Four Sons joins South West fleet
5th October 2023
The latest multi-purpose under-10m trawler built at the Cornish yard of C Toms & Son has been designed for inshore fishing with 4m beam gear. Owned and skippered by Derek Meredith, the vessel is named Four Sons BM 68. Its official naming ceremony will take place shortly at its home port of Brixham.
It is the latest build of the popular design from Ian Paton of SC McAllister & Co Ltd, and the tenth such vessel built by C Toms & Son. The order was initially placed by Roger Klyne, head of R&B Fishing Ltd.
Head of the yard Paul Toms explained: “It was to have been the seventh boat we built for Roger Klyne, four of which measure under 10m. Sadly, Roger recently passed away when the boat was in its final stages of construction.
“However, Derek Meredith was looking to have a similar boat built, and took the chance to buy it from R&B Fishing and for us to continue the work. It reflects the growing wish for skippers to have a true multi- purpose vessel of that design and length built.
“Derek is a regular customer of ours and shares that opinion, and may benefit from the U10 quotas now available.”
While agreeing, Derek Meredith added: “For all of the people involved in the UK quota system, it has been in a mess from the day it was introduced, and should never have been imposed upon the British fishing industry.”
He added: “Because of that lack of proper management of the present quota system, I have chosen to invest in the U10 sector. I have other boats, one being the 12m Golden Promise, and if I could sell it, I would consider having another vessel like the Four Sons built.
“I’m pleased with both its design and construction, and I will skipper the vessel for a while. I would like to thank the many firms involved in its build.”
A full report on the Four Sons will appear in Fishing News soon.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
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