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AMAZON


Built by Le Soeur of Jersey in 1866. ‘Amazon’ was first registered at Hull. She was lengthened in 1870/1 and if, as believed, the measurements given here relate to after lengthening, she probably started life as a trawler, working on the East Coast. From 1900 until the outbreak of the Great War – and perhaps later – her master was A. J. Watts. In 1904 she was registered at Barnstaple for Bessie, wife of James Watts, master mariner of Braunton. We have been unable to establish whether she had come west from Hull in 1900, as seems probable, nor whether, as also seems likely, A. J. Watts and James were related – or identical.
In 1927 she was sold to Oscar Harris, mariner of Par, who re-registered her at Barnstaple and installed an auxiliary motor of 25 bhp. Her new owner/skipper was something of a character. Jack Birch of Oreston recalls that he was nick named ‘Mad’ Harris on account of his uncertain temper when things were not going right! He was a native of Par and his mate was likewise a Cornishman. In the late 20’s and early 30’s the ‘Amazon’ was probably better known for her colourful skipper than for any other reason.
On June 16th 1934 she caught fire in her engine room when off Looe. After two hours the fire was put out. She reached Plymouth and berthed in Millbay Docks when at night the fire flared up again. Fire engines were called and put out. Two years later on Sept 22 1936 she was stranded whilst entering Plymouth. She strained her hull badly and was escorted into Plymouth and found to be beyond economic repair. Written off as a total loss she was towed into Hooe Lake and left to rot. Official Number: 55260. Tonnage: 49 gross, 34 net. Length: 65•5 ft x beam: 17•4 ft x depth: 8•2 ft.


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