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Sailor1234567890

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Everything posted by Sailor1234567890

  1. Check out Master and Commander, there are at least a few scenes in Surprise's Sick berth. They'd have been laid up in hammocks slung fore 'n aft. I look forward to seeing how she turns out. Not sure there are many (any even) lego builds on the site. I think Lego is one of, if not the greatest toy ever designed. Make sure the good Doctor's coca leaves are well secured against those millers to be onion-sauced.
  2. Ian, I've heard of a few names for those metal multi-ring-shaped pieces. Monkey face plate, they often had three circles in the plate; eyes and a mouth. I've heard it called a Spectacle Iron as well.
  3. Thanks for that talk at the boat show on Saturday. Your Bonnie's looking awesome. Looking forward to seeing video of her underway in someone's pool.
  4. I understand the apprentices hated the spencer because Capt Woodget wouldn't use it often but it still needed to be unfurled to dry, so it was seen as creating needless work by them.
  5. Any updates lately? I've picked up the book Billy Ruffian and it's a good read. Interesting life of the ship. Cheers, Daniel
  6. That visual illusion of the bow seeming to dip down after rising along the sheer is called powderhorned. She may appear powderhorned from certain angles. Boatbuilders and shipwrights will tell you the most challenging line to get right is the sheerline. It's visual prominence is part of the reason why it's so challenging. It's in your face. If it's not done perfectly, (or designed right in the first place in some cases) it will appear powderhorned. If you look up the schooner William H. Albury and check out her bow, compared to a similar vessel, LFH's schooner Mistral, you'll notice the difference. WHA is powderhorned, Mistral is not.
  7. I would argue that Shifting Backstays are indeed part of the standing rig. Shifting doesn't imply they get used sometimes and not other times. that would mean they are not permanent standing rigging. They shift backstays between port and stbd side depending what tack they are on. They are not removable in that they are more easily disconnected from the masthead. They are a required part of the rig and it would seriously compromise the rig if they were not made up properly at sea, IE. the rig could come down on their heads quite easily if they don't shift their backstays every time they come about.
  8. I'll take one in 1:12 please. Could you do up the interior so I can live aboard? That's some really nice stuff there.
  9. Rob, would you mind putting that composite image up here for us? I can't wrap my head around the upside downness of it all. LOL
  10. I just thought I'd put a reminder here to have a listen to "The Lubber's Hole", a podcast about Jack and Stephen. While the books may be a bit challenging to read at first, they really are some of the best English literature out there. I'm about to return to the governor's ballroom again for another circumnavigation of the series. There are also a couple of good FB groups that delve into the intricacies of the series.
  11. Tom's in a FB group for Mason Sailboat Owners. Tom owns a beautiful Mason 44 named Constance. He puts out regular videos about traditional seamanship, navigation and all things boating. He's got a sharp wit and a great understated sense of humour as Roger mentioned. He writes articles for sailing and yachting magazines as well. All round good guy to have access to if you're into boating.
  12. A fireship is a very specialized ship. The layout, the construction, how her ports are cut, the internals of her. They're not just a converted ship (generally though some were pressed to serve as fireships with significant modifications made on the spot) because a normal ship just isn't designed to burn. Ports open upwards, burning through the line that holds the port open and they all shut starving the fire of air. The combustibles below are arranged in special systems to be able to have fuses led around without to the various places that needed fusing. There's an escape hatch at the aft end, below the stern usually where the crew can make their escape. Now these things could all be changes made on the spot (knock the port lids off and they won't shut, no need to hinge them from the bottom really), but the crew was specialized as well. And as such, they needed specialized training. So why give them specialized training and let them loose into the fleet? Give them that training and let them loose with purpose built fireships. Can't for the life of me remember where I read/listened to/watched that but it was relatively recently. If I find it, I'll post a link.
  13. For anyone interested in the A-M series, check out a podcast called "The Lubber's Hole". It's a couple of guys who dissect the series book by book. I spend an hour or so soaking in the hot tub on Sunday nights when the new one is released. Gotta justify all that time and money put into maintaining the hot tub so it's my shut down the brain time. I first read Hornblower at 12 years of age. I thought the books looked too big for me until I got into the first one. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Later, I got into the A-M series. There's no comparison. Hornblower is a fun story. A-M is the greatest historical literature you're likely to find anywhere in the English language. The movie was incredible. It didn't follow the books but it wasn't intended to. The technical advisor for the movie, Gordon Laco, is a friend of mine on FB and he often dips his oar in on groups related to sailing ships etc. when the subject of the movie or other related topics come up. They may not have told the story of the books but they captured the feeling and essence of being at sea in the RN on a small frigate impeccably. There are a number of small "errors" in the film, most done to ensure the viewer "gets the picture" rather than by accident. The scene with the guy sitting on the heads with his pants around his ankles is an example. He would have been sitting facing inboard but had they filmed it that way, it wouldn't have been clear that he was on the seat of ease so they turned him outboard. Other minor little things like that but otherwise, the movie is right up there with Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan for authenticity. It may even be better than those two and they are known for their authenticity. Look up the podcast and re-watch the HH and A-M series. Also read the books again. Another circumnavigation of the A-M books is always in order. I plan to start another one once I finish the book I'm reading right now. I also plan to put the date I start on the inside front cover to track how many times I read it. The A-M books reveal new nuggets every time you read them. They keep getting better and better.
  14. We had that book at home growing up. I remember not really appreciating it. Glad it's appreciated.
  15. Is that a ship's boy perched way out at the end of the bowsprit where the jibboom looks to have been cut of flush? Looks like a child to me.
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