These fishing boats have been here since the mid-seventies apparently. They have deteriorated badly in recent years - with the wheelhouse on the first boat having collapsed in 2013.
The boats are owned by a local character, who paid a nominal sum and brought them here as a salvage "project" that never quite happened... I have managed to glean a little more information about them:
The boat nearest the slipway was built by Paterson Macduff in Banff as Pavonia WK53 in 1955. She was later re-registered as HL114 when skippeed by Eric Picknet based out of Hartlepool in the 80s.
The smaller one to the right was named Mint BF300 (also known as Wistaria OB327, and finally Elsie May) and worked out of Oban in the late 60s / early 70s, also out of Burghead at one time as a prawn boat, and subsequently fished for many years by 'Bobo' Gibson out of Fionnphort. She was built by G Watt, also in Banff.
The one astern is Girl Claire B8. Built in Fraserburgh in 1957 as Girl Wilma INS53 and operated by A McKenzie out of Lossiemouth. Later became Cairngorm INS53 & FD353, then Girl Claire B8 (Belfast).
Due to the current state of the vessels I recommend that you do not attempt to board them - there is no need to do so in order to find the cache.
The cache will be difficult to access during high tides - take care, and come back another time if necessary.
The cache container has twice made a bid for freedom. First it was retrieved from the rocky shoreline of Drimmin Estate - just a short trip across the Sound of Mull. But the second journey was even more adventurous: It was discovered on a beach on Sanday, off the Isle of Canna - a significant distance to the North West of Mull. Many thanks to the various cachers and muggles involved in it's safe rescue and return.
