Whaleship Charles W Morgan Photos

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Here are some pictures I took this week of the Charles W Morgan, which is undergoing a three year restoration. The CWM is the last remaining wooden whaleship.

SOUNDBOUNDER: Charles W. Morgan Restoration


There is also a photo gallery by the NYT of the October hauling. Just follow the link.
I hope you enjoy it.

[WouldaShoulda]

That thing is massive!!

I know some Japanese "Marine Researchers" that may be interested.

[AjariBonten]

Here are a couple of photos of it's brethren, from Wainwright Alaska

[bubb2]

If you are ever cruising Long Island Sound you can dock at Mystic Seaport. Home of the Charles Morgan. The cost of joining the Seaport is a break even with the discount on docking if you dock 2 nights or more. One of the advantages of being a member and docking there is after they close the gates to the public you are free to roam the grounds.

The second day we were there I awoke to a misty morning, just before daylight. I swear, I heard the men in the rigging on the Morgan boat getting ready to make way. I was sitting in the cockpit of my boat 25 yards away. In the fog. I could see no one about the Morgan. But in the Early morning twilight, I could hear the creaking of wooden blocks, a shanty being sung. Orders being barked by officers. Canvas sails filling in the breeze. Men straining while turning the capstan to raise the anchor. I kept sipping my coffee, closed my eyes and just listened.

I open my eyes sometime latter and she was still at her dock.I closed my eyes again and a understanding came to me. That the Soul of the Morgan and the Souls of the men that served her still go to sea. I knew in my mind, that I had witnessed with my ears her getting underway for another voyage. I wonder to this day, where those souls were off to that morning. Maybe the Horn or maybe the North Atlantic as she had done so many times before. I will never know. But off they went before the sun rose. I so wished I could have joined them.

It is my story and I sticking to it!!!

[JohnRPollard]

Great story, Bubb. It reminds me of one that John Conway told in his book Catboat Summers, where when fogbound at anchor in Tarpaulin Cove, he heard and saw a similarly eerie sight. Well worth the read.


Soundbounder, nice photos. This one in particular more than amply illustrates the concept "bluff bow":

DSC02872.JPG (image)

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

Great story, Bubb. It reminds me of one that John Conway told in his book Catboat Summers, where when fogbound at anchor in Tarpaulin Cove, he heard and saw a similarly eerie sight. Well worth the read.


Soundbounder, nice photos. This one in particular more than amply illustrates the concept "bluff bow":

DSC02872.JPG (image)

Thanks!! I wasn't aware of the term "bluff bow". It certainly is unique.

The photos don't really do justice to how MASSIVE the ship is. It was really amazing to see it.

[denby]

Good story Mike, maybe you heard some of my ancestors.

[poopdeckpappy]

Very cool SB

great tale Bubb, how's that song go ? 200 yrs to late ??

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by poopdeckpappy

Very cool SB

great tale Bubb, how's that song go ? 200 yrs to late ??

you know it too, don't you!

[Valiente]

If I recall correctly, my late father trained either as a Sea Scout or as a cadet merchant marine on RRS Discovery, the ship that took Scott to Antarctica on his ill-fated expedition. He joined up just short of his 16th birthday in 1941 (presumably lying about his age) as he was tired of being bombed out by the Germans and thought, counter-intuitively in retrospect, that crossing the Atlantic in clapped-out old steamer at the height of the U-boat wolf packs would be a better course of action.

I visited it in 1973 in London and I recall it was a massively built thing.

My father was also a whaler in Antarctica in 1947-48. I possess a sperm whale's tooth he acquired from this voyage. He said it was about the worst job he had ever had, and he'd seen horrible things during the war.