REAPER is a classic Fifie from the great final years of commercial sailing ships.
Her significance is acknowledge by her inclusion as one of the 60 vessels in the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Ships.
Following the introduction of the steam capstan in the 1880’s, which provided the power to handle larger sails and heavier gear, the size of the Fifies had been growing until by 1900 sailing drifters like REAPER reached their ultimate development.
Renowned for their power and speed under sail they were a magnificent sight entering and leaving the crowded fishing harbours of the East Coast from Wick to Lowestoft. With the introduction of the steam drifters the decline began but it was the development of reliable internal combustion engines that finally brought an end to the reliance on sail which had been the way of life for hundreds of fishing communities around the coast for centuries.

Keel laid 1901
Builder - J & G Forbes at Sandhaven nr. Fraserburgh.
Registered at Fraserburgh in 1902 (FR 958) and later at Lerwick LK707)
Purchased by The Scottish Fisheries Museum and restored to her 1902 rig.
Construction – Larch planking on oak frames.
Length overall 70’ 4” ( 21.43 m)
Beam 20’ 4” ( 6.19m)
Depth over keel and deck 10’ 8” (3.23m)
Draught 8’ 8” ( 2.62m)
Tonnage 61.3 Tons deadwt.
49.15 tons gross
29.04 tons net

Masts single piece, unstayed. Selected (2003) Douglas Fir from the Bonskeid Estate in Perthshire from a stand planted in 1922 with seed brought from the Murray River area in Canada.

Height of Foremast above deck 56’ 9” (17.3m)
Height of Mizzen Mast “ “ 46’ 10” (14.27m)
Sail areas Jib 667 sq. ft. (62.0 sq.m.)
Foresail 1558 sq.ft. (144.7 sq.m,)
Mizzen 1130 sq.ft. (105 sq.m.)
Total sail area 3355 sq.ft. (311.7 sq.m.)
Crew - 8 men and 1 boy
Fishing gear - Drift nets, Greatlines.
Steam Capstan – McDonald Brothers, Portsoy
Engine 1916 - 1941 Gardner 75hp
1941 - 1987 Kelvin 88L
1987 - 2004 Volvo (T)MD 120
2004 - Daewoo L136 – 8 litres 160 HP