Cap'n Crunk

Not that it matters one way or the other in the Pyrate world, but most guys who get their ear pierced nowadays tend to get both pierced. In fact it now looks kinda odd to see someone with only one earring. If there is such thing as a "gay" look today regarding earrings, it would be to have only one, regardless of which ear it's in. Traditionally the pirate earring (fact or fiction?) was a simple gold ring containing enough gold to buy the wearer a proper burial should he die on strange soil. I've also heard it was some sort of good luck charm against drowning. Cap'n Crunk

With the recent thread about building your own pirate ship, I've been doing some serious research on doing a working, scaled-down version of a Galleon. Well, I found one that has been done. The Time Bandit, named as susch because it was featured in the movie Time Bandits, was built by a father and son in California. It's a working 1/3 scale (43 foot) replica of a Spanish Galleon, now in service as a tour boat on Big Bear Lake in California. http://www.800bigbear.com/timebandit.html This the only web address I found on it. It's supposed to have a website but the link I found was no good. Anyone know any details about this boat or her builders? I'd sure like to see the layout and some study plans. If anyone has any info on other scale-down versions of classic "pirate" vessels, please direct me to it. -Cap'n Crunk

But while we're on the subject . . . and especially if you're building it yourself, why not a scaled down replica of a galleon? People do it with airplanes all the time. Classic warbirds in half or one third scale are very popular homebuilts. I'd venture to say, if they can work out scaling/stability issues with an airframe, it'd be much easier to do so with a boat. Seems as long as you took your time, did plenty of research, designed it right, and aren't expecting a safe, blue water boat, then I think it would make for a delightful coastal cruiser. It wouldn't go to wind worth a damn , but that's what motors are for these days. I'm talking half or one third scale, maybe even quarter scale - something that would end up putting you in the 30' to 40' LOA range, with maybe a 20 something LWL. Has it been done? Anyone seen pictures or know of a link? I'd love to hear a naval architect chime in on this. -Cap'n Crunk

If going with a boat in the 40 to 60 ft size, why not make it a schooner? With just one more mast there shouldn't be that much cost difference (if any) between a sloop and a schooner. Not only does a schooner make for a more "pirate" looking vessel, but with the sail area split between two masts, it makes for much easier sail handling on a vessel of that size. I sailed on a 54' (overall) schooner a couple years ago and was amazed at how easy it was to handle by a crew of three. Not a modern winch in sight either. All 18th century hardware. That particular boat was a charter built by a yard in the Florida panhandle. Fast too. Top speed of about 11 knots as I recall. There are build plans for schooners available all over the place. -Cap'n Crunk

Well, if totally seaworthy be your goal, that makes things a little difficult. The problem with a "pirate" type vessel, which to me means two or three masts, complete with yardarms and top sails, etc. is that's a lot of cloth to control, and on a small scale many boats would seem to be dangerously over-powered by that amount of sail. If you're looking to build something for just some fun coastal cruising on mild sunny afternoons, that's one thing. But a safe, ocean-going vessel able to handle serious bluewater conditions is something else. And take it from someone who's sailed for over half his life, captained boats from 12 to 51 ft in length, and lived through a capsize, the wind be a powerful force to recon with. The ocean can be a very inhospitable place at times. Certainly no place for a boat designed as a big toy. That said, anything can be done if you want it bad enough. Just do your homework first, and do it correctly. The first thing to do in that case would be to consult a marine architect with your ideas, or at least study the subject in-depth yourself. The first questions to answer would be the following: What size boat/ship are you talking about? What kind of budget do you have in mind? What type of vessel specifically are you looking for? Do you plan to build it all yourself? Also, what is your pervious sailing experience? -Cap'n Matt

A lot depends on what size vessel you're talkin about, and if this is going to be a real sea-worthy float or just a back yard decoration. I too have been thinking of building a "pirate" ship for years. In my case it would probably be a working 1/4 scale version of an English or Spanish Galleon, and would hopefully be stable enough for inland and coastal waters. For anyone wanting to build a wooden boat - the book "Wooden Boats" by Michael Ruhlman is a must read. It cronicals, amoung other projects, the building of the schooner Rebecca, the last wooden ship tobe built in the 20th century. -Cap'n Matt