" Sea Stories" Beating the storm.

[Guest]

Thanks for the story Capt. Metz. Always a good read. My understanding was that the Oakglen was in great shape, considering her age, when she was scrapped. She had a pretty protected career mainly running from Escanaba to Chicago.

[RCRVRP]

A question about the engine.
I would think it would be out of balance running with one piston and rod assembly removed from the crankshaft.
Is that compensated for in some way? Please tell us more about that and thanks for the stories and info.

[captrmetz]

Yes Al the old Oakglen was a good boat to sail, I never had any trouble with her, but she was slow. The quarters were fairly nice. She was a classic.

[AJ]

Capt., did you like the old Oakglen? Was it a good handling boat?

[captrmetz]

Yes they they chained up the cylinder and put timber over the hole just in case the chains broke. i should of taken a picture of it but i was in a hurry to get the ship underway because of the gale aproching.

[mn brett]

Thank You Capt for the story's!,When You say You chained up a Cylinder!,are You saying You tied up a Piston? Or did You chain up the Cylinder with The Piston in it?so they unbolted the connecting rod from the crank and pulled it all up together? Thank You mn brett

[Rob W]

Love reading the stories every winter Cap, love em all!

Rob W

[captrmetz]

Pete - That was the Thomas Wilson and the Charles C. West. Thank you for your reply.

[Pete in Holland MI]

Yes ! I look forward to reading them and share with a couple friends.

I borrowed your earlier books from a friend last winter and read them. Still find the story interesting where two boats (forget the names) glanced off each other in the fog, and nobody appeared to want to stop & investigate.

Looking forward to the one coming out in the near future.

Pete

[captrmetz]

Answer to Questions .

To Rcrupp - I was not married but the guys that were the wives got use to their husbands being gone. At lay up time they were home for 2 to 3 months and the wives were ready to have there husbands go back sailing..A lot of men lived in the Welland Canal and got home on a regularly basis Then join the ship at ether end. When i first started sailing I would fit out in March & never got home till December. That's way I never got married ! At the end of my career I got married and I bought my wife aboard on trips.

To Guest - I always slept with one eye & ear open while underway, heard every wave hit the hull, every guest of wind, every movement of the ship. The only time I really got some sleep was at anchor or in port, but that was me.
Thank's for the questions.

[RCRVRP]

If this is not too personal , were you married when you were on the boats? If so could you give us an idea of how that works for married guys being gone for long periods of time on the boats. Especially back before email and cell phones.

[Guest]

Capt Metz question for you! When you were skipper in charge of everything when you were underway could you get a good sleep or did you always sleep with one eye and ear open ?

[John Sherwin]

I'm sure most of us read and enjoy your stories and pictures Cap... please keep them coming. Best to you!

[Guest]

Thanks for the great story!

[Odysseus]

Hi Captain Metz....

I can't speak for everyone here, but I certainly do enjoy the stories you share. I'm sorry I can't reply to them as much as I might want to. My work keeps me more busy then I want. I'm sure you can understand, as how busy you must have been as a captain of a Great Lakes vessel.

I think we all want more "life" and less work. Sadly, I'm in that phase of life where work demands overcome life for some odd reason. What I would give for a job that offered real opportunities for time off instead of PTO I can't ever seem to take.

Anyway, when I can take time to read here and enjoy what you share, it's delightful. Thank you for what you offer. May you be richly blessed.

[Paul A]

Thanks Capt. Metz! I reread your stories every year. I enjoy them very much, enough that it's like revisiting a favorite book (which it is).
All the best
Paul

[captrmetz]

Thank you all for your responses on my stories. At fist I thought that very few were reading my stories because of lack of responses. I know it is sometimes trying with that crazy code they have. Thanks again & I will sent more stories. See pictures below.

[Rob]

Captain,
Please post more of your stories. I find them entertaining and enlightening. Thank you!

[Guest]

Awesome story !

[case80]

Thanks for sharing your story with the Boatnerd forum Capt.