Island Cutter

... I guess my question is does anyone know of any sources about this fabulous footwear pertaining to pirates and peoples in the new york area during the GAoP?

Greetings M'lady,

I have been searching for the very same information and have found very little. Most of the GAoP information is very "Anglo-centric" and it is my theory that since fashion was well, "in fashion" at the time, discussions about wooden shoes would be on par with a modern fashion magazine article on canvas boat shoes... that is to say, nearly nonexistent.

That said, I believe that much of Northern Europe's common folk were familiar with them and many probably wore them at some point. I have seen some of the old "Bargees" in Rotterdam wearing ancient looking pairs of these things and walking about on deck as if they were in tennis shoes (sneakers here in the Northeast). I can't say that they would be very practical on a rolling deck at sea, but the would be great to take along for once you got on shore... and they float ( which is possibly one of the reasons that they are not found in shipwrecks )

There is positive evidence for their use for centuries before the GAOP, and a stream of evidence right afterward, right through to our present day. They might have gone out of fashion during the time period, but I doubt that they went out of use. Still searching for that hard evidence, though.

BTW: I worked in the Wooden shoe Factory in Holland (Michigan) in the early '90's

Making wooden Shoes

Wiki - Clogs

You can't beat there prices...

Nelis Wearable Clogs

On this page there is also a link to a book on the history of European Wooden Shoes. If it wasn't $70.00, I would by it now.

I just got a letter of marque ( Hall pass From wife ) to go to PiP this year...Huzza!

Great News!

I'm looking forward to meeting you, as well as the rest of this great crew in person.

Oh man...in one of the privateer journals I read they brought all the parts for a ship to some location in South America and built it when they arrived...

I have read that same thing in a number of sources. It seems to have been somewhat common to bring along the "small boats" in knockdown form. I remember something like this being mentioned in Drake's manuscripts.

Nice. May I officially add you to the Roll Call?

That reminds me... I don't know if I officially stated that I plan to be there!

so that is:

The Zeewolves, represented by Island Cutter (and probably one guest) with Independent Pyrates camping on the beach

preferably to windward of Mr. Tudor (no offense Stynky, just taking your name at face value! )

any interest in building one at PIP?

I'd be very interested.

Right then... I'll have one ready-cut, but unassembled. This could be some real fun.

I have been researching some historical precedent for the dory design in the GAOP and have come across several things of interest... This needs some further investigation, but the Somerset or Watchet Flatner boats were developing at this time.

British Dory - aka: Somerset Flatner

In fact the "dory design" seems to have been simultaneously developing in a number of places through out the world...

The use of the sawmill and its ability to quickly produce relatively inexpensive, wide planks had a direct effect on the design and construction of workboats, and the dory is one of the many results.

anyone interested in leaving anything at ft zack should contact Harry first, as there were a few small issues with storage this year.

Absolutely... thanks Chrispy.

Yep, I figured that Harry would be the man to talk to, but I didn't want to get ahead of myself... these boats haven't been built yet so the last thing I wanted to do was start looking for a drydock.

Again, the nice thing is that once stacked; three or four dories take up only the same deckspace as a single boat. If stored upside down on a small cradle, we could even keep the elements out of 'em (for the most part.)

Perhaps when I am done with the Dead Mans Cove Project

Eye may steer a course to building a small craft.. I Book marked the link. thanx.

I can't imagine Dead Man's Cove ever really being "finished"... it seems to have a life of its own! (great job on that, btw)

When you do start the Skipjack, let me know... I've built three of them over the years (each ten years apart) and made all of the mistakes... some of them all three times! One is now in Coronado somewhere (if it still exists), the second is still in use in Florida, and number three is here with me in NY and getting ready for a Spring Launch.

If you get to PIP, I'll be glad to let you take the helm.

any interest in building one at PIP?

Abso-floggin-lutely!

In fact, we were just discussing this today...

The dory design sort of lends itself to being "dry assembled" here at the shop, disassembled, and finished assembled (glued and screwed) on site.

It would be great to see a little fleet of these take shape in years to come. I wonder if we could build one a year and store them at Ft. Zach?

As I mentioned, the dories stack or "nest" so they wouldn't take up much room. Something to think about.

Fiesta Island is infested with Jet Skis on the north side and there always seems to be at least one fatal/near fatal (accident) every year.. the Harbor patrol sometimes act like wolves out thar ..in some cases harassing people in the guise of safety..They shot and killed one guy last year ..he was unarmed..

Yikes! I had no idea it was getting that rough out there. I visited SD last November and it sure have changed... I hardly recognized Solana Beach, and I used to work there!

Well, this is a little boat that can make it feel like "bigger sailing" if you find a quieter body of water. Is sailing allowed in the San Elijo Lagoon? I'll bet jet skis aren't allowed there.

If you are interested in more information about the Mini Skipjack, check out the Stevenson Website:

Backyard Boatbuilders - Mini Skipjack

OMG that is a nice sail boat..

The alluring thought is one

thing but where I live;the reality of seeing people in three different occasions

in a half hour span being swamped by inconsiderate boaters has me standing

back with my wallet closed...

Right you are , Mate! I used to live in San Diego and sail off Point Loma... it can be a busy body of water.

I seem to remember that a section of Mission Bay is designated for small sailboats and motorized boats are prohibited. Fiesta Island comes to mind, but it has been a while. My little Skipjack was designed by Mike Stevenson with that body of water specifically in mind. It is small, yet capable of handling two adults for daysailing. It also has an undeniably "salty" look.

Here's a link to my very dated, building Blog:

Grog Blargh... Building the "BlackSeal" Skipjack

To avoid confusion, I need to explain that the Skipjack picture above is NOT a dory. It does look "piratey" though. My newest build of this design will actually have a carved a decorated transom... something like a scaled down Galleon.

I wanna piroque....

Interesting that you want a pirogue... The dory and the pirogue are not-to-distant cousins, and are descendants of the “batteaux”… the broad term for the flat-bottomed, slab-sided craft used extensively in Colonial North America. The major, noticeable difference is that the later dories developed the “tombstone transom” while the batteaux remained double-ended.

If all goes as planned, and by Grace of the Gods, I will be driving down to PIP and towing a small boat trailer. I hope to have a few boats nested on that trailer, along with oars and at least two sail rigs. If ye promise to wear yer "Mae West" (life vest), a boat will be at your disposal.

Sounds good to me.

So... I know that looking to POTC for inspiration is like asking to hear the click of a doglock but...

That sailing dory would be relatively easy to build, and a whole lot of fun to launch off the beach. I would go for a spritsail or a standing lugsail instead of Sparrow's square rig, though.

Pirate Dory

One of the nice things about the dory design is that the thwarts can be removed, and several can be nested to transport in about the same space as a single boat.

My buddy and I each own boatbuilding shops here in New York's Hudson Valley, and we are thinking of running a series of boatbuilding courses for anyone interested in getting a boat ready for PIP. For those who can't get here to us, we are thinking of a kit with "correspondence course" kind of support.

My crewe votes, Boats first, liquor second...

Boats?! I don't see any stynkin' boats. Wot ye need boats fer??? All they do is leak and sink and stufff!!

Aminal

Boats!?

Boats is what we're all about. Boats is what gets us to and from da Rum, and boats is what gets us in and out of da Trouble. Speaking of boats... I have every intention of bringing down one, or maybe a few lil' boats in which we might knock about.

I would like to get a thread going with others who might be interested in building and sailing a fleet of skiffs. Any recommendations for where to post this discussion? Although one of these boats is being built especially for PIP, should this discussion move to its own topic in a different category?

I have a few of small sailboats right now...

My 20' double-ender is called "moondance" and my 13' Mini Skipjack is called "Black Seal"

The littlest and oddly enough, most often used is my sailing dinghy "Tyger". She got named by the crew on a fishing charter out of Yorktown Landing. It had something to do with me trying to chase down and capture the Schooner Alliance late one Summer evening. I almost caught her too. "You get'em, tiger!" and the name stuck.

I picked up a couple of small chests at Hobby Lobby. They were inexpensive, look OK and serve as a place to store my gear aboard. When I get really serious about having a sea chest I'd probably build my own, so I didn't respond to the poll.

Yes... if you look around there are a few good and very affordable pieces available. Once painted or stained & finished, they look right at home for our purposes.

If you do plan to build one yourself, I would look into this site for plans

Sea Chest Plans on CD

Although I have not purchased the CD, the site came highly recommended to me.

I am very impressed! Looks great! Would we be able to choose the paint colors though? I would prefer a more natural stained look for ours. I am very interested in your project here, and also put in the survey for a "bulk" purchase for our crewe. Keep up the great work! Can't wait to see the completely finished products ye are doing.

Thank you.

Choice of colors and/or woodgrain finish versus paint grade finish is no problem. In fact, I encourage this. I would most like to make individualized pieces within a production set up. More images of this, as well as the next version will be on there way shortly.

...Silas Thatcher had mentioned wanting to try a bigger sea-chest as well Cutter. Maybe you two can work that out...

Bo

Thanks Bo. I will see if I can work with Silas on this.

Fair Winds, Mate!

As I understand things, 2009 is the 10th anniversary? If so, this means that I will have to go overboard on the chest and call in some markers from my more skilled woodworking connections. I think a very special trunk should be made to commemorate this event. I will volunteer to make both the simple seamans chest, and see to it that a special item is constructed for the commemoration. I have several retired neighbors with big woodworking shops they built for retirement and are always looking for something to do! If someone else was planning on doing something toward consructing a chest then I don't want to step all over anyone, so let's discuss how to best accomplish this. This is the only connection to PiP I will be able to make, so I get wound-up talking about it.

Bo

Serendipity at its best... I just started reading this thread to see how I might contribute!

I am a boatbuilder, cabinetmaker and a woodcarver. I am most willing and eager to be of assistance. Being a creative type, I can also bend my noggin to the actual design of something very special for this Event.

Please let me know how I can help.

I've been holding off a bit, waiting to see the next generation chest.

I am quite impressed with the first one here, the paint makes it look even better.

I know later, straight sided chests had one or two 'shelves' (I can't remember the proper terminology for them at the moment) inside of small items.

Don't know if this style would have such as well.

The becket(s) look great too, will the screw holes get covered as well?

Thanks for the input.

I have learned a lot in making this KD version versus a traditional solid lumber version...

The next incarnation (coming as soon as next week) will have no externally visible fastenings and the KD (Knock Down) fittings will be less obvious and even easier for the end user to assemble. The internal details such as half shelves or the "till box" as it was sometimes called, would certainly be available.

I will be sure to post the new images as soon as I the next chest is built.

Sorry, did it again... Replied from the session me Mate Boncoeurs left open. I still can't figure out why this Crazy Floridian Boucaneer would come to visit us here in the Northeast in the middle of Winter. I think he's sweet on my eldest Niece.

Yeah... We need to find some more local friends. I feel so looooonely

I am willing to wager that once we have had a few local, public events under our keel, we'll find quite a following. They're out there, they just don't know it yet.

We would be camping in the same area, but with maybe some signs(<1720 Careening Camp> <1669 Buccaneer Camp>or something like that) to let the public know what the camps are...(so we don't confuse them) After hours we'd carouse with everyone, just like the different camps do now...

I am a professional Signmaker in the "mundane world" and I would be very willing to help with signs for this sort of a project... especially with this much lead time.

haha. Aw.

Hmmm... seemed to me that there would be more visitors from our region. I'll bet that it is just the Winter Doldrums that have hit. Let's keep the chatter up and perhaps others will chime in.

Here is an image of a nearly completed Sea Chest...

It still needs some work, and I already have improvements to the next one.

All of the KD (knock down) fittings will be internal and invisible from the outside. In fact, they will be hardly noticeable on the inside. That will eliminate the need for the screws through the face of the chest and make assembly/disassembly even easier.

Next step: Personalizing

Well, it's been a few days since I posted the image and it seems that interest has become becalmed. Your observations are important to me as my interest is in creating a product in which you will be satisfied. Critique Away.

Just have the three and all are size 38-40. Here they be! If ye need a different size, drop me line. I have plenty of the blue fabric left but I can get more in other colors if ye like.

They do look great.

I am tall and thin, but have big shoulders and a just measured out a 43" chest. Will you be making anything in that range? I would be very interested.

If you're selling something and want to advertise it in a banner on the Pub, then yes, you'll need to buy ad space.

If you want to advertise with/through Google Ads, I'm not sure what the process is or how much it costs, you'll need to check with them.

When I took the Pub ... But instead of the money coming to me and it supporting the Pub directly, Google pays Bloody Buckets - in turn satisfying my/our debt for the Pub.

- Stynky

Since I am a just "small business" Merchant Artisan, and my personal allegiance is to this incarnation of the Pub, I would like to do my limited advertising directly through this Pub and with its Crew. Please let me know if and how we might proceed.