"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.