Mundane News

[classic33]

This is a good one :
Until the mid-19th century, vessel speed at sea was measured using a chip log. This consisted of a wooden panel, attached by line to a reel, and weighted on one edge to float perpendicularly to the water surface and thus present substantial resistance to the water moving around it. The chip log was cast over the stern of the moving vessel and the line allowed to pay out.[6] Knots tied at a distance of 47 feet 3 inches (14.4018 m) from each other, passed through a sailor's fingers, while another sailor used a 30-second sand-glass (28-second sand-glass is the currently accepted timing) to time the operation.[7] The knot count would be reported and used in the sailing master's dead reckoning and navigation. This method gives a value for the knot of 20.25 in/s, or 1.85166 km/h. The difference from the modern definition is less than 0.02%.

Derivation of knots spacing:

, so in

seconds that is

metres per knot.

Like drinks, measurement units should not be mixed. And you've used three seperate ones there.

 

[classic33]

I was looking at a set of measuring chains last weekend, my neighbour has them in his Aladin's Cave of obscure bits and pieces.

But were you measuring the field in "big" Cunningham Acres or "wee" Statute Acres?

I've measured in both, and had to convert one to the other.
Deeds for the farm are all in Irish acres, all modern forms are in acres.
Boundaries have to be measured in metres, with yards, feet & inches as a supplemental measurement.

 

[classic33]

I sometimes wonder if companies come up with the most confusing and long drawn out automated attendants possible on purpose.

Yes, stop wondering and come up with one of your own. See how they like it.

 

[woodbutchmaster]

Yes but if you are sat or standing on a log with only a paddle you do not have much speed and predicting the course of these things is not always easy. I have been out on the water with things like that thundering towards me with no idea if they have seen me or not.

If you are talking about the Channel just stay in inshore waters and if you are in either of the two Channel shipping lanes you better have radio and radar in your small boat because the traffic will not have seen you , and even if by some miracle you were seen a couple of hundred meters or so away , a bloody great container ship doing maybe 18-20 knots has no chance of altering course. I have sailed from East coast of England to France and Channel Islands in a relatively small boat and it is not something l would want to do all that frequently.

 

[Reynard]

I've managed to get one of the three blades off. Classic method of fitting a ring spanner (17mm if you must know) to each of the three bolts in turn, holding the blade and then whacking the handle of the spanner with a lump hammer.

There's a lot of fibrous stuff that I'm going to have to pick out with an awl.

The remaining two blade spindles have a lot more stringy stuff. I think patience is going to be the key here.

In the mean time, more WD40 has been applied.

I'm now off to meet a friend and have a walk with her and the dogs. And swap a jar of marmalade for some fresh eggs.

 

[biggs682]

Back to work tomorrow

 

[oldwheels]

If you are talking about the Channel just stay in inshore waters and if you are in either of the two Channel shipping lanes you better have radio and radar in your small boat because the traffic will not have seen you , and even if by some miracle you were seen a couple of hundred meters or so away , a bloody great container ship doing maybe 18-20 knots has no chance of altering course. I have sailed from East coast of England to France and Channel Islands in a relatively small boat and it is not something l would want to do all that frequently.

I presume you mean the English Channel where I certainly have not sailed apart from on a ferry.
The Sound of Mull can be a busy area {admittedly not as busy as the English Channel} with a great variety of ships up to enormous gravel carriers whose navigation is sometimes a bit suspect. On some of the cargo boats the lookout may well be asleep as some have tried to to take shortcuts overland. One was reported to be sailing with an old school atlas for navigation as they got lost and had to call for help to find out where they were. So far all have been refloated in the recent past but the Sound is littered with wrecks and some are still to be discovered.
We were the first divers on a wreck which sank in 1919 and remained undiscovered until about 2002. The location was wrongly reported at the time.

 

[oldwheels]

I've measured in both, and had to convert one to the other.
Deeds for the farm are all in Irish acres, all modern forms are in acres.
Boundaries have to be measured in metres, with yards, feet & inches as a supplemental measurement.

I would have expected everything would be hectares and not acres.

 

[Reynard]

Had a lovely walk around the fields in the late afternoon sunshine with my friend and her two dogs - miniature schnauzers are bonkers but fun, and I swear they're made of rubber because they boing around so much!

Have put my slippers (crocs) on and am sat down with a nice

 

[classic33]

I've managed to get one of the three blades off. Classic method of fitting a ring spanner (17mm if you must know) to each of the three bolts in turn, holding the blade and then whacking the handle of the spanner with a lump hammer.

There's a lot of fibrous stuff that I'm going to have to pick out with an awl.

The remaining two blade spindles have a lot more stringy stuff. I think patience is going to be the key here.

In the mean time, more WD40 has been applied.

I'm now off to meet a friend and have a walk with her and the dogs. And swap a jar of marmalade for some fresh eggs.

'Ere, don't go saying I'm to blame when the spanner goes flying when you hit it.

My method is a stilson and use the extra leverage it gives.

When was the last time you removed those blades? That "stringy stuff", great technical explanation there, may actually be just that. String, or a fine piece of cotton fabric wrapped round, prior to the bolts being put in place. If that's the case WD40 won't free it.

 

[gbb]

Scrap man is in the vicinity.
He has a recording he plays out, three descending trumpet notes followed by a short bit of throat singing. It's very distinctive, you can hear it streets away He (I assume it's the same person) has been using that 'call' for over 35 years or so, I remember hearing it decades ago...with a big gap in the middle. It re appeared maybe 5 years ago after a gap of maybe 20 years.
Wierd

 

[classic33]

I would have expected everything would be hectares and not acres.

Hectares are not a recognised unit. But it was always in acres(Irish or English).

 

[carpiste]

Just back from a really nice 22 mile ride. Weather conditions perfect. Dry, warm and no wind! And best of all. once again, Mrs C has made a cuppa on my return Time for a snack soon then get some bits and bobs together for a fishing trip tomorrow morning 🎣
Gotta love being retired

 

[Andy in Germany]

Scrap man is in the vicinity.
He has a recording he plays out, three descending trumpet notes followed by a short bit of throat singing. It's very distinctive, you can hear it streets away He (I assume it's the same person) has been using that 'call' for over 35 years or so, I remember hearing it decades ago...with a big gap in the middle. It re appeared maybe 5 years ago after a gap of maybe 20 years.
Wierd

Perhaps he has a longer round than you think.

 

[fossyant]

Took my sister's Lab out for a walk last two days, sister pushing new baby Theo in his pram. Hubby was working, so she's been down to my folks caravan - she can't walk dog and push pram as Chester is pretty boisterous. They have tried - lovely dog, but very strong and doesn't like other big dogs - he's a right Alpha - not nasty but barky.

After that , I popped out for 25 miles in the lanes around Gronant to Tremeirchion - very hilly first half, and flat as I dropped back in the the Clywd Valley back to Rhyl and Prestatyn.