Model, of motor skiff Viola

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This wooden model represents the motor skiff 'Viola', a fishing vessel built in 1935 at St Monance in Fife. The motor skiff, also known as a 'nobby', gradually replaced the west coast sailing skiff in the herring fishing industry. The model was built to a scale of 1:24 by the model maker, Mr A Balfour of St Monance in Fife.

With a crew of five, a boat such as the 'Viola' would range from four to eight miles from port and be away from three to eight hours. She was powered by a 50 horsepower diesel engine which replaced the sail when the wind was unfavourable. The engine also powered a winch and electric light.

Motor skiffs were used for all kinds of herring and line fishing as well as seine netting around the coast of Scotland and parts of England and Ireland. A seine net is a long weighted net attached to a float line. The most productive net in sea fishery is a purse seine in which the bottom of the net is drawn shut with a line running through rings.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-207-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1935.65
• Date: Model & original: 1935
  
• Material: Inscription: BA 935
  Fishing boat / skiff, motor / model
  
• Dimensions: 18.00" H (on stand) x 30.00" L x 9.00" beam
  
• What: Fishing boat / skiff, motor / model
  
• Subject: 23. SHIPPING, Fishing Boats (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Alex Balfour, 23 Miller Terrace, St Monance (Model maker)
  Viola (motor skiff)
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, St Monance
  Scotland, Fife, St Monance
  
• Event:
• Description: Model of the Scottish west coast motor skiff or habbie Viola, BA 935, made to a scale of 1:24
  
• References:
  • Storer, J D. Ship Models in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh: A catalogue of models representing the history of shipping from 1500 BC to the present day. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1985, p 72. 
• Translations:
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