Let's Talk Status, and Strategy

Hornet ain't happening.  Leave it there.

Why are we back?  Start with this - a few months ago, I found Monomoy No. 1 in a junkyard on the Eastern Shore.  Definitely rode hard and put away wet, her hull is still in good shape.  The scars of service still show - Elmer's scratch.  The cracked kingpost from ramming the trailer.  The wear marks on the thwart knees where we made the halyards fast.  She was at once sad, and glorious.  I knew I needed to act.

Since we've all scattered to the wind, I directed her toward an awesome youth group - the Youth Virginia Regiment.  These kids are all you could ever hope for.  And the organization itself is a perfect reminder of the old Lobsterback Society.  Well, just like the old LS, they now have their first boat.  The same boat.

While they have lots of enthusiasm, they need help.  The boat needs all new oars, new gunwales, and a little hardware.  Then, all new spars, sails and rigging.  The crew at the old NHS is well used to this, and I know if we can get a few back together we could make short work of it all.

So what do you say - want to help some kids clean up their new boat?

BT

The goals outlined in a previous post give a sense of direction that we might go IF the old band gets back together.

Here's a few factoids for inspiration -

1.  most of our old gear is still around.  Scattered, but in decent shape.

2.  we have several people who've taken their Dockyard experience and spun off their own shops.  They're already building stuff.  Several.

3.  Elmer's clothing/costume/uniform game is better than ever.

4.  NHS, while inactive, ain't broke.

BT

The small nucleus that has already re-formed is working to organize a 'first muster' meet and greet to formally reestablish the organization.  It may not be called NHS.  We don't know.  Chime in.

NNNN

  

Dockyard Projects, or, Anything is Possible

It's true - the Good Idea Fairy is making the rounds.

Tawk amongst yawselfs.  Here, I'll give you a tawpic:

1.  Ship's Boats

Monomoy No. 1 is safe in the hands of the Youth Virginia Regiment and we'll be helping to make her seaworthy this year.  [Throws gauntlet]

That said, the new and rapidly re-forming Dockyard nucleus is also brainstorming the ways and means to produce cutters and/or launches.  I use plural here because we still remember that one boat under oars ain't as cool as two, and the coolness factor increases a whole order of magnitude with each added.  Besides, if we have to go to all the trouble of lofting and making frames for a boat, they might as well get used a few times.

We have a good base to dream and build from.  One of the most prized books on my shelf, an original copy of Standard Designs for Boats of the United States Navy, details the design and construction of boats but detailed drawings, specifications, measurements etc.  I've scanned many pertinent chapters and uploaded them here.  Much of the old Dockyard library is still intact (sadly not all) , along with several crates of rolled drawings.

I have officially entered the obsession phase with the 28-foot cutter.  Behold:

2.  Ships in Scale

Inspired by the old Mini-Hornet, I've been dreaming of these for at least a dozen years.  In quarter scale, a large brig or sloop would be about 25-26 feet long on deck.  Small frigates, about 35 to 40 feet.  Crew seated inside would only be really visible from the neck up, and frankly at normal distances on the water would very much resemble their real life counterparts at a tiny fraction of the cost, complexity, and difficulty.  The guns would ostensibly be breech-loading and utilize shotgun blanks, like signal cannons.  For ease of movement they'd probably be fitted with auxiliary engines, like most sailboats.

Six months ago I sat down and started working numbers. They are possible.  Safe? Not really - they'll have to be sailed by highly trained crews and restricted to very sheltered waters.  But the sailing characteristics are pretty good - at least in the computer and on paper.  It would be a pretty steep learning curve, but the possibility of two of these duking it out at HarborFest is undeniably thrilling.

3.  A Jeffersonian Gunboat

Probably not at full-scale, but even at 3/4 scale a gunboat would be eminently impressive, but also practical for our output capabilities.  With her bulk she'd need an auxiliary engine to get her in and out of tight spots on demand.  And because we'd be approximating a real vessel (albeit a Lilliputian one) she could mount some seriously heavy artillery - 18 pdrs anyone?  She'd have to live in the water full-time, but her shoal draft means we would have plenty of regular storage options, like Scott's Creek.

Okay, enough for now.  Go discuss.

NNNN

NOW HEAR THIS.

 ALL HANDS!

From Portsmouth, Virginia:

All personnel are requested to check in and report status.