Metric and other changes

[j.sabourn]

It seems over the years that french in particular has been slowly eroding our history re measurements etc. The Barometer when I first went to sea was measured in inches, then millibars, now hectorpascles (unless there has been further changes i dont know about) Our charts the depths were all in fathoms and feet now in metres. Has anyone fathomed out if there is any change in the hand and deep sea leadines? The draft marks on ships were always in feet and inches, now decibals or something. There was movement afoot sometime ago to change the Greenwich meridian and have 0 degrees passing through Paris or somewhere in France, also at one time a movement to change the name of the English Channel to the French Channel. Its spooky when you think that these changes are probably still in peoples minds, and the power which now lies in Europe given away by our gutless politicians, starting with the violin playing idiot who started the rot who should never have been a politician in the first place, should have carried on with his music and sailing his yacht. All these changes has not seemed to affect the USA as they still retain their old systems of measurement and are still the leading country in the world. I have always converted in my mind metric back to the old measurements, but will probably be the last generation to do so. However I admire the States for retaining their own values re measurements. Cheers John Sabourn

[Keith at Tregenna]

There are plenty of great reasons why we haven’t switched to Systeme Internationale:

Referring to football as a “game of millimeters” instead of a game of two half's just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Inchworms have become centipedes.

Currently, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The conversion to metric would mean that a gram of prevention is worth approximately one‑sixtieth a kilogram of cure. Yuck.

Cemetery workers would strike if they were asked to bury the dead “six meters under.”

You could no longer love someone a bushel and peck. You would have to love them 37.9 liters.

The famous barroom reprimand, “Mind your p’s and q’s” (pints and quarts), would become, “Mind your h’s and l’s” (half‑liters and liters).

Seriously, folks, it’s high time we made the transition. People opposed to metrication are just being de‑feet‑ist ?

Why do we go to the grocery store for 3 pounds of meat and 2 liters of milk.

Ladies: If you want to make a dress you’ll need 5 or 10 yards of whatever fabric you need.

My car gets about 30 Kilometers per gallon. And when it comes to construction, we measure a room in meters and a piece of wood in feet and inches.

In the States:

This last weekend I was reminded at the pace we are converting to metric. I was on I-75 in Ohio when I saw a sign that said:

All signs metric
Next 20 miles.

TRY THIS:

Metriculation

As I 2.54 centimetred my way along the ledge, I could feel my head 0.454 kilogramming with fear that I might fall like a 6.35 kilogramme to the 0.914 metres below. I paused a 12.7 kilogramme of the way along with one 30.5 centimetre 5.03 metred precariously on a short 5.03 metres projecting from the wall.

0.142 litres would be a 1.61 kilometres away by now but anyway I had no 1.29 grammes about her, as I'd had that 4.55 litres my mind for far too long.

I summoned every 28.2 grammes of strength, grasped a rusty 20.1 metre with both 10.2 centimetres and slid to the ground. I could hear a hen nearby 9.10 litring at some loose 0.0648 grammes. Once down, I tried to 1.83 metres why our plan had misfired, what was the 20.1 centimetre I had overlooked, the 1850 metres/hour I had yet to untie.

And the key, for the youngsters among you...

As I inched my way along the ledge, I could feel my head pounding with fear that I might fall like a stone to the yard below. I paused a quarter of the way along with one foot perched precariously on a short pole [or it could equally well be rod] projecting from the wall.

Gill would be a mile away by now but anyway I had no scruples about her, as I'd had that gallon [gal on] my mind for far too long.

I summoned every ounce of strength, grasped a rusty chain with both hands and slid to the ground. I could hear a hen nearby pecking at some loose grains. Once down, I tried to fathom why our plan had misfired, what was the link I had overlooked, the knot I had yet to untie.

And we do not get on with text speak:

LOL: K.

[j.sabourn]

Keith was searching my mind and hasnt come to me yet, re. the American measurement of a Bale of cotton (size) something to do with the gross tonnage of a ship or something. I know on a few American ships I have been on a lot of the accomodation doors are wider and is something about being able to get a bale of cotton through. This will probably all come back when not thinking about it. Others may remember straight away. Cheers John Sabourn

[Keith at Tregenna]

One reference mentions: A bale of New Orleans compressed cotton averages 20 cubic feet measurement, and 400 pounds weight ; consequently, the ship would take two bales to a ton.

But will look further.

K.

[Captain Kong]

I am another one who hates metrication,
I remember years ago when Metric charts took over, a lot of ships ran aground with the Navigator still thinking 5 Metres was 5 Fathoms and then saying `oh crap, only half as much water`.

When I want a peice of boarding. say 8 foot by two foot some smart ass behind the trade counter says "we dont do them anymore, you have to have One thousand two hundred and twenty seven millilitres by four hundred and twenty seven tabnabs."
"All I want is a 8 x 2 foot piece of wood. so whats the problem,"
`We dont do them anymore`.
What kind of a mentally deficient system is that.?
.
When I was at School , Teachers used to hammer me to learn, feet inches, pounds and ounces, CWT and tons, pints and gallons. etc, etc.
So for all the years I was in School I learned it all and never forgot it. When I started seafaring we were still on the Imperial measures for many years. THEN some Froggy sympathetic Politician decides that the British Method is no good. When we had Imperial measure , we manufactured for the World. We carried all those manufactured Imperially measured goods to every corner of the Planet.
Then Suddenly, Forget It. we have to do it the Froggy way. I was confused, I had no School Teachers to teach me the `new ` ways. I had to struggle to learn a subject I knew nothing of.
NO ONE ASKED us did we want to change the system, it was forced upon us, not very Democratic was it, we have bombed other countries for not being very Democratic.
I remember not so long ago a Geordie market trader sold an old lady 3lb. of bananas, Mr Jobsworth was watching and the man was thrown in gaol for six months. He died after he was released.
Why does Britain lie down and whimper when the Frogs shout at us. Were we not known as Great Britain and stood up for what was all British against the rest of the world. ?
We are now reduced to a small province of europe.
Sad.
It is now 0930 I feel I now need a tot of Glenmorange. or should that be a millimetre of Glenfrog.
Have a nice day
Brian.

[John Pruden]

on a lighter note there was a rocket launched towards mars{i think} and it missed the planet because metric was used and not imperial in the guidance system? you could not make it up? all the boffins must have nightmares to this day.JP

[Tony Morcom]

Funny thing is Brian, many in the building industry will still set off to buy 2.4 metres of 4 x 2 i.e. 4" x 2". They wouldn't dream of asking for 100mm x 50mm. They'll also use 3" screws, not these new fangled 75mm ones.

[John Pruden]

tony the Romans even changed our calendar shouldn't Christmas be in September{i think} why is it in December?? are we that stupid?JP

[j.sabourn]

When I retired in 2002 the leadline was still B.O.T. Anchor cables were still marked at every shackle i.e. every 15 fathoms, a cable was still referrred to as a tenth of a nautical mile, as far as I am aware masthead lights were still still had to have a range of 5 nautical miles and sidelights 2. Ships speed was still referred to in knots.Numerous other things still imperial, maybe by now things might be slightly different, and further mixed up. Rope and wire had to be ordered metric. All draft figures, plimsols etc. used to be 1 inch thick, what is this metric? can certainly be confusing at times. As said I always used to convert figures back to imperial for a clearer picture. John Sabourn

[j.sabourn]

Brian try Captain Morgans rum at least it sounds English (even though believe he was a Welsh pirate) or even 4 Bells rum before the eurocrats have the names changed. Cheers John Sabourn