We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:55:43 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification When Ward dived to check her hull, I reported that he found her in very good shape. Her anodes were present, there was sufficient depth under her keel for them to function properly, and there was little to no corrosion - and what corrosion pitting there was along the hull was at her waterline from the 20-odd years she spent in mothballs with the US Navy before being given to the Mexican Navy in 1972. She had some barnacle growth on her rudders and screws, and the odd patch here and there - which the Mexican diver said resulted from... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:52:13 -0600 BC, yes. JTG, I dunno. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48680 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48680 Sat, 05 Aug 2006 07:28:58 -0600 Just how thick was the shell plating of that ship, to start with, before electrolysis, corrosion, chipping and painting etc.? I have a personal interest here, as I'm contemplating welding up a 30' steel ketch as a place to live in. (Sunbird, designed by Russell McNab, ppg 146-148, inclusive, Gerr, Dave, "Pocket Cruisers for the Backyard Builder", Camden, Maine, 1987) Gerr writes, "...Her hull is made up of 1/4-inch and 3/16-inch plate. In a boat this size, plating that thick makes *Sunbird*'s hull seemingly indestructible. It is unlikely that any collision or grounding would cause real damage." Gerr also hints that thicker steel is easier for amateurs to weld, though harder to bend. I've done a small bit of arc welding, years ago, courtesy of a generous neighbor. (got me a real nice doorstop sculpture and another thing or two) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48677 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48677 Sat, 05 Aug 2006 01:29:56 -0600 John, The hole will be patched before towing? BC http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48676 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48676 Sat, 05 Aug 2006 00:22:12 -0600 *Real* football. Heh. I'll consider the source. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48643 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48643 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:04:53 -0600 Who knew you know real football well enough to make allusions to the color cards for fouls? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48636 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48636 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 13:39:53 -0600 Quetzalcoatl was outboard! No, wait, she's a Flearing FRAM III cat-hulled destroyer! Yeah, that's it!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48634 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48634 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:46:02 -0600 Damage is in the "Bosn's Locker" where assorted rope, awnings, etc were stored. Not so gentle nudges from tugboats can poke holes into the thin skin of the old destroyers. That, plus pride, made most tin can sailors try to avoid using tugs except in bad circumstances. (Not having any power is a pretty good reason to use a tug, though....) Nice mosaic- one of them old "four stack" destroyers, but nothing a bit of photo shop couldn't fix.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48628 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/08/bringing_the_rodgers_home_cont.html#comment-48628 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:56:53 -0600