50 years plus boat history: Islander BA 316
Launched by Alexander Noble and Sons of Girvan as yard number 58, Islesman SY 433 was built as a trawler with a Kelvin T6 180hp for Alexander McLean of Ness on the Isle of Lewis. She was financed through the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) grant scheme and was also used for training up crews for other new builds at the time. There had been another Islesman in Stornoway, registered SY 248, which had been built by Jones of Buckie as MFV 
324 in 1945. This was converted for fishing in 1949 as Craigewan PD 416, and subsequently sold to Stornoway in 1961, when she was renamed Islesman. This was the first HIDB training boat in Lewis, skippered, I believe, by Jimmy Chisholm. That vessel was sold to Northern Ireland in 1964 and re-registered N 246. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:31
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