors on Lowestoft's seafront over the summer. Then, in September, she underwent a full hull survey. Other minor works were carried out to the hull, together with inspections of the propeller, rudder and steering, and sea inlet valves.

Key Dates

• 1961/2 Vessel built by Brooke Marine, Lowestoft, Suffolk
• 1977 Vessel converted for service as a rig stand by vessel.
• 1984 Vessel's name changed to PUTFORD MERLIN.
• 1991 Sold to The Lydia Eva Trust, which then became The Lydia Eva & Mincarlo Charitable Trust.

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​All the information gathered takes time and money. If you are researching steam ships, the fishing Industry or just want in-depth Information about our ships, we ask that you make a small donation of £5.  By making this donation you will be sent a personal password for full access to the site, the volunteers activities, what we are doing to the ships day to day and an online version of our newsletter; this will all last for one year. Your payment will help us to keep our ships afloat and keep on with research of this fascinating industry.