using oil to calm the seas
 

Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of people using oil to
calm the seas.

In detail, the oil was usually some sort of fish oil, or oil from a seal or
such and was put into a hessian bag or similar filled with rags. The 'oil
bag' was then tied to the vessel and thrown overboard. Ive only ever read
of it being done while hove to.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern times? I really
cant understand the logic behind it or see what it would to so calm seas....
any enlightenment welcomed ;-)

Shaun

using oil to calm the seas
 

"Shaun Van Poecke" wrote in message
...
Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of people using oil to
calm the seas.

In detail, the oil was usually some sort of fish oil, or oil from a seal
or such and was put into a hessian bag or similar filled with rags. The
'oil bag' was then tied to the vessel and thrown overboard. Ive only ever
read of it being done while hove to.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern times? I
really cant understand the logic behind it or see what it would to so calm
seas.... any enlightenment welcomed ;-)

Shaun



If you try it don't forget your MARPOL sticker... and the oil placard....

http://www.uscg.mil/d1/staff/oan/nav...Protection.PDF

OIL POLLUTION COMPLIANCE WITH THE

FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION ACT

The Federal Water Pollution Act prohibits discharges of

harmful quantities of oil into U. S. navigable waters or

adjoining shorelines. Further, the person in charge of a vessel

or facility that discharges oil in violation of the Act is required

to notify the Coast Guard's National Response Center at (800)

424-8802 as soon as he or she has knowledge of the spill.

The penalty for illegal discharges is a civil penalty of up to

$125,000 against the owner, operator, or person in charge of

the source. Failure to notify the Coast Guard of a discharge is

punishable by a criminal penalty of fines or up to 5 years

imprisonment or both, against the person in charge of the

source.

The owner or operator of the source of a discharge is also

liable for all removal costs, as well as claims of loss or injury by

third parties.

Harmful quantities of oil have been defined by the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as those that violate

applicable water quality standards or cause a film or sheen on

the surface of the water, or cause a sludge or emulsion to be

deposited beneath the surface of the water or on adjoining

shorelines.

Discharge of oil placards must be at least 5" x 8" and fixed in a

conspicuous place in each machinery space, or at the bilge and

ballast pump control station. Placards must be printed in the

language or languages understood by the crew.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

using oil to calm the seas
 

Shaun Van Poecke wrote:
Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of people using oil to
calm the seas.


Nah, people used oil up through the '60s. In fact one of the eary
trans-Atlantic singlehand racers wrote of asking a freighter to pump
some oil for him in a storm.

In detail, the oil was usually some sort of fish oil, or oil from a seal or
such and was put into a hessian bag or similar filled with rags. The 'oil
bag' was then tied to the vessel and thrown overboard. Ive only ever read
of it being done while hove to.


Sure, because the oil slick is going to blow slowly to leeward. It will
only help if you are in the slick... or better yet, slightly to leeward
of it.


Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern times? I really
cant understand the logic behind it or see what it would to so calm seas....
any enlightenment welcomed ;-)


THe effect of "calming the seas" isn't so much making waves smaller as
keeping the tops of the waves from forming breakers. Higher surface
tension, lower wind friction, resulting in wave peaks that stay put
instead of rolling. Might not sound like much if you've never been in a
storm with rollers, but it does make a big difference.

Personally I would not like cleaning the oil off the boat afterwards,
but I guess that beats the alternative.

-signed- Injun Ear (formerly known as Eagle Eye)

using oil to calm the seas
 

Sure, it works. Captain Hazelwood swears by it.

SBV

"Shaun Van Poecke" wrote in
message ...
Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of
people using oil to
calm the seas.

In detail, the oil was usually some sort of fish oil, or
oil from a seal or
such and was put into a hessian bag or similar filled with
rags. The 'oil
bag' was then tied to the vessel and thrown overboard.
Ive only ever read
of it being done while hove to.

Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern
times? I really
cant understand the logic behind it or see what it would
to so calm seas....
any enlightenment welcomed ;-)

Shaun

using oil to calm the seas
 

Scotty wrote:
Sure, it works. Captain Hazelwood swears by it.


Yeah, but he tried to use oil to calm the rocks, not the seas.

IE

using oil to calm the seas
 

using oil to calm the seas
 

"Shaun Van Poecke" wrote
Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of people using oil to calm the seas.
Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern times? I really cant understand the logic behind it or see
what it would to so calm seas.... any enlightenment welcomed ;-)

They made it illegal in the United States. You can't have even a sheen on the water without
violating some law. That being said, it doesn't work anyway. It's an old salt urban legend. You
can see for yourself it doesn't work. Next time it's really windy and there's a lot of fetch and
there are giant seas built up put some oil out. Plain old diesel fuel works just fine. You'll see
all it does is remove the small ripples and feathering on the surface. It does nothing to reduce
the overall size of the waves. It's a local surface effect only.
It's just another example showing people don't think things out for themselves. They'd
rather listen to stuff that makes no sense at all. Duh!

Cheers,
Ellen

Cheers,
Ellen

using oil to calm the seas
 

"Nigel" wrote
Big fat Yank ignorance is on display again. They don't even know or
understand what is in the backyard of their fearless regime leader.
http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/oilpond.htm . Face it fatties, the
Brits have been sailing for over 1000 years. It is about time to admit
that your sailing does not even measure up to what our tiny little
island has done and will continue to do. I just love rubbing the noses
of those Yanks in it.


Hey, Nigel, rub your nose in THIS points to her butt hole :-o~

Cheers,
Ellen

using oil to calm the seas
 

Nigel wrote:
[Default] On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 11:24:19 -0500, "Ellen MacArthur"
wrote:


"Shaun Van Poecke" wrote

Ive read a few accounts, mainly from around 1900, of people using oil to calm the seas.
Has anyone ever seen or heard of this being done in modern times? I really cant understand the logic behind it or see
what it would to so calm seas.... any enlightenment welcomed ;-)

They made it illegal in the United States. You can't have even a sheen on the water without
violating some law. That being said, it doesn't work anyway. It's an old salt urban legend. You
can see for yourself it doesn't work. Next time it's really windy and there's a lot of fetch and
there are giant seas built up put some oil out. Plain old diesel fuel works just fine. You'll see
all it does is remove the small ripples and feathering on the surface. It does nothing to reduce
the overall size of the waves. It's a local surface effect only.
It's just another example showing people don't think things out for themselves. They'd
rather listen to stuff that makes no sense at all. Duh!

Cheers,
Ellen

Cheers,
Ellen



Big fat Yank ignorance is on display again. They don't even know or
understand what is in the backyard of their fearless regime leader.
http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/oilpond.htm . Face it fatties, the
Brits have been sailing for over 1000 years. It is about time to admit
that your sailing does not even measure up to what our tiny little
island has done and will continue to do. I just love rubbing the noses
of those Yanks in it.

Nigel

Seeing that the majority of us carry you gene pool, you're rather
denigrating yourself....and when was it that Great Britain last won the
America's Cup? Good sailing has nothing to do with nationality. After
all, if you want to claim that, you would have to ackmowledge that the
French are better than the Crits.

using oil to calm the seas
 

Ellen MacArthur wrote:
"Nigel" wrote

Big fat Yank ignorance is on display again. They don't even know or
understand what is in the backyard of their fearless regime leader.
http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/oilpond.htm . Face it fatties, the
Brits have been sailing for over 1000 years. It is about time to admit
that your sailing does not even measure up to what our tiny little
island has done and will continue to do. I just love rubbing the noses
of those Yanks in it.



Hey, Nigel, rub your nose in THIS points to her butt hole :-o~

Cheers,
Ellen


How very ladylike...but then, we all know you're no lady...Is your
middle name Nigel?