capn'rob

Well now, t'is always a joy ta welcome a new member o' th crew. We hopes ye will be comin down t' Beaufort, NC fer tha Ivayshun on th 13th and 14th o' August. There be many o' th folks ye wuz abouts wit at Deltaville.

"Feh"! A term of discust or contempt in Yiddish. The Language is a Mideval German, Hebrew, Aramaic with Slavic, Old French and Old Italian mixed in. I think that, as with most Yiddish words, it sounds like what it means.

After Hurricane "Wilma" tore through Fort Lauderdale some of the saddest wreckage I saw in her wake was the uprooting of these ancient Live Oaks that stood around the Memorial Park Cemetary. The huge Banyans remained due to their roots dropping from the branches as they spread wide from their trunks. weeks later I saw these huge sections being loaded on flatbeds and in curiosity inquired as to their destination. I was told they were headed for Connecticut, "Mystic?" I asked and the answer was yes! This is but one photo of the oak sawn for Futtocks, to make up Double Sawn Frames. I have posted a few others in my Gallery. The Schooner in the background is the "Amistad".

Aye, a sad affair, so true. I can only wish a fellow shipmate a pleasant journey to Fiddler's Green. Fare ye well. Soft watches and may yer anchor light burn brightest.

Great stuff, Mark. What I really liked was the first print. The Twine Needle the man is using looks just like the ones in my rigging bag and ditty bag. I would guess by the presence of that anchor with the nets he may be mending twine for a Fish Trap, alias wier or pound. One of the first fisheries in the Colonies it was taught to the "new neighbors" by the Wampanaug of the Naragansett Nation. At least for the New Englanders.

Thank you posting this, Dutch. Capt. Briggs was a man apart in his drive, ideas and passion for the Bay and the Sea at Large. Having never met him I have the pleasure of knowing Terry Briggs and I feel the "apple falls not far from the tree"! So long I've dreamed of the sense of sail assisted commercial and pleasure boats and ships. Capt. Briggs brought that dream to reality. Like my last vessel, Terry also has a motorsailor. Made an awful lot of sense to me. Once again, a pleasure to serve with you and Grace. I look forward to your arrival in Beaufort. I think if I get started now, I can get "Patience" looking semi-civilized for you to see! Until then, Shipmate, Fairwinds and smooth seas, Double Dutch

Greetings and Salutations to our resident Nightingales, By your leave, may I present, from forward, aft, alow and aloft, the guns of the "Meka"II. The one ye hopes not t' be starin' down, "Georgie", Bow Gun, Lt. Brown. Chief Officer. Starboard, 1st swivel, "Pernell", during one engagement Pernell was fired on by "his" gun! manned by Dutch, meself, at the time. A true"insult to injury. ." The following is the cannon crew for Hampton, "Battle of Ocracoke". Bow Gun, Lt. Brown. 1st Swivel, "Pernell", manned by Dutch o' Blackbeard's Crewe. Abaft, is "Black Boot", manned by Gracie. Abaft o' she, "Molly" small brass swivel, arms reach of Capt. Sinbad or handled by "Slowmatch", Powder Monkey. Port side, forward. "Mr. Steele",1st Swivel , during engagement, Mr. Pernell. "Stray Dog", manned by Don Juan. "Sara", as with "Molly" an identicle twin, named for the Captain's twin daughters. By the Cap'n or Slo'match. "Col. Bouche' " is the third small brass swivel. mounted in the Fighting Top. It would be handled by any manjack sent aloft to do so. "Growl ye may but go ye must!" Words and such bein' spliced and siezed t'gether by Dutch, Bosun, "Meka"II, Armed Brig, 8 Guns, Beaufort, NC. Master, Capt. Horatio Sinbad. Chief Officer, Lt. Terry Brown. Powder Monkey/Cadet, Nicolo, "Slowmatch".

Ahast, Shipmate! I did? The company is Hatcrafters. Their website is www.hatcrafters.com the tarred hats are on page 10. The one I have is the "Jack Tar". They use a felt hat which is Varnished then painted. They gave me quite a wait time but said if they had a blank started it would be sooner. I don't think it was a week! Very nice lady that does the ordering. Just a note, they supply the tarpaulin hats to the sailors aboard the Flagship of the First Naval District, none other than "Old Ironsides" Herself, The USS Frigate "Constitution"!

Avast all! T'is with no doubt that the Beaufort Pirate Invasion is on schedule. The website is www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com and is active and up to date. Rusty Cutlass will be back this year and for those who haven't heard them, you'll stand a treat sez I. So, we be seein' ye at the Ol Towne o' Beaufort Aug. 13th!

Those sheep are something else! Enough to make a ewe turn! Disregard any stories they tell, they all lie!

Avast me Shipmates! T'is meself, Dutch, Bosun o' th "Meka"II. We be underway, second day, bound North'rd for the Roadstead and on t' Hampton. Spent last night in a quiet anchorage th' south'rd end o' th' Alligator Pungo Canal. We'ns have aboard a new cadet wot be Grandson to our Commander, Cap'n Sinbad. Fine feller, smart as paint! He be larnin' the ropes from Slowmatch. We spectin ta make Hampton on Thursday and look for'rd t' sees ya . all! Cap'n Sterling, wi' his compliments, Capt. Horatio Sinbad be a'waitin yer callin upon the "Meka" an a meetin in th' Great Cabin. Sealkie, I sawr this movin picture about the Sealkie what lived off an Island o' Irie! T'was a tale I'd be wantin' ta hear agin! All the Best ta Ye one and All! Dutch "X" (his mark)

By yer leave Captain Sterling, and wi' his compliments, Captain looks for'ard to a gam wi ye aboard o' th "Meka" oncet we be all secured an sech. I be lookin for'ard meself. Safe journey and Godspeed! Dutch "X" (his mark)

I have my own "Ship". Built and marketed as the "Mini-Ship 34" by John Rhodes, Lighthouse Point Marine, Lighthouse Point, FL. What makes her a ship? She has a "boat deck". Her dinghy is carried on the coachtop accomodated by a davit. Her name is "Patience", she's power by a Perkins 6-354,135 h.p. Diesel. Best put, she "drinks 6, feeds 4 and sleeps 2!" Her hull is fiberglass, hand laid-up in Maine for the Lobster Fishery and finished by Rhodes. Her interior is African Mahogany with some beautiful joinery work. She's been my home since 1993 and I've cruised her from the Florida Keys to the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. That said, let me go on to say that having worked in the Marine Industry from painting bottoms to Captain of some fine yachts, it ani't easy and it ain't cheap! The most expensive boats always seem to be the free ones! Callenish hit the nail on the head with some figures on "normal upkeep". That doesn't include the ever breaking, not "normal upkeep" items that are what gave these money pits their name, b.o.a.t. That's Break Out Another Thousand! Before such a commitment as ownership I would recomend first become a crew member on a vessel of the type you would like to own. First, you would know if that's what you want and then what it takes to handle it. How big a crew, how it manuevers and such. If you still want to own a boat after that, Start Small! Begin with something you can handle yourself. When I sold my last boat I was thrilled! I had just been relieved of 5 tons of Teak! Oh, I had loved her. We'd traveled over 5'000 miles but again, 5 tons of Teak. Soon after I found myself joyous again for I had found "Patience" and her only Teak was her hand rails! (now varnished mahogany).