Hello - my dad is stepping into a well-deserved semi-retirement after a career as a naval engineer. He needs some things to help fill that new free time so he’s not just staying home (socializing is not his forte).

The man absolutely loves tall ships. The house I grew up in has a room stacked floor to ceiling with books on tall ships. He’s thrilled every time I can get him on one for a tour or whatever.

I am wondering if people have any suggestions for things I could propose to him to do, get involved with, or a gift that might prompt him to pursue the interest a bit more than just reading books by himself. He lives in the Annapolis MD area. Thanks!

I have be volunteering at a trust for around 2 years. Just did a week there doing pretty technical jobs to a high standard while getting treated like a servant by one of the paid crew. Had to cook him meals and wash up every day and he did nothing and would piss off to smoke weed and drink immediately after dinner.All round very condescending and annoying.

As I was at the train station leaving I got a text saying that I had to come back to sweep up some dirt from underneath the matress of the bunk I was sleeping in. Which is genuinely a 10 second job so I just got on the train. He didn't even say thank you or goodbye to me when I left.

I genuinely have now fucking lost it with this trust and will find somewhere else to do boat work and might even get paid.

He also stole a pack of cigarettes from me while I was up the mast. And I could never have a full smoke break because he would have a go at me about something that needed to be done in the next 2 hours.

Wondering if anyone has had such shit experiences? or this guy is just a massive cunt.

Another of my tall ship paintings (though this tall ship is assisted by steam). Captain Scott's 'Terra Nova' on its way to Antarctica. My art blog has more info and pictures of how I did this painting (and also where you can get prints of it): https://rolysart.wordpress.com/2023/12/19/painting-captain-scotts-terra-nova/

Posted an unidentified ship on the horizon on here a couple of weeks ago, and I remembered that I took another pic of the ship. Some of you suggested it might be the SS Royal Clipper, and that does seem to be the one!

Hope you enjoy the photo.

This is my painting of Abel Tasman's two ships, the war-yacht 'Heemskerck' (right) and the fluyt 'Zeehaen' (left). They were the first European ships to sight the coast of New Zealand in 1642. My blog has much more info about this painting, including how I did it: https://rolysart.wordpress.com/2024/07/31/painting-abel-tasmans-ships-again/

As I have been researching shanties, I have noticed that there are a few that get labeled as specifically "topsail holyards" but I can't any info on why.

What is different about hoisting topsail that requires different rhythms or techniques? Or is the usage of specific shanties when hoisting topsails just a matter of tradition?

I'm a hobbyist artist and love painting old ships. Here's a painting I did recently of two whaling ships moored off Kapiti Island, New Zealand in the late 1830s. I hope posting such photos fits in with the theme of this group ...

SOTL that carry sweeps (large oars) have always been of interest for me yet it's not the easiest to track down.

What are some SOTL that carried oars? (The definition of Ship of the Line in use ranges from 4th rates to 1st rates, roughly between the 17th and 19th centuries)

I am aware of a few, including Tyger of 1681, but finding more is always a bit of a task

It's easy to imagine the process of getting yardarms, sails, anchors, etc. UP. Heaving against rope and hand over hand repositioning to get ready for the next pull or pushing against a capstan that is pushing against you.

But how did sailors on sailing vessels get heavy stuff down? Were they just slowly hand over hand lowering it? Did they move the rope away from themselves at the same rhythm they pull it towards them? Were they walking the capstan backwards? And what kind of shanties were sung for this kind of work?

I'm looking to volunteer aboard a ship during my winter break, but am also aware that most ships (at least in the northern hemisphere) do not sail during this time. Does anyone here have leads on ships that might be taking volunteers from December 20 - Jan 13? I have been talking to some organizations about winter maintenance projects, but figured I would ask around to see if there are any ships still sailing who would take me, before committing to a non-sailing vessel.

Thanks in advance!

“Bosun’s coffee and morning judgment”

Could some one please answer for me this question? Ive seen these bits of cloth in other media, but I found this one on a youtube channel called dust (they do short sci-fi stuff). The only other place ive seen something similar is on the sloop in sea of thieves but im unsure if they actually exist, so i thought id ask as im not sure how to google it.

Im currently looking for steampunk ships but most of what I have found is AI and its driving me nuts. This is the only one I have found that isnt treasure planet

There's an old story I see around about the two holes in the tops, where the shrouds pass through to the mast. It generally goes something like this:

The safe and easy way to climb over the tops was through the hole, following the shrouds. However, seasoned sailors eschewed this path, choosing to take the more strenuous route of climbing upside-down over the futtock shrouds, because it was faster and a way to show off. The cowards who took the easy way were looked down on as inexperienced, and the path was pejoratively named the "lubber's hole."

As a member of the volunteer crew at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, I've done my fair share of climbing. Going over the tops, I've always used the futtocks. This is partially because it's how climbers are taught at the museum, but also, it would be way harded to go through the "lubber's hole." You'd have to climb up the futtocks anyway, shimmy around until you're on the inside of them, swing yourself around so you're on the shrouds themselves, and then squeeze through a hole that isn't really large enough to fit a full-sized person. To be fair, that last part might just be because I'm a bit on the larger side.

I'm struggling to find primary sources which describe the use of the lubber's hole as a way to reach the tops. It looks to me instead like the real purpose is to allow the shrouds to connect higher up and overlap somewhat with the topmast shrouds. At some point as tall ships become historical rather than working vessels, the story about inexperienced sailors starts getting passed around and eventually accepted as fact.

Does anyone else have any thoughts? Sources I might be missing? I would love to hear other topmen's experiences!