Fishing Boat

Made from 1922 and one of Star's foremost production models, first seen on the early 1920s advertising postcards and then in the first 1926 catalogue, the "Fishing Boat" as it was then known came in three sizes, No 1 with 16" hull, No 2 with 20" hull and No 3 with 24" hull. Described as a typical model of a real fishing boat carved from solid pine with a dark stained and varnished hull, varnished deck and bulwarks, a flat, full length lead weighted keel. A wooden rudder was fitted on the rear of the hull with a brass wire tiller which was roughly held in the steering position by the friction of a looped cord. With four brown double hemmed sails, rigged with brown cord, the masts were fitted to the same style mounts as the other Star yachts so they could collapse for storage, they varied with either the standard type fitting or later, the semi-circle shaped mount. White painted mast and spars were fitted for the first few years of production which later changed to varnished items. Early 1920s models had two cut out slots at the rear of the solid wood bulwarks at deck level to allow drainage of water. The rear sheet horse is made from steel and is mounted on top of the transom, early versions were driven straight into the wood, later sheet horses were made from brass with feet that were screwed into place. Very early years had a Star roundel logo stamped onto the mainsail in black ink, this changed to a Star trade mark logo of a varying size.

1925 Drainage slots changed to three brass eyelets in rear bulwark sides which are now made from plywood . Hulls are by now hollowed out. Spars are now varnished.

1927 Masts and spars now fitted with brass ferrules to stop the ends splitting. Rear sheet horse on some models is moved down to rear deck area. Sails now have taped edges.

1929 Some models fitted with wooden tiller arms.

1932 Hull sizes increased to No 1 18", No 2 22", No 3 26".

1933 Brass deck badge fitted. Illustration in catalogue now shows anchor and chain fitted to port bow.

1934 Now known as "Fishing Yacht"

1938 Now known as "Fishing Trawler".

1941 Last catalogue that shows the Fishing Trawler, production must have stopped during the war years, definitely not available post war.

Star also supplied Triang / Lines Bros with fishing boats and a quick way to spot the difference is the plank linings on the Triang boats were engraved into the deck as against the Star linings that were pencil drawn. The models differed in that they were constructed from a thick wooden central spine with hollowed out outer hull sections pinned and glued together along with a plywood deck with plank linings. The mast mounts were very large semi-circle shaped items. Triang had their own cast metal anchors whereas Star anchors were made from sheet brass. Masts and sails also differed in detail with the Triang having a printed "LB" sail emblem for the later Lines Bros versions and a square profile to the bottom of the masts. Early Triang fishing boats are collectable as they were made by Star.

1920s advertising postcard.

1922 Fishing Boat Number 3. 24" solid hull.

1925 Fishing Boat Number 2. 20" hollow hull.