Coastie04

Another thing that I read (unfortunately, a while ago and I don't have the source on hand), is that during WWII, when ships were sunk, it was often older sailors that survived, even though the younger ones were more physically fit. They found that the younger people were more active in organizing people to get together and doing the 'proper' things after a ship goes down, whereas the older crew would not bother with wasting energy organizing the whole crew and focus purely on their own survival. I saw a little of this when I was in the Coast Guard. We ended up saving a large number of Cubans near Key West who's boat sank in 6' seas. We were to the point of searching for bodies when we found one older man (probably in his mid 50's) treading water with no floatation after 20 hours! It was quite amazing given the sea state, and he was obviously exhausted, but he did survive where other younger people didn't. Coastie

The detail is just amazing. It's not just that the masts are still standing; look at the graceful curve of the tiller and the fine scrollwork on the billethead. Plus, it would be amazing to see inside, how the supplies were packed (if they're at all as well preserved as the rest of the ship). I can't wait to hear about further developments on this! Coastie

It would be great if this boat is intact. Plus, if it's displayed in a water tank, it would be really great to see an old shipwreck without all the hassle of diving in deep, cold water. Grand plan for a sunken schooner in Lake Erie Coastie

What? Scientific studies to confirm what historical documents and common sense already show? Well, I guess curing cancer just isn't as important as it used to be... However, for being scientists, I find a few things about this that raise concern about the 'scientific process'. First off, cannon balls were generally either stone or iron (depending on the time period), and not steel. Obviously, they were assuming iron and steel cannon balls would be close enough. Second, what kind of wood did they use for the models? Wood grain can have a huge effect on the strength and resilience of the structure. It's also hard to scale that down. So, did they use the same type of wood, or did they use a tighter grain wood, or did they use a different composite material to approximate wood at that scale? Furthermore, did they take in to consideration the effect of the water? Not only would it have an effect on the stresses applied to the hull (along with the wind, cargo, weight of cannons, firing of cannons, etc.). Punching a hole in planking 3' above the waterline is not exactly a critical hit. The waterline is a very small target (and would depend on which tack the boat is on, as well as the wave conditions). In order to hit "at" the waterline, some of the cannon ball's force would be absorbed and dispersed by the water. Therefore, how much force would actually be applied to the hull at the waterline? Lastly, how would the effects of cannon balls hitting one part of the hull effect other parts of the hull? I can definitely imagine a broadside hitting well above the waterline putting enough stress on the hull to open a seam below the waterline, just as a big wave can. So many questions unanswered... However, it's still not hard to comprehend that the primary ship to ship weapon of a couple hundred years is actually sufficiently powerful to sink a ship. Military engineers would probably have caught on somewhere along the line if it wasn't effective. In fact, the only thing I really can't quite understand is why they wasted their time with this experiment! I'd rather know if I'll get wet when it rains. Actualy, I think there is a mythbusters episode along those lines. Coastie

OK, I see that the upper four are non-firing, but what about the lower two? Also, where did you get them, as I love the detail on the barrels! Coastie

Well, that does make sense. Today, many Belgian style beers are made with a combination of malted barley and sugar. Some of the most notable brewers of these styles are monks. Although their recipe may very well be different from their original recipes (unfortunately, they're kind of secretive about them), the process of substituting sugar substances was probably used back then as well. It's really just a matter of what resources you have available at the time. Coastie

I hadn't gotten around to seeing those lines before. She definitely looks a little canvas heavy on the bow, unless you plan on having a ringtail option as well. Proportionally, it seems as if the jibboom should end about where the bowsprit does (again, without further sail area aft). How high will that bow be above the water? Sticking that far out, it seems that the spars would be in danger during any sort of heavy seas. She'd also look great with a square tops'l, but I'm partial to any boat with at least one square sail. She's looking great and good luck! Wish I was around to help out. Coastie

One little point to make about construction...beware of doing it in humid weather. I'm sure the bottles aren't completely air tight like in a proper glass, but I have seen some that get a tiny crack and moisture accumulates on the inside. Long story short, wet sand doesn't work. However, as a 'temporary measure', and for pure aestetics, it's AWESOME!!! Coastie

Thanks for the notice on this one! Coastie

Very impressive! Now, how did you get the hole just the right size? Was it trial and error, or did you just adjust the amount of sand in the bottles? Coastie

Well, that got me curious and I found a few really neat pictures of ostrich egg cups online. One is from 1590, and the other two are 19th Century examples. Although I haven't found any GAoP examples, we've at least got the time period bracketed. c. 1590 c. 1890 left c. 1812, right c. 1890 Just imagine bringing anything like this to a pirate event! Coastie

Oh, I wish! Sorry to hear about it, and I hope you can find a way to keep your home! Coastie

Too bad the French don't have a part in this. They were responsible for the sinking of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior. As much as I make fun of the French, I have to bow and give full credit for that move. I'm not sure about this particular part of the antarctic, but I know U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers go down to McMurdo station all the time and they definitely are armed. Sure, it's not really that much, but enough to sink a rust bucket like the Steve Irwin. Additionally, since the fanatics are trying to disable the Japanese vessels, I figure turnaround is fair play. Disable the Steve Irwin and let them bob out there for a while before begining a long tow back to port. During this time, the whalers could work unmolested. It probably wouldn't take much more than some fishing nets or heavy duty line getting sucked in to their prop. Or, just a little collision from an ice rated hull to create a hole above the waterline. It wouldn't sink the boat immediately, but it would definitely force them back to port for repairs! However, I also wouldn't mind seeing the next crazy person to illegally board a whaler getting run up a yardarm or a harpoon with an explosive tip to be fired into the pilot house. I know many might not agree with the harsher treatment, but if my ship was being attacked by ANY pirates, I'd have no mercy. Furthermore, from what they've pulled so far, I would fear for the lives of my crew and would not lose a wink of sleep at night punnishing those that meant me harm. I'd bet that if the Japanese fought back with more than some fire hoses, that the Steve Irwin would definitely back off. Coastie

OK, a little more of a rant, as these people really tick me off. I'm not against either environmentalism or industry. I think there should be a balance betweent the two. However, I am against radicals. When the captain of this ship was kicked out of Greenpeace for being too radical, he lost pretty much all credibility to me. The things that they're doing are illegal, pure and simple. They are reckless, dangerous, and quite frankly I'd rank it up with attempted murder. Not only of the Japanese crew, but of everyone else on that ship. Have they ever done any drills to prepare for an emergency, let alone simple proceedures such as launching a boat (been there, done that, in rougher conditions...it's not too hard). If I recall correctly, they are not actually registered in any country. Therefore, they have no legal protection and any navy that encounters them on the high seas is legally able to board them and enforce their laws on the entire crew. Therefore, I propose that the Japanese Coast Guard (I don't believe they've had a navy since WWII, but their CG pretty much fulfills that roll) intercepts them, boards them, and arrests them all to be tried as criminals. They are no better than a terrorist organization attacking a foreign nation's commerce. Their complete lack of anything resembling seamanship just pisses me off even more. Coastie

Well, as far as students being motivated to learn history by starting with something they already like, I think it would work great. That's how I learned to love history. I sailed on a tall ship, fell in love with the sea, and then wanted to learn everything I could about it. That started a love with all aspects of history. However, to go from just liking tall ships to being interested in trade routes and economy took a few years. To then associate it with actually appreciating politics (which in turn made me appreciate modern politics as well) took even more time. To truly expand something I fell in love with to understanding world history took much more time than any teacher would have. My curriculum would be to teach stories, not dates. It's much easier to remember things if they're entertaining, and if you understand the people that created important history, and a bit of the circumstances of the era, then you will relate to it more and remember it. For example, I wasn't taught in middle or high school that Benjamin Franklin was a pervert, or that Samuel Adams was an obnoxious drunk. Movies and documentaries, if as historically accurate as possible, can also be utilized. Band of Brothers comes to mind as a good representation of a soldier's life in WWII. Also, I have had one class on medieval literature that started out with watching part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and relating that to the real middle ages (despite Tolkein's disclaimer, there are many parallels with history). Learning stories helps people understand not just the actions of influencial people, but their motivations and beliefs as well. That allows us to understand them, which makes their actions in history almost predictable. Understanding the personallities of Julius Caesar, Cicero, Octavian Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Pompeii makes that influencial juncture of Roman history come alive. I think the one thing that makes history boring is that there is no story behind it without doing a lot of research. My personal belief is that one of the reasons kids today (I feel old saying that, by the way) watch movies and play video games instead of reading non-fiction is because they have a story line. Understanding these stories and the concepts behind politics really makes dates kind of irrelavent, except to compare one story to another. It might even make people understand that the same issues that the Greeks were dealing with in their democracy are still happening today. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough; hopefully you get the basic point: make history exciting through the stories. Coastie

I lost the link, but I saw another article that did mention that there was a combination of wooden pegs holding the planks on, as well as square headed brass nails (possibly in the stringer on the inside of the hull?). From what little information we have, I would put money on it being a 19th Century fishing or coastal trader. I would love to know more information about it. Coastie

As a professional sailor myself, I must say that these people don't know the first thing about safely running a vessel, especially in a dangerous environment. Even in the second season when they launched a boat, three simple things would have made it go smoothly: slowing down the ship first (they were going WAY too fast), having a frapping line on the falls, and taking some slack up on the painter. Also, staying away from ice with any boat is important, let alone one without an ice rated hull. That's just suicide! Ramming ships is illegal, boarding on the high seas is illegal, and quite frankly, I think the Japanese should start using lethal force to defend themselves. I wouldn't mind at all seeing these idiots on the Steve Irwin go down to the briney deep, but I'd hate for them to take another ship out with them. The politics behind whaling are up to the governments to figure out, not some vigilante radicals with a crappy boat. Coastie

News Article It's an interesting find. There is speculation that it's not just from an old fishing schooner, but an even older vessel due to the curve of the hull. However, that's obviously speculation at this point. It would be exciting if more information could be discovered, or if more parts would wash up nearby. From what I can see in this one photo, it could easily be part of a schooner. One thing that would definitely help age the wreck is whether those pegs on the ribs are metal or wood. I'm not sure if they used wood ones in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, but if they're metal, then it's definitely not from the 16th Century. Coastie

Why just a sloop? Check out this model based on the Lady Washington. Fully functional, including an American flag that can be lowered while hoisting a pirate flag, and cannons that can fire (I believe talcom powder). The website with construction details and more pictures is RC Tall Ship Coastie

#1 large knife #2 fully equipped life boat (long boat with water, food, sails, etc.) #3 charts of the area

I read somewhere (source eludes me for the moment) that sailors in the British Navy generally shaved twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays during the Napoleonic era. Of course, the larger ships could have some people with experience as barbers, or at least a surgeon/cook with experience sharpening knives. I know this is slightly out of period, but I figured applicable nonetheless. Coastie

Not currently, only due to lack of a boat and time. However, I've sailed as crew on the schooner Adventuress, brig Lady Washington, barque Eagle, as well as plenty of more modern, smaller racing and cruising boats. When I can, I try and ship aboard cruises on any tall ship I can, but there just aren't any to speak of in Alaska. For my job, I don't sail, but do crew on a 150 passenger boat taking people to/from work twice a day. I'm no longer in the Coast Guard, but for two years I drove a 225 foot buoy tender. Coastie

Ahhh, humor only we can truely appreciate. Coastie

Merchant ships in mourning would often cockbill their yards from dawn to dusk, although later on this custom is seen in naval fleets around the world as well. Cockbilling the yards consisted of canting the yards to one side or the other. If the mainmast was cocked to port, the fore and mizzen were cocked to starboard. Additionally, the mizzen and trisail gaff peaks would be lowered. Earlier naval vessels would hoist the ensign at half mast and fire 'minute guns' instead of cockbilling the yards, though later on the cockbilling became popular in the navy as well. Although I cannot find the documentation right now, I seem to remember that greenery hoisted up the mast was a sign that someone had died. However, I also don't know how old that tradition is, as it seems more like a New England/Great Lakes tradition from the 1800s. But, the last bit is really just a guess. Coastie

And a benefit with the PVC cannons is that you can hook up a CO2 fire extinguisher and make them "fire" safely. All visual, of course, but it would be a nice effect. I've seen a 6lb Civil War cannon set up that way out of pvc so they could blow the wheel off the carriage during a battle. Even up close, it looked just like the other 6 lb artillery pieces there. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures. Coastie