Previous ship handling experience?

[Akula4745]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Now Ft Pierce Inlet is dredged to 70 or 75 feet to accomodate nuclear submarines (don't ask). But between the jettys it is a darned narrow thing! We came into the inlet with standing 20' waves there, outgoing tide into the big wavefront. We put the mast spreaders in the water twice.

RR - your inlet story reminded me of an inlet story from my crewboat days... heavy winter storm had the helicopters grounded so we got stuck ferrying a radio repairman out of Galveston to a rig who had lost all their radios. Since it was just one passenger he followed us into the wheelhouse and proceeded to stand to the left of my console at the top of the ladder down to the gallery... a rather long ladder at a steep angle. I suggested nicely once, and then with a little more seriousness that he sit down somewhere because it would be nasty ride out... both times he indignantly assured me of his manly prowess and seaworthiness. Yep, you know how this goes - second real big one got him. Typical winter storm jetty swell - probably 25 or better... the kind you fall off like a cliff. The radio guy bounced off the ceiling and went straight down the ladder face first like a rag doll into a big heap... I heard he didn't break anything - but I didn't see him again until we offloaded and he went up to the rig in the basket.

Originally Posted by coasterdigi

A couple of big pumps were able to get the great majority of water out, but there was still about 2" left that the pumps could not reach. Being as our maintenance staff was busy with other things, I'll give you one guess as to who got the enviable task of getting the last bit of water--one 5gal ShopVac full at a time--out of the boats.

I can dig it... amusement park ferry boats! I am not liking the bilge arrangements tho! LOL

Originally Posted by Highbury

hehe I even do it from Kiel in OM. To me going port to port in SH is like starting a mission on the runway in a flight sim, it just feels better. Starting and finishing in the air is immersion destroying for me with flight.. same thing here

I couldn't agree more. I miss the band and waving frauleins of SH3... and I have not even played that game more than a few hours!

[Political Feud]

Good ole Destin Florida, I enjoyed living there.

[Highbury]

Originally Posted by Akula4745

I couldn't agree more. I miss the band and waving frauleins of SH3... and I have not even played that game more than a few hours!

I already worked that one out....

I have the wife wear a dirndl and throw flowers at me while playing an Oktoberfest CD in the background.

[SteamWake]

Doesent really count I think but I have 100's upon 100's of hours in sailboats of all sorts and sizes on florida bay, the keys, Bahamas, even a visit by the Cuban 'coast guard'

Was an avid sailboat racing enthusiast and have sailed everything from a lazer to 33 foot offshore boats.

I mostly served in the capacity of navigator and tactician. Yup so old I used sextants ! and yes it was my navigation 'skills' that put us 12 miles offshore of cuba. It was a short cut

That being said not being able to navigate in the SH world is stunning to me for the most part its a point and click affair.

[Akula4745]

Originally Posted by Highbury

I already worked that one out....

I have the wife wear a dirndl and throw flowers at me while playing an Oktoberfest CD in the background.

LOL - You go, Highbury!!!
Too funny...

[sunvalleyslim]

I had the distinct pleasure to stand Lookout and Helm Watches on the USS Segundo SS-398 from 68 to 70.
A lot of memories I have from the Diesel Boats are from standing those watches

One of the stunts that we liked to pull, would be to make a complete circle while underway without the Officer of the Deck noticing the course change.

Now this had to be accomplished on a moonless night, no other ships on the horizon, no landmarks and the Lookouts would have to distract him so he didn't see the compass going around in a circle.........

[Rockin Robbins]