By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
8th May 2019, 10:23 AM
#11
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Originally Posted by
Barbara Thompson
Hello Harry,
I had always supposed it was to do with rain water, but why not just tip the boat up to clear it, considering a loose or lost bung would be rather dangerous. Just one of those things I wondered when rowing along, as you do. All our tenders and dinghies were small. I don't think the rubber one had a bung. One sailing dinghy and 2 yachts had self draining holes that automatically closed when still but opened when going along. They worked very well.
Thanks for your reply.
All ships lifeboats had plugs in the bottom to allow water to drain out (do not remember the word bung used much). Also offshore TEMPSC (totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft) since they need to be ready instantly, are too big to turn over, the if full of water would be too heavy to lower and not usable for survival. Offshore and at sea water penetrates where you dont want it so the plug is vital. Part of drill is to check the plug is in as well as all the other actions that need to be carried out as part of a safe launch of any boat.
When out in Espiritu Santo an excursion was made in the ships lifeboat across the lagoon and the bottom bumped on the coral knocking out the plug. No one could put the plug back in so we arrived waterlogged back at the ship with the engine flywheel spraying water out either side and me on the bilge pump.
In my day the lifeboats were fibreglass so no problems with wood drying out however they had covers to keep out the worst of the weather. Once I went offshore the survival craft were lifeboat hulls closed in making the TEMPSC.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
8th May 2019, 11:13 AM
#12
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
You mention 'tabernacle' Ian. As a deckhand in the 50's. I remember very well in our messroom, the term 'Tab nabs' as cakes. We did not have them very often. Also 'Burgoo as porridge . Regards Mike.
Last edited by Chris Allman; 8th May 2019 at 02:49 PM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
8th May 2019, 01:33 PM
#13
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Originally Posted by
Mike Skeet
You mention 'tabernacle' Ian. As a deckhand in the 50's. I remember very well in our messroom, the term 'Tab nabs' as cakes. We did not have them very often. Also 'Burgoo as porridge . Regards Mike.
Regards Mike.
Yes we had the tabnabs, always looked forward to! when we got them!
Tabernacle is a metal socket fitted to the keel in a lifeboat and is where you step the mast for the sails. It is called a tabernacle because it is the 'host' for the foot of the mast, once the mast is stepped and vertical a pin is inserted across the foot to stop the mast slipping out when under sail and the mast clamped to the thwart above the tabernacle
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
8th May 2019, 04:18 PM
#14
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Originally Posted by
Barbara Thompson
Hello,
I have joined mainly for some research. I learnt to sail in various little boats as well as do various school trips to France and the Channel Islands on the Ferries and at 18 I got a place as crew on the sail training tall ship, Malcolm Miller.
Barbs
re:- Hello from mid-wales, I am also in Wales...Ceredigion, yes, definitely to drain out the water after having been 'laid-up' on the beach. I am an ex Seaman and have been dabling in writing recently. Hope that you enjoy this site and it's 'threads' etc.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 8th May 2019 at 10:26 PM.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
9th May 2019, 03:58 AM
#15
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Hi Barbara.
Originally from Garden Village, Gorsienon, with it's lovely commons and river now ruined by massive building of houses over the farms and woods. We like to watch Escape to the Country just to see the beautiful gardens; something that is nearly impossible down here in Cooma as the soil is rock.
Des
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
9th May 2019, 06:26 AM
#16
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Originally Posted by
John Arton
Stowing wooden casks of wine, the rule is hung up, bilge free.
Just thought I would pass on that little nugget of information. LOL
Rgds
J.A.
Empty wine casks should be discarded and replaced with full ones.
No need to hang them up then. LOL
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
9th May 2019, 09:51 AM
#17
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Well it was the first order to be handed out by the boats coxswain, Put the {Bung in PLUG } Most clinker and fibre glass boats I recall at sea had two things lashed thwart ships. A wooden mallet and an axe they both,,, Depending on how long you may have been adrift in your lifeboat both had many good uses.
{terry scouse}
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
9th May 2019, 10:31 AM
#18
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
is it true that seaman referred cheese as Bunghole ,as somewhere it was used to stop a leak on a boat?
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
31st May 2019, 02:28 PM
#19
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Hi Mike.
I was always under the impression that the "TABERNACLE" was the main body
of the ships compass.
Dave Williams
Llanelli.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
1st June 2019, 05:51 AM
#20
Re: Hello from Mid Wales
Tabernackle, cousin related to Tab nab a cake formed by some who claimed to be cooks on some ships.
We did at one time have such a member living in Canada but who only looks in, so I had better leave it at that for now?
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules