I would have loved to be there to see this:::::

I would have loved to have been in Boston yesterday to see this:

the U.S.S. Constitution (aka) Old Ironsides)) make a voyage--the 2nd in over a Century. They sure knew how to build beautiful ships back in the day.

Quote from Hondo Duke Lane

Just to be there to see it and also to be sailing on it would have been something else. I am amazed at how small they are in today's ships and how they were able to get so many on board those ships.

Too cool Carl. Just beautiful.

Cheers Hondo

If you ever make it to Germany? there is a huge outdoor wooden/masted ships museum in Bremerhaven--which also has a few more modern--like the ex-U 2540 (aka) Wilhelm Bauer. When I was there-I also saw a classic Viking ship that people were taking tours on--really looked great. Anywya, there were about 15-20? I cant recall exactly? old wooden masted ships there-and they all were works of art.

Quote from dukefan1

That is a beautiful ship. While I've never seen the U.S.S. Constitution in person, I grew up in Baltimore where the U.S.S. Constellation is moored, and have been on that ship several times. She's not as old 's The Constitution (she as built in the 1850's), she is a beautiful sailing vessel.

Mark

Ive never seen any of ours in person either but--the USS Constellation is also a magnificent wooden ship. One of these years ill see them. Here in Corpus Christi--we get once a year-a wooden training ship here I THINK is from the Spanish navy?> They come and visit here for a week or so and the Spaniards tour Corpus Christi--and they also were vintage period uniforms. Ive seen that ship up close when I was volunteering at the CC Museum of Science and History--but never toured it-though they do allow tours. Anyway, when I was there-the entire crew stood on the wooden masts--a magnificent sight.

Quote from Hawkswill

I had a friend, Dennis, who worked for the gov. He was a specialist in electrical and electrostatic, (something like that), painting. He was an inspecitor responsible for those jobs on the building of ships for the services and also the refitting of some ships. I met him when he was overseeing the building of a brand new ship for the Navy in Tampa, FL at Steinbrenner's shipping yards. In the early 70s, he was working on the refitting of the Constitution. He saved a piece of the binnacle that is about 3 feet by 2 feet and over 6 inches thick. He gave it to me to see how I could cut it up and make things to give as presents to our friends. Meanwhile, he had told me he would arrange it so I could go on the first sea trials of the new ship they were building. Would you believe, the government owed Steinbrenner so much money, that not long before that ship was supposed to go on it's trials....she was never finished?
Anyway, Dennis died of a heart attack before we decided what to do with the wood....I still have it. Once I figure out what to make with it, I will be sending one to his sister and one to his wife. Sure would love to tour her.

That's a nice story and a shame too. I would be thrilled to get to sail on one even if just a few hours. Here in Corpus, we also have the "Columbus Fleet" which was built by Spain and they sailed them here. I think they have been here for around 20 or so years? and they had two of the ships moored outside and right next to the Museum-the other can be seen moored at a pier somewhere off Ocean Drive. The thing was- that Corpus Christi purchased those three ships to boost tourism--and not once has any of the ships sailed nor made the city any money. All of them are in bad need of repair and are eyesores. The three ships are rotting away and losing so much money for the city. Sucha shame.

Quote from arthurarnell

Hi

I agree it is a beautiful ship. I ubderstand that when the Constitution was re-rigger instead of using the natural tarred hemp that the ship would have been rigged with, to make it last longer they rigged in a a man made synthetic polyproplyne dyed black to simulate tarred rigging.

Unfortunately not all of the rigging on this type of ship would have been heavily tarred black, only the standing rigging such as shrouds and stays things that did not move would have been trated in this manner.

Running Rigging such as haliyards sheets braces lifts etc, ropes that had to pass through blocks in order to work the sails wouldn't have been tarred so heavily and would therefore have looked lighter in appearance.

When HMS Victory was re-rigged in Man Made Fibre rope we looked at the constitution and made the same error, an error which has been corrected since.

The practice in the seventeenth and eighteenth century of tarring rope to preserve it gave the seaman in the Royal Navy the nickname Jack Tars.

Regards

Arthur

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Hi Arthur, one of these years I will invade Portsmouth, ive always wanted to see the HMS Victory and whatever other masted ships you guys have? I have a friend or two who lives somewhere near and when I can go see them? we will be making a visit. Portsmouth as well as seeing Buckingham Palace and the Imperial War Museum--are all on my to do list.

Quite welcome and there were several others but none as nice as this one.

Quote from arthurarnell

Hi Carl

If you do make Portsmouth or Pompey as we call it, look me up and I'll give you a guided tour.

Regards

Arthur

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Hi Arthur, I sure will. Also, im hoping I can get two or three friend s to come along all who live in or around the London area. One of them is more into Tanks but the others like the masted ships as much as I do. Oh and, I found a site where a person can write for autographs and I was thinking of trying to get some from Ioan Gruffudd--as Horatio Hornblower. If im successful? im going to try to get 2-3 and would gladly send you one.