Pyrate Camping

[Patrick Hand]

There already is a thread on “Period Camping” This discussion is on “Pyrate Camping.” The tents and gear that people and groups take when they go to a Pyrate event.

Pyrates as seamen, wouldn’t really have had the tents, tables and gear that we use when we set-up a camp at an event. About the only time that Pyrates would have camped would be when they were careening their ship, and then they would have used what was available to make a camp. Lashing spars together, and covering them with old sails would make a cool looking camp, But isn’t always practical for an event. Wall tents, wedge tents, lean-tos are period tents, but I don’t think that they would have been carried a lot of tents, tables, and camping gear on a pyrate ship. And lets face it, most events aren’t really hard-core reenactments anyway, having a camp that looks Pyraty and is comfortable is more important for most events than one that is 100% authentic.

So this is a discussion on aesthetics, instead of authenticity.

I have two camp set-ups, my Buccaneer gear is intended to be authentic (I will discuss that gear in “Period Camping”) but my other camp has a lot of stuff that is way out of period, but it looks right. I use a small Wheeland style lean-to. Lean-tos are period, but the Wheeland style with side flaps, a “curtain” to close it at night, and longer fly is too modern. I lash the tent poles together, and then decorate the inside for a Pyratical look. People who have seen my set-up at Ojai or Kerney Park have been impressed; it has the right “flavor” that is what I’m going for……

I am planning on making a compact “Camp Kitchen” …It has to disassemble so I can fit it and my camping gear in the back of my PT Cruzer. I want to make a mutated lean-to with a large fly, and curtains to close off the inside where coolers and non-period looking stuff can be hidden from the public during the day. Two trestle tables for a work area, and figure some way to rig a 12 volt lighting system that looks like candle lanterns, but throws more light…..

So… what are others camp set-ups like? And what tricks have you found to make a good Pyrate looking camp?

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

Glad to see this topic as I'll be needin to re-gear myself. I'll most likley keep to my favorite, which is a military wedge with a bell back. I like havin the extra storage space. If it became a question at an event, one could always state that a military tent could have been "plundered" from a ship that was carrying military stores. Besides the "circus tent" that is necessary for when the whole five of us are camping, I have a 10ft fly which I added door flaps to, and a 12x12 dining fly that is very versatile in the number of ways it can be set up. The fly w/doors is often our "ice box" for hiding the modern gear. I tell the curious publik that it's the "dog house". Not pyrate just now, but lookin for more info too.

Capt. Bo