Then and Now

[Captain Kong]

Thats right Ivan,
Usually dropped them all, runners, topping lifts, blocks.and jumbos, greased all and sent them back up outward bound to Ozzy coast and again homeward bound. Twice a trip, on the Blue star boats. Good job in the bronzy weather.
Cheers
Brian.

[j.sabourn]

#28 Either in position from the mast table, or at the same time when they were taken down for maintainance. Why Louis how did you do it, from a sky hook. Cheers John Sabourn.

[j.sabourn]

Ref. post 28, think Louis may also be referring to topping lift wires, these used to be oiled in position if not down, from a chair the same as the shrouds and back stays. Regards John Sabourn

[j.sabourn]

Now... Modern aids not to navigation. Was just thinking of all the aids to keeping alive. 6 tablets a day of various persuasion. Spectacles. Teeth. Hearing Aids. Now having to sleep with a mask on for sleep abpnia. Have known for a number of years now that had, the first time I tried to use finished up with be thrown in a corner as used to wake up thinking I was drowning. However recently found I was dozing whilst driving and was a menace to other people so am trying again. I used to blame this lack of sleep due to former occupation as was lucky if ever slept for more than 4 hours at a stretch, and more than likely this would be in bad weather so was broken sleep at the best of times. This was in the last 20 years at sea. So think a lot of mariners will probably suffer the same complaint. However looking on the bright side still have my own hair and have not deterioted to a walking stick or crutches yet, these are still to come if live that long, Then.. never had these problems..... Cheers John Sabourn

[leratty]

Louis post 12, yes it is interesting we too learnt to splice both rope & wire at sea along with all kinds of knots for so many purposes + other things we still use today often at the amusement or surprise of others. On saying that like most things now days they are a dying art as well as something not taught I suggest any more? I recall the old timers were sometimes loath to teach us younger ones their skills or pull us up if in error for fear, unrealistic I always felt, that they would be out of a job sadly.
Biggest thing learnt I believe was responsibility as well as a pride in your work even if only chipping. God what a mind numbing job that was if by a hand held hammer or deafening if one of those powered f... things, pure torture.

[Keith Tindell]

The memories of chipping, mostly by hand hammer as i recall, and the cry of "who`s nicked my effin stool", used to make a stool to sit on while you switched your mind to blank, at least your **** was not too bad KT

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates. Hi leratty, I still miss doing the chipping, and the red lead , great job in the warm weather you never finish!!! a hand hammer only please , not a new eletric type never even seen one of them. splice hawsers and springs and ropes its a load of fidds and merlin spikes to the skilled seaman palm and needles were the best, working on new canvas, still have mine in good order, have over 20 needles in my kitt

[Keith Tindell]

I can remember , if the bosun was kind enough to give us some duck canvas, making our brevies, all the same design, using two dinner plates as patterns. If we could not get canvas, had to cut the legs off of the wranglers KT

[Trader]

I put this photo on years ago. Chipping decks on mv. "Bellerophon" Blue Funnel in the Red sea in early 50's.

Alec.Chipping decks, Bellerophon, 1953.jpg

[Roger Dyer]

Why is it whenever I finished a 'stint' on the electric chipping hammer my underpants always felt as if they were full of Kelloggs Cornflakes ?.......and why did it seem that such tasks as chipping steel decks was always carried out when the sun was permanently suspended at it's highest point in the sky and never before as hot ? The stools mentioned by Keith T. in #36 were ever in short supply and, invariably, any 'exhausted' chipper who tired from the kneeling position could always sit on the steel deck and risk third degree burns on his bum. 'Twas a job I always found mind-numbing (a bit like holy-stoning wooden decks), but for young seamen lulled into a trance-like state it gave one a chance to think nice thoughts of home or of jumping into bed with Ava Gardner - all of which did much to build ones character !!!


........Roger