vossy

Whilst watching a very old film set on an old ship there was a character played by a young boy who looked about 6 years old. He was a cabin boy in the film and told one of the passengers that he was 12. 
My question is: How old were the the youngest legal members of ships in the 17th/18th century etc?
 
I'm sure that some put their age up to escape poverty and seek adventure, but what would have been the legal age to go to sea on vessels?
 
Thanks.
 
Chris.
 

https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/1703/PIETSCHShips'Boys2003.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

I wasn’t sure if the document should be embedded or just linked?
 
The link is to a large research document written using the records of the Marine Society. Still operating today, at the time in question the society was responsible for approximately 15% of Royal Navy recruitment. 
Page 149 shows a graph regarding Boys ages.
 
Although only one portion of a larger picture I hope it is of some use.
 
Thank you
Paul

From a distant relatives naval biography - 
 
"subject of this memoir is the eldest surviving son of Hugh Fraser, Esq., surveyor of the Customs at Lerwiek, in Shetland (and 5th in lineal descent from William, second sonn of Thomas Fraser, of Strichen, Esq., second son of Alexander fifth Lord Lovat, who died in 1558), by Jane, daughter of Rev. Thomas Linning, of Walstein. His maternal grandmother was eldest daughter of John Hamilton, of Gilkersclengh, Esq., descended from the first Marquis of Hamilton.
 
Our officer was born about the year 1761, and when only nine years of age, entered the naval service on board the Fly sloop, commanded by the late admiral Gayton, with whom he served at the reduction of Belleisle"
 
And from th US Powder Monkeys

Back from my winter trip and dug back into the foremast ratlines.  Finished off the port side.  Now onto the mizzen shrouds.
 
Regards,
David

Whilst watching a very old film set on an old ship there was a character played by a young boy who looked about 6 years old. He was a cabin boy in the film and told one of the passengers that he was 12. 
My question is: How old were the the youngest legal members of ships in the 17th/18th century etc?
 
I'm sure that some put their age up to escape poverty and seek adventure, but what would have been the legal age to go to sea on vessels?
 
Thanks.
 
Chris.
 

LOL remember I said  they all went on good except for one lol.  Yes this is what I had to do to fix this simple problem. I tried to push a little piece of wood  near the gun port in question and as I pushed ever so gently...  bang right through. So as luck is on my side,  I needed two more planks gone to fix the hole at the gunport, so I removed them and put new ones in . This is where the luck comes in as I had to put a fender on right at that point where they joined.  What luck  lol. So tonight it looks  like this, and yes  I am Grinning  😀 ☺️. 
    I have to Thank everyone for their support and suggestions along with your advice,  I am slowly getting  it . Very  slowly lol. Anyway,  thanks everyone for this place, people who run it , moderators  all of you thanks  for helping me learn how to do it.  So now if I can get the other side to look like this side  I am good.  Talk soon .    
 
Bob M.
 

I have always found that a small modellers tack hammer does a better job.
 
Chris
 

I have always found that a small modellers tack hammer does a better job.
 
Chris
 

Well after measuring  and marking all the gun ports, I drilled holes then used the dremel . They all went on fine except for one.  I made the hole just a little bit more than I wanted,  but I can fix that Lol. All the gun ports are on. The plan show the gun port on the top right, the little one ,  the plan shows it on sideways, I look on line some are sideways some are like all the rest. I made mine all the same way. Now just have a few whalers and the ladder up the side of the ship and both sides will be finished to a point. Then it's either the bow and anchors or stern and the rudder. Both have details to keep me busy. The gun ports look good let's just hope I measured  right lol .
  That's it for awhile, got to help out a freind  for a few weeks so won't have much modeling time  but we will see lol
 

Thanks everyone.  Today I resumed my Mayflower,  going back to the start of the build to do things that I knew I could put off until later, like the gun ports. I ran into a few problems finishing  the Pinta because of, ok I do that later lol. 
 Because there was a pause in this build I got side tracked, I did a Hannah ship in the bottle   that turn out well. Also a couple of Metal models, The Queen Anne's Revenge  which turn out ok. But the Iron Star Viking metal model was a failure for me. To tiny to thin,  unforgiving  little ship so I chucked it.  After that I really want to start my Nina model  but this Mayflower is so much fun I have to finish it.
 So Back to work lol. I decide to start at the beginning and , wait for it, follow the instructions  LOL.  On to the gun ports, I made some marks on a piece of planking  then transferred it to the ship. Then drill just inside of the marks, and used my dremel to  make the hole. A little  fix up with a blade in the corners  and done. Now I will turn it over and do the other side  well I still have those marks on the stick. They should be in the same place when done.
 The first gun port is on looks good.
We will see how long this takes me it feels like a slow process but happy to do it  😊. 
 

I wish someone, anyone, could post instructions or video's on how to use Chuck's ropewalk. I have one of these (Chuck's) but have never used it simply because I don't know how.
 
Chris
 

Chuck made a few videos:
 
Part 1:  
 
 
Part 2:
 

So James, are all hull and deck planks pre-cut and shaped for this kit?
 
Chris
 

Well done! I love Columbus's Ships. I am currently doing the Mantua Santa Maria after having already done the Amati Santa Maria.
 
Chris
 

Well done! I love Columbus's Ships. I am currently doing the Mantua Santa Maria after having already done the Amati Santa Maria.
 
Chris
 

Well done! I love Columbus's Ships. I am currently doing the Mantua Santa Maria after having already done the Amati Santa Maria.
 
Chris
 

Well done! I love Columbus's Ships. I am currently doing the Mantua Santa Maria after having already done the Amati Santa Maria.
 
Chris
 

Well I am going to call this ship Finished.! 
I tightened all the rigging lines, then added the rope coils, flags and temporarily put the sign on  I need to put it in the display case before making the final decision on where to put it 🤔.  I just finished today and will put it in the display case later .
   I have lots of people to thank, and will post one final time when she is in the display case  with the Santa Maria,  I can't wait.
   Thanks all of MSW for putting up with my typos . As I move forward  I will try to leave the computer stuff to my son, who comes to my aid often lol, and just stay on course building ship lol
  I added some pictures, and will clean the shipyard up, got an email from MSW to clean up my work shop. How did they know lol 😆 
  All my thank yous and the final  FINISHED stamp that I will put on when the Pinta gets to her final resting spot. I just want to show her off a little first. I am very happy with the way it turned out. On to the next one lol.






I forgot this  one lol

Hi Mark, if you do a search for Sergal Bounty 1:60 on this site you will probably find build logs for it. One thing I would say by just looking
at your frame there is to install more filler blocks both in the bow and stern area before you start planking.
 
Chris
 

So James, are all hull and deck planks pre-cut and shaped for this kit?
 
Chris
 

Speaking as a "modern" day veteran, 4 continuous hours sleep is a luxury we had during cruising watches. At battle stations etc. you slept for minutes where your
station on the ship was.
 
Ships are dangerous places.
 
Chris.
 

So James, are all hull and deck planks pre-cut and shaped for this kit?
 
Chris
 

Instructions
As previously indicated, this kit contains parts 1 & 2, bound as a single volume. We will receive the remaining two volumes as soon as they are available. As I want you to get a feel for the construction of this model, I’ve presented a good selection of images from the manual, to better acquaint you with the construction of this unique model kit.

















 
 
 
Conclusion
In the right, competent hands, this kit will most certainly build up into a beautiful olde worlde Galleon representation. How you paint/finish the model will be more of an individual choice, but if you’re willing to have a go, then the set of paints specifically for this kit, would be a perfect choice. This model will require a keen eye and exacting nature, to be able to complete as per the box art, so you should take your time at every stage and carefully plan ahead to make sure you don’t mis-fit parts anywhere. You definitely get a lot of kit for your money here too. Make sure you have space enough to store those three boxes as well as build this very large model. 
 
What do I think of San Bartolome? Well, she’s a very impressive depiction of a 16th Century Spanish galleon, and her shape reminds me of the San Francisco kit from Artesania Latina, as that was the first wooden ship model I ever built. This is a wonderful kit and one that I’d love to see our members build here on MSW. 
 
I will post a review of the associated sets for this in a separate article. 
 
My sincere thanks to Pavel Nikitin for the review kit seen here on MSW. To order, click the link at the top of this article.
 
 
 

A gift from my wife - I started this one a couple of years ago, I've added a little bit of new technology by printing out some of the parts with a 3D printer. Almost done the hull then off to the rigging. Most kits do not come with the fancy gold trim so I modeled my own and printed them up. Like they say - good from far - far from good. I still have lots to learn but I'm having a good time.

Hi Mark, if you do a search for Sergal Bounty 1:60 on this site you will probably find build logs for it. One thing I would say by just looking
at your frame there is to install more filler blocks both in the bow and stern area before you start planking.
 
Chris