capn'rob

I really enjoyed seeing the work on the Pub. Thank You. If you have further interest in the period work I can find out if the museum published a catalog on the exhibit. They generally do. I can ask my cousin who's a docent there. If you appreciate this piece some of the work at the exhibit was just over the top! It was pointed out that in some work the artist was obviously not a mariner by wave pattern to wind direction (sail set) but the minute detail of the painting was incredible and flawless! I'd be glad to research the book for you if you are interested. Thanks again for posting the work and close ups! All the Best! Dutch "X" his mark

This summer there was an exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. focusing on the detail of the Dutch Maritime Artist of the 17th and early 18th centuries. It was absolutely amazing. The miniatures were really spectacular as well.

All be the greetings Late!!

Happy Birthday Stynky Tudor! Many Happy returns of the Day!! It was a pleasure to meet you at Pip albeit brief, perhaps you'll come to the Pyrate Invasion of Beaufort in North Carolina. We'd love to host you here! Again, Happy Birthday! Dutch "X" his mark

Having one lens implant and needing another And still needing glasses youcan imagine that I miss all but reflections on the glass. Once the bearded man was mentioned I think I did see him standing on the rightside of the center window. Living on Block Island, particularly in some of the early 19th century places, there was much paranormal activity. Not as much sighting but feeling.

In the many years I've been in and around ships and boats there's always been the discussion of the small sailboat that stood his right of way with a large ship and was in fact, DEAD Right. I haven't sat for a USCG Test since the early 80s. They certainly changed from the late 60s. Also, the fact remains that these guys weren't in Our Waters so No rules apply. Only as you've stated and as I hlod true, the rules of Seamanship and Sea Sense. As also mentioned these similar antics by Greenpeace have resulted in Death. Again, dead right. My sea time has been signed by the Masters I have served. I came up "through the hawsepipe" and feel the better for it , for I would not ask a crew member to do any job that I have not or would not do. As Asst. Harbormaster of the Town of New Shoreham, Block Island, I was a very important individual! I operated the Pump Out Boat! I went by the name, "Capt. Crapper" and named my Pump Out Boat the "Thomas W" for Thomas W. Crapper, the man who invented the flush toilet. Ah, my license at work! The careful carrige of liquid cargo! By custom back home, once one earned their Masters the "Cap'n" was applied to their name. As a boy i knew I wanted that and started by doing any work I'd be given in the boatyard in hopes of being able to work on those boats during the season. I've done many different manner of jobs in the industry over the years from car ferry and freight to commercial fishing. Yacht brokerage and deliveries to, well, pumping crap! I'm retired now and live aboard a Maine built diesel launch. I keep a vigilant watch underway because the "other guy" is probably on the cell phone!

Aye! And Ye does Sir, Ye does, sez I. It be in plainness that Ye spares not from yer purse whence Ye be fittin out yer dunnage. Aye, sez Ye! Fer to look as sech one must spare not! Not a ha'pence to a guilder, no sez I, Ye be of great means of such like, sez Ye. Aye, but as none cuts as fine a figur as Ye, Shipmate. If'n Ye minds yer appearance as wit' good drink or grub, Ye must pay the piper fer any sech dance, sez I to Ye and done!

In looking at the pic and the quote re: action taken by the Japanese ship, I can only remember the Old Rhime I learned for my seamanship as a lad, "If to Starboard Red appears, 'tis your duty to keep clear! If two lights you see ahead, turn to Starboard, show your Red!" Now, I know this is as ancient as "Privleged" and "Burdened" but I believe only the words have changed a bit. In a Crossing, the vessel to Starboard is Stand On! Bound to Hold Your Course. The Give Way Vessel is "Not to Pass Ahead Of" the Stand On Vessel. Of course ColRegs. Rule #1 is "If following the rules will cause a collision, don't follow the rules! You do however, give reference to a higher law than ColRegs or any determined by Governments. The Law of the Sea! Plain Sea Sense and Seamanship. Sadly this is in short supply either near coastal, inland or offshore! The antics of the conservationist are just downright death defying and that puts at risk the Heros that risk their lives daily to save those who have accidently found themselves in peril. Not Asked For It!! These actions are just short of or maybe equal to the worst act, the False MayDay. I feel that states other than just Connecticut should require people to pass a test writen and driving, and be licensed to operate a boat. In CT the privlige is added on your drivers License like a motorcycle and if you are sited for Boating Under the Influence, You lose your License! The whole deal! I travel the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway annualy. I live aboard my 34 ft,Maine Built Lobsterboat, finished as a motoryacht in 1968. As a retired mariner it just works out fine. As Joshua Slocum mentions so often through his Novel, I know there's Harmony within the crew! The ICW is another story! It is rare to have an overtaking vessel even signal let alone call on 13 and make a proper pass. They just don't get it! They're living in the longest, skinniest small town in the USA! The guy they throw a wake on today may save their lives tomorrow. Alas, I dream of the old days. When Captains were Professional and Operating Owners knew what they were doing. Take care and see you in the PUB. Capn'Rob alias Dutch "X" his mark Bosun of the "Meka"II Beaufort, NC More on the "Meka" www.pirate-privateer.com

We should just get a couple o' hundred thousand guineas and buy new stuff for all!!

One thing that continues to make me chuckle is the 2nd Co. Gov.s Footguard still wearing the Redcoats stolen from the Lobsterbacks at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War!! Happy New Year, Mr. Hawkins!

Aye, Gentleman Scotty, It be me feaverin' brain. all fer th' love o' tha' saucy little trim rigged doxy, sez I. Fer I think she'n be given me moren' a gift o' I be ta' given her'n! Me Bobstay be a'burnin'

Barkeep! A glass of your cheapest champaigne!!

This brings to mind the many Celtic songs that refer to the "wind that shakes the barley" and how that wind brings change to lives. The idea that our live's own breath creates that wind is an interesting bend to the subject. Much to ponder. <BR> In my years as a Delivery Captain and early on as crew, I depended on the wind for the sooner I got "there", the sooner the next job. The wind was not concerned with this and had her own way and some times, just didn't show up. When I made my first Trade Wind Sail, I was spoiled! From that point I began to move poower boats for the reliability. You would still have to concider the weather just not wind direction.<BR> Keep it coming! Capn'rob

In addition to "Imp-Patience", for local cruising I will tow my Shearwater, "Key Lime". She's a Joel White design, 16' with a standig lug rig. Her mastis Sitka Spruce, hollow with a layer of carbon fiber. She has a center board with a pennant. As you can see, off the wind, she screams! A bit of a swell and she surfs!

A few things to concider. The handrail will be best in a strait grain fir. Maple does't like sun and won't bend but will break. That's why the preferred wood for spars is Sitka Spruce. Light, strong, staight grained and enough flex. My Tender, "Imp-Patience" has a pine hand rail hardware store mast and has since 1968. She is Cat rigged, jib-headed. Ugly as sin but! She is stable with three adults and gear, rowing. Two adults and the gear sailing. In all her unshapely look she actually sails quite well. I do not own a motor for her. If there isn't enough wind, I can wait! I had mentioned my friend's circumnavigation. Jodi, the Missus, had never sailed before this voyage. She said she wouldn't leave until she could sail. She took this dinghy, the afore mentioned book and when she could rig, sail and stow the "Imp-Patience", she would leave. That she did! Three years to the day. Around the World. The Order of Magellan. A true Shellback. Bon Ami, next to the Comet in your grocery store. It's still less than a dollar. That, a nylon bristle scrub brush and a good flow of water and you'll have that "Lady" lookin' smart as paint! The Pacific North West is a Mecca for traditional boats and boatbuilding. There is a huge community of cruising sailors and powerboats. I'm sure there are many that have had the misfortune of losing the dinghy but not the rig! Look for Marine Consignment Stores in the major yacht centers like Port Townsend and such. Again, I wish you the best in this endeavor and hope you get sailing as soon as your season starts.

"Hello, Duffy's Tavern, where the elite meet to eat. Archie the manager speakin'. Duffy ain't here — oh, hello, Duffy." He was working with Selma Diamond and she was putting the "hard moves" on him, Jess Openheimer offered him a job in Hollywood, cotracted to Jack Benny, He was on the "Silver Meteor" Streamline Steaming for California!! He worked there until WWII and went back to New Haven, CT. Matty, he was one hillarious individual!

The Steps down the companionway would be the "Companionway Ladder". It's the passage itself for instance, on a smaller vessel where the aft bulkhead wouldn't be raised that much, the passage would be built up and have a sliding "hatch" on top. The hatch would give headroom to access the ladder below. Almost wish I knew how to draw on this 'pewter, here. I keep getting the image of the sliding foc's'le doors on the opening credits of the origial Popeye Cartoons. They'd slide open and closed with each different group of names. I always tried to find my Dad's. He was an "inkman" and story writer for Fleischer Bros. from 1931 until about 35. Then he became a writer for "Duffy's Tavern" Radio Program. He was very funny.

Aye, she be a smart lookin' vessel, yer "Lady Rose". In a prior post I mentioned me ol' shipmates at "Sailorman" in Ft. Lauderdale. If'n ye check 'em out on ye 'ol com'pewter or by shellphone, ye might finds all ye needs or most at best. If'n ye mentions ye be shipmates wi' "Robbie" it may serve ye well. As to yer Daggerboard. The only performance of this is latteral stability. To hold the original one in place that shock cord most likely passed around the aft end of the dagger board cap and the forward pressure kept it from rising. The only thing that'll keep ye from goin' by the board is Ballast! In dinghy sailing, the Ballast is you! A good practice is to never Make Fast the Cleat of the Sheet! A turn to hold strain and no more. What ever rudder you buy or build you can buy "Pintles and Gudgeons" to fit the thickness of your rudder and to fasten to the wooden plate on your transom. The PVC mast will be too flexable and you will spill more wind than you will hold. You'd be better off with a bannister railing from Home Depot. You can coat it with Varnish, 1st coat thinned half and half with thinner to penetrate then you can build up coats of Varnish or Paint as to your desire. Varnish requires min. 8 coats to fill the grain and needs to be refreshed yearly. The results are beautiful. A few coats of "Mast Buff" would look beautiful and traditional as well. The Hull you're starting with has pretty lines and would "wear it well"! The boom would require either better wood (stronger while thinner) or aluminum. I still am of the belief that a used sail, mast and boom are in someones garage/basement/cellar that belong to a dinghy long gone, that would be glad to get rid of it. Try "Craigs list", Soundings Mag.(on-line) or just start with Google. One of the difficult parts will be the "Gooseneck". To join the mast and boom with a universal fitting. I am back in Coastal No. Carolina having survived PiP. I will ask around this very active boating community and see if we don't have something to contribute to the "Lady Rose" here in Beaufort/Morehead. This be the resting place of the "Queen Anne's Revenge", Blackbeard's last command! You can check out the Vessel I serve on at www.pirate-privateer.com . The "Meka"II is Homeport Beaufort. What is your homeport and pe4rhaps it won't be that difficult to get stuff to you. PM me if ye wish to. All the Best and a Happy New Year to you and yours! Dutch "X" his mark.

There are professional crew placement agencies that offer positions on both private and charter yachts. The resume's they're looking for usually need experience and training in fire safety and control, CPR and 1st aid. It's not like the old days where a Capt. could take you on at short pay to give you a shot, if you worked out, fine. If not, there's the gangway. You can possibly still do that in commercial fishing if that's the kind of work you're seeking. From what I'm hearing, guys with "big" Ticket Capt. licenses are going as Mates, even deckhands as the work is so sparse. The most likely way to get a site is to go as delivery crew on some of the boats that are moved seasonaly or new boats or brokered going to new owners, etc. You may not get paid at first. You may have to pay your own way home at first but once you're proven reliable on watch and as Able Bodied Seaman, you'll be paid or requested by some other Capt, with a brain! A good place to find these berths is the bulletin boards in Marinas, Marine Supply Stores and the like. I hope this helps. Dutch "X" his mark