HarborMaster

Is is just me or is a half pint of rum a lot to drink at one time?

Before battle, they were issued a double 'tot', and always after victory for a job well done.

Actually.., yea...,they were hammered. You got in line..,chugged yours down.., gave the purser back his cup..., who then filled it and gave it to the next in line.

Rum was first introduced into the Navy in 1655 as a substitute for beer, by 1731, it was in general use. Prior to 1740, the men's daily tot of Rum was a pint a day, that is without water. Before battle, they were issued a double 'tot', and always after victory for a job well done.

The rationing or water had nothing to do with Admiral Nelson .

Over the centuries, the amount of rum changed from time to time. Prior to 1740, Rum was issued to the men neat, that is without water. They received 1/2-pint twice daily. Admiral Vernon , the hero of Portobello and the Commander-in-Chief, West Indies Station was very much concerned with what he called the swinish vice of drunkenness which he believed was caused by the men drinking their daily allowance of rum neat, that is without water. He believed that if the same amount of rum was mixed with water, and then consumed that it would reduce drunkenness and discipline problems for which the punishment could be brutal. Thus he issued his infamous Order to Captains No. 349 on August 21, 1740. His order stated that the daily allowance of rum "be every day mixed with the proportion of a quart of water to a half pint of rum, to be mixed in a scuttled butt kept for that purpose, and to be done upon the deck, and in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Watch who is to take particular care to see that the men are not defrauded in having their full allowance of rum... and let those that are good men receive extra lime juice and sugar that it be made more palatable to them."

The sailors, or "Jack Tars" had affectionately nicknamed Admiral Vernon "Old Grog" from the "grogram" cloak he often wore on the quarter deck. The watered rum gave great offence to the men, and soon they began referring to it contemptuously as "Grog" from the name they'd already provided Admiral Vernon. Thus, true Grog is Pusser's Rum and water with lime juice and sugar.

The ration - or tot - was later increased to two parts water and one part rum, and in 1756, the daily ration of Pusser's Rum was increased to one pint per day, per man. Finally, just before the tot ritual ended in 1970, it was reduced to one-eighth pint.

It was not until July 31st, 1970 that the Admiralty Board abolished the daily issue of Pusser's Rum. This date since then, is referred to "Black Tot Day".

Thanks for checkin out my toy thread everybody ! ! ...., I love this stuff !! O.K. Littleneckhalfshell For some answers..... yes the 2.25 bore is what I have also on my Hern cannon Barrels. To make cannonballs for it I do two things. 1 . I also use a DO-IT brand ball sinker mold for fishing ...., they have a 2.20 ...., with only .050 windage ....., thats pretty close to "Good enough" another way is 2.130 pinapple juice cans filled with concrete. My HERN ordinance rifles can throw a can of concrete at better than mach speed (Breaking the sound barrier-above 760 mph) for 17 hundred yards. Youll be thinking now when you go to a grocery store to start buying your foods by the size can it comes in never leave home without a caliper !

Anyway..., see that chain hanging under my tripod ? I am going to use that for suspending a cast iron pot ., for melting FREE TIRE WEIGHTS from Les Shwab then pour my .50 .., .60..., and 1" cannon balls only ..., really I prefer cans and concrete for the bigger bores. otherwise I am using alot of lead quik.

Weight wise HildeKitten the swivel is a good way to go since it all comes apart ..,there is not one bolt holding that assembly together.....,All gravity ! So its not to bad really

Abrams for modern ...., here ya go we just put this together in the last 2 weeks for a friend so I got a firend to shoot with now.

Also if anyone wants a 1" bore cannon .,I got one for sale right here. 475.00 shipped anywhere in the lower 48.

It'll go BOOM for you and look good in a living room and let you tell lies to your grand-children

I have bought from Wild Imports. Let me start by saying I like my cannon I bought from them. Now with that said......,I have have learned alot about cannons and knowing what I now know I would not do it again.

For 1 it is not "Bronze ....., It is brass.

For 2 it should have at least a 1/2 steel Seemless DOM liner to be approved by the NSA if you ever plan to fire it at an event (Or at least to be safe-Remember a cannon will out live you there fore be sure they are built right or someday someone may get hurt). The liner they use is a 1/16" stainless tube..., not 1/2 DOM.

For 3 the common rule of thumb according to the NSA is the breech walls should be at least one caliber thick in any direction. ---- Mine is not...., Mine has a 1.75 bore there fore the breech should be 5 1/4 minimum ..,its not its 3 3/4.

I fire blanks only in my Wild Imports..,and use my real cannons for shot.

Please again I am not putting down Wild Imports.....,, but the truth is in the measurements. I like my wild Imports cannon....., but regardless of what they say on their web-site lead shot would not be safe to fire in their cannons. So long as you know that.....,and understand that when you are dead and gone..., the next person to inherate this cannon may get hurt....., not knowing much about cannon constuction. This is why Cannons should always be OVER-BUILT

Remember it is NOT a big muzzleloader......, its a cannon..,and the ballistics of a 1" bore and up change the volitility of blackpowder tremendously and compound it more as bore size increases. (Guns are below 1" - Cannons are 1" and up bores).

Now with all this said I have the HMS Victory Salute gun ., Perhaps the model your after is triple the bore size in the breech (this would be correct) and has a 1/2 DOM liner and is truly 660 bronze....., not brass. but personally I would ask......, and remember they are tying to sell you something.

Their are alot of good cannon makers out there .., you maybe surprised..., you just have to look a bit . Remember..,breaking the common rules of a safe build..., is what gives more restrictions and takes away from our rights.

Good Luck .,Be Safe and we can all Enjoy.

Actually I cant buy it in Washington state anymor. Its not just NJ...,its all over..., I think its downto12 or 13 states now that sell it......., nice yea?

Hope no one gets any ideas from these anti gun nut cases in NJ. Living here is bad enough, but at least there is the hope to move somewhere someday where things may be better.

Oh man.,dont start me on my Freedom Rant ..,yup I already found a way out of here and with WAY more freedom. I am happy now !

The Feds are makin it so hard to get and keep for a vendor its just not worth it for most venfors. It is another loss of our freedom.,in a big way...,expect more loss as time moves foreward. Also the substitutes are just that...,substitutes.,not the real thing., test after test shows them to be more corrosive to your bores than Black Powder. and the subs are harder to clean. Also any idiot can make a bomb from pyrodex or whatever else. The idea of banning black powder isnt solving any problem. It creates them for muzzle loaders . We need black powder for flint ignition. I am disgusted with this regulation. I dont believe black powder is ever going to come back the way it was.

I tried some Pyrodex when it first came out..... I'll stick with good old Black Powder......

Capt Thighbiter's link to http://powderinc.com/ is actually my favorite also ...,they will get your order filled.

Capt. Sterling I cant remember exactly what size gun John Wilkes Booth used ? I think a derringer type .44 or 45. caliber ?

My question would be more the size of the load as opposed to gun type.

For example it could have been very low ? I am curious if it is known what the powder quantity was ? (or probably was ? ) 25 to 30 ffg .,may be less 20 to 25 ffg ?

This would almost guarantee a non exitting bullet for a more guaranteed problem.

S'pose it'll get you a few pounds of hamburger meat and 20 cents in change?

Things would be pretty much the same after as before. After all ten dimes = small change! 

I'd have to agree! When we get gunshot victims in at the funeral home (it's what I do) there is a lot more damage when the rounds hit bone. Self inflicted through the mouth with a .45 or larger and they always look like Sloth from Goonies! I never get used to seeing that.

Heres a tasty one......, an eye ball shot.., without enough momentum to penetrate going thru the skull to exit.., just rolling around the ol' brain bucket for 4 or 5 laps...., not alot of damage outside......, just soup really.., thats what I meant. musket and especially pistols were a pretty slow moving projo in the firearm world ., something like 30 to 40 grains on a brass .50 caliber queen anne doesnt have alot of muzzle velocity ..., what it does have is a good bit of mass and weight behind it. I guess my point is less muzzle velocity can be devistating .

Coastie04 ..,Thanks for the tip on "Over the Edge of the World".

I just picked up a copy with a buy it now on eBay. I am looking forward to this., it was actually THEE ADVENTURE. And besides he was greased on my island for trying to take over ! ! !

Damn just imagine Patrick ..,someone wondering into your camp . and planting THEIR flag . Spain had some BIG ONES didnt they.

Here is Magellan and Lapu-Lapu in this painting depicting the battle between Cebu and Mactan.

Mr.Hand at 6'4" and wielding a 5 foot long musket over yer shoulder ...., an ominous sight indeed you must be .

Your total height with musket is I assume 7 1/2 ft to 8 1/2 ft much of the time.

If we ever meet I will be calling you "Mr.Hand" or sir.

Just a thought here ...,? It may not have any relevence but has anyone here ever tried swimming in armor ?

I scuba dive alot ..,i would sure hate to have on my weight belt .., and not be allowed a BCD and a Tank.

If you want to go boating in armor.....,go ahead...,I pass.

Unique ! I like it

Swivel gun finished

Everything is there now except for the cast iron pot hanging from the chain to cast bullets and cannon balls. This should be a bit of a fun package to take onto our next outing.

I am currently running this wallpaper

And when it boots up I am getting this wonderful and amazing

SOUND

Your interest in piracy (Pyracy?), What started ye off?

What starts one off indeed mate?

The money.,obviously I am in it for the money.

Swivel Gun update.

I found it easy to use 2 clamps that are normally found holding the U-Joint to the differential on most Chevrolets..., the bottom one with a nut welded to it. This allows me to unscrew the "Steering rod" and ball from the cannon very quickly.

This will be fun on the boat or mounted to an oak barrel in the bar....., however I am also working on a quick assembly tripod that can be used for the cannon as well as melting lead cannon balls............., or cooking (Differant iron pot).

I will upload the completed cannon with tripod when finished., hopefully it may share an idea or two with some of you cannon camper types ..., Arrrrrrrgh!

Yes., If it were me., I would get a Brass 3" re-enactors buckle from Tandy Leather (Search Tandy leather) then take it to a Saddle and Tack man....,I am sure they can pop in a few brass rivetts for you.

callenish gunner now my feeling are hurt..,thats a good one !!!

Hello Abrams..., I dont cast them I just hire them out to my specs ., shop for them., ect., check the website for a few cannon and mortar videos.

GoF good to hear from you sir.

"Open for business yet"

No I am not ready yet.., still building., we have much to do before we can open. Jan 08 we will start the Marina work we are excited about that ., for now we just completed a 3-plex ., the building on the left (the 4-plex is on the right). Currently we are working with a designer to build a cistern shaped like a Gigantic Rhum keg so we have water 24 hours a day instead of for 8 hours only.

Hi Black Hearted Pearl

No firing system..., just fill the vent (thats where most would put a fuse) and then just touch - it - off with a piece of burning rope called slow match .,on the end of a stick.............., and hang on !

My machinist on the 6-Pack project has been in-undated with work lately so I have had to keep busy with other projects. Here is the latest one. A small 21" bronze cannon with a 1" bore. It'll go in our bar mounted atop a barrel and can easily be removed and used on the Scuba boat .

i still need to fit it with a combo - Tompion / Ramrod and a handle however the swivel yoke just got completed and will be getting a black paint job as soon as this post is completed.

I wonder which country spain used as slaves .,to rape and rob to get this gold. Spain loves treasure even more than I..., They are pirates.

I recieved an email and a few photos from Lukas Efler .

In this letter he addressed his fall last year aboard the Lady Washington. He would like to thank all for thier prayers and well wishes.

I am posting his letter I recieved .

Hello my friends,

I hope you are all well.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of my fall from the Lady Washington's

mast. I'm still amazed at how much luck I had in everything, no (or

almost none) permanent damage, closeness to the coast and the USCG,

capaple crewmates, nurses among the passengers, an insurance that paid

for the expenses, good medical services, a caring and supporting

girlfriend etc.

Reflecting back, it's also amazing, that on one hand, I feel like all

this happened aeons ago, on the other hand, it seems like only

yesterday. It's been a tough year, but also a very enjoyable one. I

have, as I already had told some of you previously, made much progress

in my recovery. Finally, also the semi-permanent back-pain has gone away

with the help of acupuncture, and the last bits and pieces of metal were

removed from my skull a month ago. I'm still much into swimming and also

have taken up weight training in January, so now I'm more muscular than

ever before the accident. Yesterday, Mascha and I went for a 11.5 miles

walk around a local lake, something unthinkable some 6 months ago.

Attached you will find 2 photos of me on that walk.

I wonder what you've been up to in the meantime. Dave went back to the

Lady once or twice, and he told me that most of the crew from back then

had dispersed elsewhere, but also Les told me that Nick and JB will be

coming back (or already have?), and I think Annie is still around?

Anyway, I miss you all very much, the ship and the good time we had

together.

I hope that I can come back and finish my two weeks before the mast

sometime, maybe even by the end of this year, if my schedule permits,

and maybe I'll even bring Mascha around this time, she said she would be

interested in the experience. I'll let you know when this eventually

will take place, maybe some of you can catch up with me then.

Btw, I'm still missing the email-addresses of some of the crew back

then, ie. Victoria, Cory, Crystal, Cookface, Jenny, Capt. Stephen and

Harold, the volunteer from Coos Bay.

If you by chance have their email, please tell me, or forward this

message to them.

Yours very truly

Lukas

Cheers and good luck to a strong and brave individual

Richard Gere...., with the Gold Teeth !!!