capn'rob

What's soap?

You don't need it! Diosa youtubed it so you can see your self!

Just a bit of personal experience with one of the aforementioned applications. When launching a wooden boat that has been on the hard in a period such that would dry it significantly, upon launching the slipway was "dusted". Buckets of sawdust were heaved into the slipway. This would slow the water coming in enough that the pumps could keep up. As the planks swelled the sawdust would work free. Real dry, wide gaps? Substitute Oatmeal for sawdust. Although finding and mending is a great cure for a leak, I believe the major problem assosiated with ships leaking so that crews were sickened from pumping may not be that far from reality. There seem to be as many Shanties for Pumping as for Shorthaul, Capstan or other specific station. I know of one account of a crew so miserable from pumping and request that the Captain put in for repairs, denied, brought the crew to refuse to pump further. The Captain called all hands aft and from the break said "I have just as many friends in hell as you do. If you want to see'um, let's go!" At which point the crew on watch returned to the pumps. It is the first job aboard. It is the last job aboard. "Leave her, Johnny, Leave her. For it's time for us to leave her." Pumping Shanty, usually the Last

Dutch o' the "Meka"II

I, Not "Aye" but meself, found the book a good read. Although my experience with modern Pirates has been almost fleeting at best, I've had one. I have a few personal friends that have been too closely involved with Pirates for their liking. As I worked in the Marine Industry in South Florida from the early 1970s until the 90s, I'll leave it at that. I read this book several years ago and recall two things. One, I enjoyed it. Two, a great poem that I recite to this day! Having cruised the Out Islands of the Bahamas, you can almost find this story believable. Living on Block Island, felt as much living aboard as when I was living aboard. A large quantity of dunnage was a "Dory Full". Preparing for a storm was like battening down at sea. These folks were isolated until Tourism returned in the 70s having passed with the Victorian hey day! In my cruising experience I've been to some Islands that don't get a lot of tourism even the cruising sailboat type. It's hard to imagine today but when I crossed the Pacific to the Marquesas 1979, we made a "speedy" crossing of 28 days. We used Celestial Navagation because the Omega didn't work out of the chute! Today, the speed is laughable to the new designs and dependable nav equipment has made cicumnavigators out of many. We visited Islands that hadn't had any boats, Any, in four years! I doubt that's the case anymore. As far fetched as it could seem if taken with a grain of salt, from what I remember it were a good yarn. "Him rob he friend o' his Last Guinea! Him kill both Friar and Priest, Oh Dear! Him cut de throat of Pickaninny, Bloody, Bloody, Buccaneer!" and that little rhyme.

Ahoy, Callenish, 'tis meself, Dutch, Bosun o' the "Meka"II. We've spoke a time or two most recent at PiP. Aye! 'Twas me first visit to the Ft.Taylor Gatherin' o' Bretherin and a time I had I'll tell ye, sez I! Ye'll have to get wi' th' Cap'n early o the day o battle, fer a gunner o' skills be a gunner wot kills. Stands t' yer gun sez I, fer the Lord knows who shall die!

In the "Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor" of 1808, the diagram of headsails depicts the fore staysail, the fore topmast staysail and the jib. That's starting on the fore stay and working forward. Below the bowsprit is the spritsail and outboard of it the spritsail topsail. During this age, as with any, unless the country's coffers were full the vessels they had were what they could afford. Last week I was in the NC Maritime museum, looking at the model of the Queen Anne's Revenge. This is an Admiralty Model and in the detail thinking "this is some vessel for a Pirate to have taken!" The others in his fleet were sloops and the like. This ship was on par with what ever the Crown could send after him. All he had to do was not get stuck any where like on a sandbar where Lt. Maynard could catch him and lob off his brain bucket. Oh well. Lindsey's Law! It appears to me that in 18th and 19th century sails set on stays were called stays'ls and by the stay they were bent to. The outermost seemingly called a jib. In later period are the terms inner, outer and flying jibs used. In the schooner era the fore staysail, fitted on a boom was refered to as a "Jumbo" and that carried over to ketchs and yawls fitted so as well.

In yours, and my Grandmother's time, their Stays were fitted with boning that was called "bone". However, it was Baleen. The huge straining screen between the jaws of the Baleen Whale. The Book on this fishery's history is tittled, "Corset Stays and Buggy Whips, The Baleen Whale Fishery". Once removed and dried, the once pliable cartalige type material became hard but flexible.

Ancient Battle Armour was made of layers of Linen pasted togeather with a surface of leather or metal!

Avast Rats! "eave an hawser fer this bit o' me tu'pence on the subject o' cannon. I serves aboard of the "Meke"II, * guns, Homeport, Beaufort, NC. In our Homeport there abides a maker o' fine cannon what goes by th' moniker , Jim Bircher. His foundry, Beaufort Naval Arms. He's whet outfitted much o' the ordinance aboard o' the "Meka". Four Rail Guns, three small Brass Swivel Guns and a Bow Chaser what's a modified Lyle Gun. If'n ye ain't seen the "Meka" at a Gatherin' or been at a Gatherin what she been at and Heard her, ye'll know her well. For mark ye this, She's eight guns and shys not from any vessel of any flag.

In some 18th century restored homes, I have seen large embroidery frames on stands close by the hearth in the parlor. I have an image of of a woman working this piece on a winter's night, warmed by the fire. Perhaps a daughter with a small frame working her first sampler. The outcome is after many evenings like this, an object of art that serves a purpose and stands the test of time. It's amazing how much can be done of an evening without a TV!

Avast, PrinsipessaMarley, Hopin' ye be well, sez I. Noaw jus b'cuz tha postin be o' age dozint mean it caint be ye wot saves it! Mights I remembers ta' ye that since tha' time o' th' post Cap'n Roberto o' th Pirates Republic has begun 'is bizniz of a public house. And not but a twelve month after 'e opens another wi' victualing as well. Now, sez I, who be customing sech places? Pirates? sez you? indeed, sez I and gives ye a nip! So, I sez t' ye, get thee out the hue and cry. Let it be know t' them what feels they 'ave chased us'ns from th' waters what we ruled for 'alf a millenium the th' Black Flag waves free and those what sails b'neath 'er sails free! Dutch "X" his mark

Any more details? Is there a webpage? Contact#, could you post them? Thanks, Dutch "X" his mark

Me friend, Stynky, At least in Beaufort, yer duty may be of a lesser degree, givin' ye more watches off! 'Tis true, 'tweren't much but t' stop ye and sez "allo!" and Ye'd say as much as ye'd time fer! An' we sez so! An we hopes so, that we'ns will be frolikin' and rolikin' an all on tha' ran tan when ashore in the ol' Town o' Beaufort. Now, mark ye well, the Invasion of Bald Head Island be the week afore Beaufort. I doesn't 'ave all them coordinants but can gets 'em from me Cap'n if'n ye may be wantin' ta know! Aye, an we forgets not the goins on in Hampton in the Virginia Colony. Blackbeard 'imself! He be throwin' a sioree right in the face o' the Crown and Lobster Backs an' all! Now who'd be missin' a party as such? Avast now! Soon I be of a mind (or of what I got left) ta' be amongst the Bretheren all the time! Aye t'would be Paradise t' me! Well Mr. Tudor, I looks forwards to shippin aboard wi' ye again. Mind yerself, reef early and watch the leeshore, yer humble servant, Dutch "X" his mark

That would be cool if they had a catalogue. Maybe we can find some of the works online then and I can get some more analysis done. I shall call on Monday and find out what I can. I've yet to see an exhibit at the Peabody-Essex that didn't offer a full color catalogue covering the exhibit. This work was on loan from a Royal Museum in Great Britton.

I have often considered shipping my boat to the UK and cruising the canal system and rivers. I've done some reading on the subject and know that the breadth and draft and height of my vessel are within the limits of the canal systems capacity. Basically, less than a Narrow Boat. I have a few friends in Ireland that live within walking distance of the waterway. I just think this would be a wonderful way to spend a good length of time seeing Great Britton and Europe. Not to mention, stop at the "Chipper"!

Is that a picture of "Sole Food"? "Sole Food"! And are we not followers of the Black Powder Movement and the Great Leader, Talcum X? Right Arms!

So cold I saw a chicken with a capon!

Hence, the difference between a "Sea Story" and a "Fairy Tale". The Fairy Tale begins, "Once upon a time...." and the Sea Story begins "Now you're not going to believe this .........!" Also, I don't know about Brass Monkeys but, It was so cold here today I saw a Politician with his hands in his own pockets!!

ooooh !! nice boat !! Will you be attending any of the Eastcoast Gatherings besides PiP? We have a Pyrate Invasion of Beaufort in August that is a lot of fun and based on an historical invasion by Spanish Privateers in the 1740s. We re-enact the second attack by the Malitia and locals that repelled the Spaniards and retook the town. Several "Pirates" are arrested and after a brief and fare trial, there's a hanging! The weekend before is the Bald Head Island Invasion, as well. Of course in July there's Blackbeard Feastival in Hampton, VA. The reason I ask is that, at least at Beaufort I will have "Key Lime" in the water and if you"d like you could take her for a sail. She sails really well! I may bring her to Hampton as well. For the present I'm just hoping this "skim ice" doesn't freeze hard around "Patience", the boat I live on! I've been getting by with electric heat so far. If it gets colder I'll have to fire up the coal stove! Stay Warm! Dutch "X" his mark