"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:08:19 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

I would concede that the idea of hiding a cabin heater in the barrel
might have some merit also, but the real question is what was the
original purpose in days of olde? I'm still going to bet on extra
tankage.

Well, I know this - they used to keep water barrels on sailing fishing
ships near the masts on all decks for barrel swabbing purposes.

They weren't in this configuration though.


Another guess ..... some sort of counterweight used when raising the
mainsail?

Eisboch