On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:05:40 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

Last time I used a crossbow, it took maybe 10 seconds to load
and shoot. Maybe he was thinking of a catapault
No, he was likely thinking of a ballista, the crossbow-like field
'artillery" piece common since the Romans.

Now, if you could rig a mast-based trebuchet, you'd really have a
pirate deterrent, but I suspect it would only work on an unstayed rig
G

R.

"Doug Dotson" wrote:
Last time I used a crossbow, it took maybe 10 seconds to load
and shoot. Maybe he was thinking of a catapault

Nobody, including Jax, knows what Jax was really thinking of.

rhys wrote:
No, he was likely thinking of a ballista, the crossbow-like field
'artillery" piece common since the Romans.

Or an onager.


Now, if you could rig a mast-based trebuchet, you'd really have a
pirate deterrent, but I suspect it would only work on an unstayed rig
G

Might have a problem with accuracy. However, if you are attacked by
pirates who have built a protective stone wall around their boat, you'd
be all set!

DSK

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 11:52:42 -0400, DSK wrote:

"Doug Dotson" wrote:
Last time I used a crossbow, it took maybe 10 seconds to load
and shoot. Maybe he was thinking of a catapault

Nobody, including Jax, knows what Jax was really thinking of.

I was quite surprised at his claim to have visited a museum. Aren't
they "no shoes, no shirt, no service" institutions?

rhys wrote:
No, he was likely thinking of a ballista, the crossbow-like field
'artillery" piece common since the Romans.

Or an onager.

AKA the mangonel...if there's a difference I can't see it. The one I
like is the "Petraria Arcatinus", a bow-powered catapult. Combines the
best of both worlds, although I suspect pretty decent-sized backing
plates under the foredeck would be required. On the other hand, you
could use the windlass to tension the thing. Certainly would impress
the Commodore on Sailpast Day G


Now, if you could rig a mast-based trebuchet, you'd really have a
pirate deterrent, but I suspect it would only work on an unstayed rig
G

Might have a problem with accuracy. However, if you are attacked by
pirates who have built a protective stone wall around their boat, you'd
be all set!

That would adversely affect most powerboats with the exception of the
Magregor 26, which could use the ballast.

R.

Would it be possible to fling a pestilence ridden dead animal over the stone
wall with this rig? Where would you keep this animal? I would think you'd
want it close at hand, but far enough down wind....
"DSK" wrote in message
...
"Doug Dotson" wrote:
Last time I used a crossbow, it took maybe 10 seconds to load
and shoot. Maybe he was thinking of a catapault

Nobody, including Jax, knows what Jax was really thinking of.

rhys wrote:
No, he was likely thinking of a ballista, the crossbow-like field
'artillery" piece common since the Romans.

Or an onager.


Now, if you could rig a mast-based trebuchet, you'd really have a
pirate deterrent, but I suspect it would only work on an unstayed rig
G

Might have a problem with accuracy. However, if you are attacked by
pirates who have built a protective stone wall around their boat, you'd be
all set!

DSK

MMC wrote:
Would it be possible to fling a pestilence ridden dead animal over the stone
wall with this rig? Where would you keep this animal? I would think you'd
want it close at hand, but far enough down wind....

Sure. You could keep it downwind by hanging it from the spinnaker pole
prior to loading it in the trebuchet.

Umm, are we getting points for "silliest thread currently on usenet"?

Regards
Doug King

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:42:02 GMT, "MMC" wrote:

Would it be possible to fling a pestilence ridden dead animal over the stone
wall with this rig? Where would you keep this animal? I would think you'd
want it close at hand, but far enough down wind....

Launch it out of the hatch in the head. That why Peggie Hall places
such importance on proper venting G

R.

OOH! The new trebouchet rig! Could be a real hit!


"rhys" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:05:40 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

Last time I used a crossbow, it took maybe 10 seconds to load
and shoot. Maybe he was thinking of a catapault
No, he was likely thinking of a ballista, the crossbow-like field
'artillery" piece common since the Romans.

Now, if you could rig a mast-based trebuchet, you'd really have a
pirate deterrent, but I suspect it would only work on an unstayed rig
G

R.

Doug Dotson wrote:
OOH! The new trebouchet rig! Could be a real hit!



I want to build a trebuchet on my old dock ruin, so I can sell rides
to tourists and finance the reconstruction of the dock.

I wonder how many riders I might get, and what I should charge. I
mean, if people go for bungy jumping, why not trebuchet rides?

The dock ruin is about 25 feet wide and 100 feet long, all torn up
by the river ice. It looks like a bunch of rocks and old tree
trunks, cribbing all scattered nearby.

Could I charge a little more because the riders would be landing in
fresh water?

Terry K

Terry Spragg wrote:

Doug Dotson wrote:
OOH! The new trebouchet rig! Could be a real hit!



I want to build a trebuchet on my old dock ruin, so I can sell rides
to tourists and finance the reconstruction of the dock.

I wonder how many riders I might get, and what I should charge. I
mean, if people go for bungy jumping, why not trebuchet rides?

IIRC, the acceleration will kill you when you are being lanched. But flying
through the air when you are experiencing your last moments in life has got
to be worth something to some people. I don't think I'd call these
travellers to the neither worlds tourists though...


The dock ruin is about 25 feet wide and 100 feet long, all torn up
by the river ice. It looks like a bunch of rocks and old tree
trunks, cribbing all scattered nearby.

Could I charge a little more because the riders would be landing in
fresh water?

Yes you could. I assume some people would be very happy to be burried in
fresh water, rather than sea or in the ground.

Terry K

--
vriendelijke groeten/kind regards,

Jelle

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