USS Cobia Visit

[derstosstrupp]

Took our youngest son to the Cobia today (Gato), I got some good pictures and videos.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...sv1wDtxcxvJoJJ

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by derstosstrupp

Took our youngest son to the Cobia today (Gato), I got some good pictures and videos.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...sv1wDtxcxvJoJJ

Thanks for sharing !

[vickers03]

thanks! very nice. will help me to improve my interiors.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by derstosstrupp

Took our youngest son to the Cobia today (Gato), I got some good pictures and videos.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...sv1wDtxcxvJoJJ

is the wisconsin maritime museum still limiting tours to 30 minute walk-throughs?

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

is the wisconsin maritime museum still limiting tours to 30 minute walk-throughs?

I was told that during the winter all the tours are self-guided. We could’ve probably gone through as many times as we wanted with no time limit to be honest. Likely a cost-saving measure in the winter.

It was nice because there were maybe two other groups. We practically had the boat to ourselves.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by derstosstrupp

I was told that during the winter all the tours are self-guided. We could’ve probably gone through as many times as we wanted with no time limit to be honest. Likely a cost-saving measure in the winter.

It was nice because there were maybe two other groups. We practically had the boat to ourselves.

you were lucky. last time i visited we were restricted to a 30-minute guided tour. after driving 3+ hours to get to Manitowoc, we were most disappointed.
since i know what i want to see and since i usually have my own guests, i would prefer a self-guided tour. but they posted a guard on me (intern, lol).

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

you were lucky. last time i visited we were restricted to a 30-minute guided tour. after driving 3+ hours to get to Manitowoc, we were most disappointed.
since i know what i want to see and since i usually have my own guests, i would prefer a self-guided tour. but they posted a guard on me (intern, lol).

It is unfortunate yeah, all of my other visits there have all been guided. It worked out well because our three year old probably would not have been patient through a guided tour. I did ask about the conning tower interior and apparently they do what they call nooks and crannies tours, the next of which I think is on April 9, where they take you extensively through the boat including the tower. But I agree, I know exactly what I want to see, and it’s very hard being limited by a tour guide.

Hopefully the woman at the front desk was correct in saying that all winter is self guided, that’s when I would recommend to go if that is indeed the case.

[Mad Mardigan]

Ahoy, derstosstrupp...


Appreciate that posting of your visit there. Glad your boy, enjoyed the tour.

Know that, last I was there, at Battleship Park in Mobile, Al. ... of the going aboard the Bama (BB-60) & the Drum (SS-228) were self-guided, of course... with the size of the Bama, they had to break it down to mhmm... midpoint fore & aft as the start point, but... was 1 tour route that would take you through the aft end from there & exit near where you started. Same for the tour path, leading forward.

That's not to say... that you couldn't go on a guided tour, as there was that option as well. Again... that was, as last I knew of. No idea of what changes they may or may not have made, since then.

It used to be, that you were able to go into the bridge areas on both the Bama & the Drum, but... (no clue as to why they stymied off those areas, from being able to be visited...) last I was there, was NOT able to, as they had those areas blocked off.

Any who... enjoyed the vid of your time there, aboard the USS Cobia (SS-245)





M. M.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Mad Mardigan

It used to be, that you were able to go into the bridge areas on both the Bama & the Drum, but... (no clue as to why they stymied off those areas, from being able to be visited...) last I was there, was NOT able to, as they had those areas blocked off.

the reason is that there are no soft places on a submarine. just about every ladder is vertical and vertical ladders are meant to be climbed by young fit men (and women now), not by young children and old geezers (like me). so, when a museum opens up a conning tower or a bridge area, they are inviting any/all visitors to access those areas. if a visitor mis-understands the physical acumen required to ascend and descend a Navy ladder, injuries occur. i can say for my part that the last time my buddy and i visited the Silversides, we convinced the fellow who was the guide that day to unchain the ladder to the conning tower. we are both ex-Navy officers but my buddy, who is older than i, and i will be 70 in a couple of months, took one step on the ladder and said no thanks. i climbed up, with some difficulty, but climbing down was perilous. that may have been my last visit to a conning tower. there are no soft places on a submarine.

[Mad Mardigan]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

the reason is that there are no soft places on a submarine. just about every ladder is vertical and vertical ladders are meant to be climbed by young fit men (and women now), not by young children and old geezers (like me). so, when a museum opens up a conning tower or a bridge area, they are inviting any/all visitors to access those areas. if a visitor mis-understands the physical acumen required to ascend and descend a Navy ladder, injuries occur. i can say for my part that the last time my buddy and i visited the Silversides, we convinced the fellow who was the guide that day to unchain the ladder to the conning tower. we are both ex-Navy officers but my buddy, who is older than i, and i will be 70 in a couple of months, took one step on the ladder and said no thanks. i climbed up, with some difficulty, but climbing down was perilous. that may have been my last visit to a conning tower. there are no soft places on a submarine.

Used to be, back in the day... that common sense, was both prevalent & taught.... Nowadays, it is fast on the endangered list (if it hasn't already hit the extinction list... )

Along with common decency, respect, honor, loyalty & integrity...

smh

Ok, gonna shut up now... apologies, derstosstrupp... & all.



M. M.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Mad Mardigan

Used to be, back in the day... that common sense, was both prevalent & taught.... Nowadays, it is fast on the endangered list (if it hasn't already hit the extinction list... )

Along with common decency, respect, honor, loyalty & integrity...

to quote an old Arab adage (i've translated it for you-Americans ): a man has got to know his limitations.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Mad Mardigan

Ahoy, derstosstrupp...


Appreciate that posting of your visit there. Glad your boy, enjoyed the tour.

Know that, last I was there, at Battleship Park in Mobile, Al. ... of the going aboard the Bama (BB-60) & the Drum (SS-228) were self-guided, of course... with the size of the Bama, they had to break it down to mhmm... midpoint fore & aft as the start point, but... was 1 tour route that would take you through the aft end from there & exit near where you started. Same for the tour path, leading forward.

That's not to say... that you couldn't go on a guided tour, as there was that option as well. Again... that was, as last I knew of. No idea of what changes they may or may not have made, since then.

It used to be, that you were able to go into the bridge areas on both the Bama & the Drum, but... (no clue as to why they stymied off those areas, from being able to be visited...) last I was there, was NOT able to, as they had those areas blocked off.

Any who... enjoyed the vid of your time there, aboard the USS Cobia (SS-245)





M. M.

They restricted access to the bridge area when Drum was moved onto land due to the height, potential liability, as it was explained by a park official. Pre pandemic I was still permitted up there, I just asked. Long as children and or bunch of people were not around they let me.

I've only been able to visit once since 2020 as I no longer live nearby. In August 2021, it was a "living history drill" day so a lot more people around, so I did not ask to go up there. A kind "crew" member took some photos for me from the bridge , which I believe I shared on here.

One thing that is unacceptable at all sub museums that do so is when not permitted to enter the conning tower, For the first time ever I was unable to go to the conning tower on the Drum(!), I was rather annoyed. Ostensibly it was closed off since the pandemic but lol one of those nonsensical things, we were in tight quarters regardless, going in conning tower was no different.

Really takes away from the experience and does a disservice to the museum limiting access like that. Nothing some simple waivers couldn't handle at point of sale for tickets.