The wooden motor trawler Lilt was launched from the Buckie yard of George Thomson & Son (Yard No 29) in 1949. She measured 65.7’ x 19.2’ x 8.5’ and her tonnage was 49 gross tons. She was powered by a diesel engine provided by Blackstone & Co Ltd, Stamford delivering 160 bhp. Built to the order of three partners George Coull, James Coull and Philip Mustard, she was registered and operated from that port with a fishing registry of BCK 43. Following re-build and engine works she passed to new Buckie owners in 1967 and renamed as Avrella. In 1974 she was sold to Shetland owners and re-registered as LK 174 where she remained for the rest of her fishing career finally retiring in 1985 when her fishing registry was cancelled.
We have not been able to establish what happened following decommissioning other than she was converted for use as a private yacht, and the pictures below, courtesy of Jim Hynd, show her anchored in Loch Sunart in 1991.
Like her later life, we have been unable to establish when the Avrella sank, and by what cause. What we do know is her mooring rope is still attached and it would appear she sank perhaps due to water ingress, as there are no obvious visible signs of collision damage.
The Wreck Today
The Avrella lies along a steeply sloping muddy seabed on the upper west side of Loch Goil in position 56° 09.050’N, 006° 54.180’W. The wreck, which is fully intact, lies on its starboard bilge with bow pointing south, depths range from 28 metres at seabed at the stern to 22 metres ontop of the wheelhouse. Located off a large house and grounds the wreck is often buoyed with a light line and pellet buoy.
The wreck is very photogenic, and generally has reasonable visibility, although can be a bit dark if there has been a lot of recent rainfall.
We would like to thank Jim Hynd for giving permission to reproduce his photographs of the Avrella taken in 1991. Historical details in this page referenced to Clydeships database for FV Lilt.