Ringbolting

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Originally Posted by Seamans Daughter

My Dad has talked of a crew member named Shelty, an AB from Shetland. Liked a dram. He had a pair of eyes tattooed on his butt cheeks. Wonder if it was the same person.

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The best one i ever witnessed was a snakes head on a seamans neck just about ready to strike its venom, When i met him coming out of the shower for the first time the snakes body was right down his back with the tail disappearing you know where Terry. :Whatever:

Can't be the same fella, this one liked to show the eyes off. I've seen the photos though I really wished I hadn't!

While we are on the Kiwi Coast . it just came to me that when we docked in Napier ,An old guy used to come on with his Missus .it was rumoured that he had no balls so the older crew members would get off with the missus I saw him and her on a few ships over the years ,he was called the waterman why I don't know maybe he worked in the waterworks ,does any body remember this pair??? .could have been (New Plymouth) but pretty sur it was Napier

Hi Bob,
I seem to remember hearing something about this, could you be more specific on dates though?
Cheers, Paul.

You may well find he had a liking for Sheep, some I am told are good looking in NZ.
Maybe she was not so keen on them.LOL

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Originally Posted by Paul Johnson

Hi Bob,
I seem to remember hearing something about this, could you be more specific on dates though?
Cheers, Paul.

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Paul i remember them on the Megantic in early 1968, an old greaser called Albert Startup told me the story i think he was offered the chance . then I saw them a few times on various ships up til 1973 .

As an aside, does any one know how the term of 'Ring Bolting' came about.
Many would think it refers to some form of nuts and bolts, but then again maybe it did refer to nuts of some kind, nuts down there!!

Does this not then explain the meaning and origin John??
Cheers

'Green's Dictionary of Slang' defines 'ringbolt' as, '(NZ) a free voyage obtained by posing as a ship's crew member'

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Originally Posted by Doc Vernon

Does this not then explain the meaning and origin John??
Cheers

'Green's Dictionary of Slang' defines 'ringbolt' as, '(NZ) a free voyage obtained by posing as a ship's crew member'

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If it is in that book then it may well be right.
But is it originally a NZ term?

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Originally Posted by Doc Vernon

Does this not then explain the meaning and origin John??
Cheers

'Green's Dictionary of Slang' defines 'ringbolt' as, '(NZ) a free voyage obtained by posing as a ship's crew member'

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I asked an historian friend in NZ. Response: Apart from an early nautical term, 'Ringbolting' between Sydney and Auckland and vice-versa was a euphemism for wanted criminals hiding aboard the trans-Tasman steamers also a 'trip to Sydney' or Auckland was a coded phrase for middle-class women seeking abortions in both cities. Later usage here of the term has already been discussed but, possibly how the term of 'Ring Bolting' commenced ?

Keith.