Loki
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The Loki is an important historic Shetland vessel, being one of the last surviving Zulu class.
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History
Originally a sailing drifter named the Maggie Helen, she was launched in 1904. As with the Swan, she was designed and built by Jack Shewan at the Hay & Company yard at Hay's Dock Lerwick.
After her fishing career had ended she was bought by Tom Moncrieff and converted to a yacht in 1952. Over the next two decades he made numerous cruises with her to Norway and around Shetland. In the mid sixties she was laid up in Hay's Dock and a lengthy renovation begun. This primarily involved replacing her deck, keel, top planks, rudder and engine, as well as re-nailing her hull and re-modelling the superstructure and interior. In 1980 she returned to service and again became a familiar "landmark" off the southend of Lerwick.
She was obtained by the Shetland Museum in 2006 and is currently under restoration, once again in the Hay's Dock boatshed.
Specifications
- Overall Length: 13.08 metres (42.88 feet)
- Beam: 3.99 metres (13.08 feet)
- Draught: 1.91 metres (6.26 feet)
- Gross Tonnage: 12.59
When launched she had no engine and was typically lug rigged. She was later fitted with various engines. As part of her conversion to a yacht, she was re-rigged as a topsail schooner.
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Trivia
- Loki was also the name chosen for Tom Moncrieff's galley when he was Jarl in 1965. The Loki galley was painted with blue and white stripes in hommage to the Loki's characterictic blue colour scheme.
- Her current propellor shaft, made from Monel, was salvaged from one of the two MTBs which burned and were sunk at the North Ness during WWII.
Literature
- Smylie, Mike, 1997, The Mighty Zulu, Classic Boat, January, pp. 66-70.
See Also
- The Swan: Historic Fifie fishing boat also built by Jack Shewan.
