JoshuaRed Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I had always read that ships were careened by essentially running them aground in soft sandy areas, then heaving it over on it's side with rope & tackle, often via trees on the shore. Recently I read in Philip Ashton's account (the kid who was taken by Low in Newfoundland) that while in the West Indies, Low lost his flagship while attempting to careen it thus: He ordered everyone into the yards to tip the ship on it's side, but the mast/yards stuck in the bottom of the harbor, essentially pinning the ship upside down, after which it broke apart and sunk. So I'm guessing this wasn't the wisest way to go about cleaning the ship's bottom. NOW, I'm reading Dampier's Voyage to New Holland, and twice he mentions that he needs to careen, but the first time he can't because the local merchants rent a "hulk" for such purposes, but it's too expensive. The second time Dampier says he won't careen for want of a "hulk". So what is he referring to? A type of tow-boat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Pyrate Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Near as I can tell from the Oxford English Dictionary, a hulk used in this way was primarily for hoisting and setting of masts. It was also used to house the crew and supplies during the maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaRed Posted February 10, 2005 Author Share Posted February 10, 2005 So, sort of a barge equipped with a crane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Pyrate Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Yeah... that's the sense of it that I have. It's a base for the lifting tackle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaRed Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 So then it's probably what they used when there was no soft sandy shoreline available to run aground on, for instance in deep, rock bottom harbors, or harbors set against cliffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Here is a late 18th century engraving of a ship careening using a floating pontoon. The hulk used for careening were basically ships used in the same way as this pontoon for heeling over larger vessels. Foxe"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707ETFox.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessie k. Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Hey, now _that's_ a cool picture! That looks awfully awkward though; how did they keep everything from tipping over? "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear, and life stands explained." --Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duchess Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Patrick O'Brian talks about careening in dry dock, with the sheer hulk (also mentioned for installing masts) and by ballast. The last is when the shift all the ships contents to one side and send the best divers into to the water to clean her bottom. The Duchess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshuaRed Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 Boy and we think changing the oil every 3,000 miles is a pain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wartooth Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 Boy and we think changing the oil every 3,000 miles is a pain! Nah. Changin' the oil is easy. Its the changin' of my undies thats the problem! Can't seem to remember which leg goes where. Wartooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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