Can Dead Men Vote Twice used to correct a Compass error or bearing

Compass
Deviation
Magnetic
Variation
True

Holystones were banned by the Navy by General Order Number 215 of 5 March 1931 because they wore down the expensive teak decks too fast

quote:

Holystones

Why did the call them Holystones???

Cause you had to get down on your knees to use them?

Binnacle List. Do they still use it?

I think they did away with it because people from the Northeast kept saying Barnacle instead of Binnacle and confused everyone.

Chief74Ret I am impressed! I thought I might have had a stumper with the holystones! Let's try this one. Why is an empty bottle referred to as a "dead Marine"?

quote:

Originally posted by alfaux81:
Chief74Ret I am impressed! I thought I might have had a stumper with the holystones! Let's try this one. Why is an empty bottle referred to as a "dead Marine"?

Here is one explanation:

The expression "dead marine" is said to have been used by King William IV in the presence of some Royal Marine Officers to whom he hurriedly explained that he meant that, like a Royal Marine, having done one job of work, the bottle was ready to do another.

Well if you think about it, a empty bottle has no use,a dead Marine or Soldier has no use,so lets say a group of Marines or Soldiers were setting in a bar drinking beer,one who had to many brews thru the empty bottle at the wall and said that bottle has as much use as a dead Marine/Solider,of course we sober sailors would never say that because we know a dead Marine has done his duty to god and country.

AYE, Chief. I think the term is some what demeaning. I will never refer to the fighting men and women in such terms. Way too much respect is due them.

Besides, Once A Marine, Always A Marine. A lot of truth to that. I see it every day with a Marine I work with.

In reference to the term, from an extremely old booklet on traditions and customs of the Royal Navy.

"A Dead Marine , of course. is well known as an empty bottle that has done its duty and is ready to do it again; but some have been known to suggest that the term is derived from the fact that an empty bottle always floats head up, and it has been rumoured that a Marine will do this even when dead, owing to the traditional size of his feet. I think the former explanation is certainly the most just and decidedly the most apt. It is supposed that the Duke of Clarence made use of this term on one occasion and the event is commemmorated in verse by Colonel W. Drury, R.M."

From the same book, and another term used in connection to the Marines.

"Tell that to the Marines. Should anyone doubt the truth of a story he may make use of this expression in order politely to demonstrate the fact. Many and various are the origins attributed to this expression, and that well known writer, Colonel W.P. Drury, Royal Marines, gives an origin which accords so well that I am led to believe that such may possibly be the true and correct explanation. The “Merry Monarch,” KING CHARLES II., doubted the veracity of one of his attendants at Court, who stated that when serving in the Southern Seas fish had been observed which flew in the air. The King, loth to cast aspersions on the integrity of the raconteur, referred the matter to a Marine Officer who was attending his person, and the Marine Officer vouched for the truth of the assertion. The King thereupon remarked “That in future should we have any occasion to doubt any statement we will first ‘Tell it to the Marines .’”

quote:

Can Dead Men Vote Twice used to correct a Compass error or bearing

Compass
Deviation
Magnetic
Variation
True

Let's not forget when un-correcting:

True
Virgins
Make
Dull
Companions

(No wonder we went to GPS... )

Wray.......

Where did the term "It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" come from?

Binnacle List: Names of men not available for shipboard duties posted on the binnacle.

The Monkey was a storage place made of brass used to hold cannon balls. In very cold temperatures the brass would contract or even break thus allowing the cannon balls to roll off the Monkey onto the gun deck. Hence the sailors would say "it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey.

Crows nest ditty bag

What items were stowed in the crows nest ditty bag.

The answer is a little elusive.

Birds, maybe homing pigeons or ravens or crows were used to determine the direction of land.

The ship's lookout stood a watch in the Crow's Nest.

The birds would need food and water.

The lookout would need a blanket, long glass or binoculars. Maybe tobacco. Probably a megaphone or whistle.

I'm just taking a stab at this. Am I close?

Think back in the old days of SAIL,what items would be needed,kept in a bag called the crows nest ditty bag,not kept in the crows nest but called that.

I found this in my old Chapman Marlinspike seamanship book

Got another one. "****line" Has nothing to do with standing in line at the local house of ill repute.

Try again "*untline"

quote:

Originally posted by Ropechocker:
Try again "*untline"

The spiral grooves between the strands of line.