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

"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

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)

wrote:
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)


Palmoilive dishsoap...works great on rescuing seabirds....

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

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

"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

On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 11:24:19 -0500, Ellen MacArthur wrote
(in article ews.net):


"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



Actually it does work. We are not talking about pouring oil over the side by
the gallon either. When I fished commercially there where times, because we
were at sea for weeks at a time, that we ended up in adverse weather.
Although this is not something that was done to intentionally stop waves from
breaking there was that occasional bilge letting that would give the same
result. The boat adrift generally outpaced the slick and we would observe a
noticeable difference of a lack of peaks inside the slick. The other times I
have observed the same effect where as a kid working on my dads boat and
chumming with ground up bunkers for bluefish. The fish oil was always nice
and smooth regardless of the surrounding areas.

--
Mundo, The Captain who is a bully and an ass

"Mundo" wrote

Actually it does work.

Your wrong. It doesn't work to calm the seas. What's the definition of "Seas"?
They are large waves. Oil can do nothing about calming large waves. Oil only calms the
surface of large waves. The large wave under the surface remains the same.
Oil reduces spray from the wind is all. Duh! Use your head you bully and an ass....

Cheers,
Ellen

On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 17:12:04 -0500, Ellen MacArthur wrote
(in article ews.net):


"Mundo" wrote

Actually it does work.

Your wrong. It doesn't work to calm the seas. What's the definition of
"Seas"?
They are large waves. Oil can do nothing about calming large waves. Oil only
calms the
surface of large waves. The large wave under the surface remains the same.
Oil reduces spray from the wind is all. Duh! Use your head you bully and

an ass....

Cheers,
Ellen



When actually working under those conditions you will appreciate the lack of
spray from the cresting waves. There are those that teach and those that do.
I suggest you start doing and stop teaching. You might learn somethin' mam'

--
Mundo, The Captain who is a bully and an ass