HarborMaster

Yes ! we dive year around., been a busy year., We had to refit the cannons on the sea wall., wood rot., and rust on the steel hardware., the cannons are holding up well however we cleaned them up and gave them a coat of paint. https://www.facebook.com/TropicoScubaDivingResort

William Brand , Yes we dive year around. The best is April thru October due to the wind, The water is flat at this time.

Here is a link to the rebuild for the Dinghy we cut in half and rebuilt for carrying scuba gear to "The Reckoning. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.879755335376983.1073741849.122703701082154&type=3 And here is a video of Frankenstein after the rebuild, The whole boat up and over the sea wall., and sea trial. http://www.tropico.ph/Frankenstein_SeatrialInternet.mp4 Currently we are re-fitting Reckoning, for safer and faster passage for our guests. http://www.tropico.ph/from-the-captain/dumaguete-scuba-boat-2/

Sea trials , tests, modifications, and fun diving.

Cheers Silver ...., we boinked the rudder . A dificult task. We removed it in about 15ft of water and straightened the stainless shaft. However putting it back will be a trick. Going to have to put a cutting torch into our dinghy., tyed across the stern., in flat water ., and heat the rudder shaft pipe. get it straight ., then re fiberglass., Then push rudder back up into place. Fun stuff. Saturday we have sun and I believe very flat water. The crewe is standing. HarborMaster ( Rich)

We have launched Reckoning. Time to dive Sumilon. PADI Diving and courses. The launch movie. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=744771842208667&set=vb.122703701082154&type=2&theater

Close to launching The Reckoning. We are looking forward to the next few weeks.

Aye . Many did not. We are approx 150 miles south of the eye. We sustained no severe damage. Everyone knows the governments are helping. U.S. Navy and Marines at the forefront. However with that said alot of local Dive shops, Biker groups, and other assorted ex-pats living here, U.S. , French, English, Germans ., ect are really stepping up to the plate in what ever ways they can help. Its been a very sad experience as well as a very heart felt and humbling experience. In this nasty ol world its truly amazing to see how many really good people there are. The food drives and the clean up will continue. Rich

Pirates Scuba Diving boat ? I been working on the Dive boats ., for SCUBA ., not exactly a Pirate ship..., but the best I can do. A dive boat needs a back roll to get divers in and out ., seating ect ., also outriggers . In the Philippines you could build a ship (If I could afford it) and use no outrigger. However to meet coast guard inspection and actually keep the boat from rolling ., I need outriggers . I am doing something never done here before ., a Pirates Scuba Diving boat . Also to ferry Scuba tanks out to the dive boat (The Reckoning) I need a dinghy . This way we can get 12 tanks at a time out to the Reckoning. To many pics to post . If anyone is interested ., here is a link to my facebook photo galleries of the build . It is not finished ., a work in progress. http://www.facebook.com/TropicoBeach/photos_albums . Lots of boat build pics , cannon carriage construction. The Stocks ., the Jail .,(For the air compressor) ect ., HarborMaster (Rich)

Waitress outfits and cannons finally mounted

Thank you men , a work in progress ., pretty much done ., pics at http://www.facebook.com/TropicoBeach?ref=tn_tnmn and at www.tropico.ph . We just started building our 52 foot dive boat ., pics following soon. ., Thanks Rich

Garrison cannons and Swivels finally installed on the sea wall. Beds finished., Bauer compressor and Nitrox blender installed ., working on tables . Its been a long road ., years ., but now ready to open. http://www.facebook.com/TropicoBeach

Thank You mate ., I will keep the board posted as the environment gets a bit closer to finished !

I believe the minimum gun would be a 1" bore ? Please dont qoute me on this. I am not sure about the correctness of this. I have been a forum member of a cannon building group for a long time ., however they base it as 1" this does not mean for period as they build a variety of pieces up to 1898 type ordinance. I have always been under the impression cannons start at 1" ? Dont know why ., perhaps it was something I was drinking! Hawkyns ! Long time no chat sir ., I am wishing you well from the far side of the world. HarborMaster

A basic rule of thumb is 39/40. What ever the given bore size ..., divide by 40. Then re multiply by 39 and have your ball mold built there. for example. on a 1.00" bore ., correct ball size is .95 . This provides proper windage . Minimal loss of power (max velocity) . However this bore needs to be perfect and wormed wet mopped and dry mopped every time its fired. If the mold to bore ratio does not come out correct ., re manufacture ball mold until its right. we all know what happens if its too tight. Powder residue will make it too tight. The rulz must be followed to be safe.Always remember to use less powder in a cannon firing a projectile. The weight of the ball ramps up the expanding gas pressure in the breach of your gun 100 fold to a blank signal charge. UNDERCHARGE your cannon. There are formulas for proper powder to bore size ., however I cannot trust this info because the formula does not mention breech thickness or ball weight (conicals are heavier) . Blank signal rounds are notoriously over charged. Do not fall into the idea ., I been using X-Amount in my blanks ., lets try that with the ball. Please under load powder ., and try. Use a paper and pencil ., correct cannon grade powder and a scale to weigh. keep track of your loads until you get whats right for you. I have several cannon we have carved inside the carriage ., correct powder charge for a given gun., as guns are different. Cheers mate

Sailor Jerry looks awesome oderlesseye, ! your detail is perfect.! I been busy out in the jungle for some time ., but finally have internet. I had to check out one of my favorite posts ., by the way your clothing and character pics are superb. Inspiring to me. A fan of your exploits thank you sir. HarborMaster

Ahoy matey's ! I am still working on it ! I was trying to get my SCUBA life in tune with my Pirate life. Still a work in progress ., but its coming along. For those of you who know ., I am trying to put a Pirates theme into my dive shop and motel ., build pictures are here. The bar has been a challenge but it come a long way. The motel has been much easier now that I have a better idea of where to buy certain materials. http://www.facebook.com/TropicoBeach

In addition I would like to add.., I have seen many carriages as I am sure we all have. Some good ., some not. Many of the not I have seen were built out of proportion. Usually to high for the gun. Like a garrison carriage. I think people want to build the biggest gun they can and sometimes lose correct proportions. If your actually going afer a naval carriages ., consider they were low. They needed a low center of gravity and needed to be in lower decks with limited ceiling height. . I am currently building 2 carriages for 55" barrels ., however the gun height at the top of the the barrel across the trunnion is at 23" .. These will be sitting on an elevated concrete platform to get the gun high enough for visitors to get a good look and photos. Try to look at some of the guns at Fort Ty and youll see correct carriage cannon combos ., and youll see some that are not. The not are basically .parks and rec used what was available to keep the guns off the ground in order to preserve the gun so it is not laying in the dirt.

Well sir ., price on anything here is cheap The problem is the general public is not supposed to have black powder. Sadly my swivels may never fire again .,unless I can figure a way to use another propellant safely? I brought them here mainly for decorative purposes for the pirate themed scuba shop we are building. I did however ship 2 Hern 3" ordinance rifles here in 3/4 scale for the purpose of decorating the sea wall. These will be a bit out of the ordinaire as they will be mounted in Naval carriages. However being much bigger we will plumb them for propane and use them as NOISE MAKERS *Grinning* I saw a post a year or two ago where someone on the board did use propane ., I wish that person wanted a vacation in the PI. I will look for the post and try to learn from it and everything else I can find. I will keep the board posted as my progress begins on that project as well as the rest of the pirate theme gets underway. We just finished building the Manor so the rest will begin pretty soon .

PADI DiveMaster .