Don't sell us Southern good ol' boys or our BBQ short. The CSS Alabama
had a retractable propeller for better efficiency under sail. (Beats
the heck out of a feathering prop.) It was disconnected from the shaft
and hoisted under the fantail on a rail assembly. It could be lowered
and pinned to the shaft rather quickly.

The Alabama had several other inovations. It could change its rig at
will to disguise itself and had a retractable stack so that it could
look like a pure sailing vessel. The Alabama was built in England but I
think James Bulloch, the Confederate representative, got credit for the
ideas. At least he does around heah. :-)

BTW, Gov. Dean, I don't have a Confederate flag on my Japaneese pickup
but I do understand what you are trying to say. :-)

BF wrote:

Changing the subject totally:
Raphael Semmes, in his account of the CSS Alabama, mentions on several
occasions of fitting the propeller (maybe he used the word screw, not sure)
before making steam.
Anyone have a clue what he meant.
Did they actually remove the screw and shaft when sailing. If so, how,
without stopping and sending divers down, which they obviously didn't do.
Or did they simply disengage the screw from the drive shaft so it free
wheeled, and then needed to reattach, perhaps lacking a clutching means?
Or did the shaft pivot on a u-joint near the packing gland and could be
pivoted so the screw was above the water line?
Anyone know or have other ideas?
Anyone else care?
Ray
(btw, I will definitely try Duke's in Ridgeway this Spring when in
Charleston, hope a good thing isn't being spoiled here. Can you say Wreck)



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com