Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Bowsers  (Read 4996 times)

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Bowsers
« on: June 09, 2009, 08:49:56 pm »

Lots of people just starting model sailing boats seem to have trouble getting bowser's for setting up their rigging .... an easy supply are tile spacers  you can buy a bag of 2 or 300 of them from most DIY shops in 2 or 3 sizes for around a £ 1.00 cut off the X bits that you don't need and drill two or three small holes and bob's your uncle
The soft plastic won't chaff the rigging lines, they grip well ( as long as you drill the correct size holes) and they don't go brittle like commercial ones
  Freebooter :-)) :-))
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

Malcolm Reade

  • Guest
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2009, 09:32:24 pm »

I think the correct term is 'Bowsie'?

We've been making them them in two sizes since the early 1950's.

http://www.reademodels.com/page33.html

Regards

Malc

Logged

malcolmfrary

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,027
  • Location: Blackpool, Lancs, UK
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2009, 09:53:28 pm »

Buy Mr Reades if you want conventional good-looking ones.  If you want to design your own, consider plastic about 1.5 mm thick, with fairly closely spaced holes about 1 mm diameter, nicely chamfered so the line doesn't chafe.  You don't want anything snagging them so you need well rounded corners.  You have just designed a SHIRT BUTTON. 
Logged
"With the right tool, you can break anything" - Garfield

Malcolm Reade

  • Guest
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2009, 10:26:49 pm »

Buy Mr Reades if you want conventional good-looking ones.  If you want to design your own, consider plastic about 1.5 mm thick, with fairly closely spaced holes about 1 mm diameter, nicely chamfered so the line doesn't chafe.  You don't want anything snagging them so you need well rounded corners.  You have just designed a SHIRT BUTTON. 

So that's why all you guys up in Blackpool walk around with your shirt front's undone!   {-) {-)

Malc

Logged

tobyker

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,311
  • Location: Scotland - West Coast
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2009, 10:38:29 pm »

I make transparent ones out of old motorcycle helmet polycarbonate visors. Works for me.
Logged

funtimefrankie

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,259
  • Location: Birkdale, Lancashire. twixt the Mersey & the Ribble
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2009, 08:22:28 am »

I use Firefox.......OH ...sorry thats a browser :-))
Logged

tigertiger

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,748
  • Location: Kunming, city of eternal springtime, SW China.
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2009, 12:32:29 pm »

I have made them from hardwood on my scale sail model.

They worked fine, but after 18 months have become brittle. The softwood ones are fine after almost 3 years.

Bowsies that is  :D
I have only seen bowsers made out of heavy duty black plastic, with a flat bed trailer underneath them. %%
Logged
The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

cbr900

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,857
  • Mayhem is the Only Forum!
  • Location: Taree New South Wales Australia
    • Roys Hompage
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2009, 02:02:59 pm »

Over here a bowser is what you use to put petrol in your car............. {-) {-)



Roy
Logged
I try not to be naughty but nautical

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2009, 09:11:37 pm »

50,000 comedians out of work and I have to find you lot ...
Joking aside I often use 30lb fly backing braided line for sheets and found the counter sunk holes slip and when whey a year or so old they get brittle and break ....the soft plastic in the tile spacers don't slip and don't break and some of mine are 10 or 12 years old... I also make some out of box or other hardwoods that look like single sheeve blocks for use on my square riggers Marten saw some of these at one of the boat shows and was impressed at their holding power ... But thats another story..
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

Bryan Young

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,883
  • Location: Whitley Bay
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2009, 09:20:48 pm »

Are we talking about "Deadeyes" here?  Where does this word "Bowsie" come from?
If (and repeat "if")  we are talking about those little circular things with a groove around the outside and 3 holes in the middle  then yhey are "deadeyes", easily available and cheap in all sorts of sizes.
Yes, they do look like a button, but there is a definite way of rigging them. Keep asking. BY.
Logged
Notes from a simple seaman

Malcolm Reade

  • Guest
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2009, 09:26:34 pm »

Logged

Bryan Young

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,883
  • Location: Whitley Bay
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2009, 11:49:45 pm »

OK, I've looked. Different names for the same thing.  But there is still a protocol for reeving them. Cheers. BY.
Logged
Notes from a simple seaman

tigertiger

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,748
  • Location: Kunming, city of eternal springtime, SW China.
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2009, 02:22:31 am »

... I also make some out of box or other hardwoods that look like single sheeve blocks for use on my square riggers ....

Hi Freebooter
Can you do a diagram or show us please?
Logged
The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

Martin (Admin)

  • Administrator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 23,366
  • Location: Peterborough, UK
    • Model Boat Mayhem
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2009, 07:06:35 pm »

Added for my mate Jimmy    :-))








Logged
"This is my firm opinion, but what do I know?!" -  Visit the Mayhem FaceBook Groups!  &  Giant Models

tigertiger

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,748
  • Location: Kunming, city of eternal springtime, SW China.
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2009, 02:37:33 am »

Thanks Jimmy, thanks Martin.

I will definitely be using that.
Logged
The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #15 on: June 13, 2009, 12:06:47 pm »

TT
I had problems when I first started making them with the top splitting. I know use fine grained box or ceder and have also (when I can get them)used both wood - plastic & Alloy nitting needles and find that by only rounding the top shoulders slightly and drilling the top hole at 45 deg and slightly off center it works fine  :-)) :-))
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

cbr900

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,857
  • Mayhem is the Only Forum!
  • Location: Taree New South Wales Australia
    • Roys Hompage
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #16 on: June 13, 2009, 12:58:54 pm »

Jimmy,

The last one in the first pic are used mostly in Tasmania,
and we call them Turnbuckles..............

Roy
Logged
I try not to be naughty but nautical

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #17 on: June 13, 2009, 01:45:34 pm »

Different ships different longsplices
To me a turnbuckle is an open Bottle screw normally used by Dingy sailer's to set up standing rigging, Or on larger ships for lashing down cargo

Jimmy
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

wombat

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 625
  • The view from the shallow end of the gene pool
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #18 on: June 14, 2009, 10:04:28 am »

OK, I've looked. Different names for the same thing.  But there is still a protocol for reeving them. Cheers. BY.

Reeving your bowsie  :o :o :o :o :o :o

Definately something to kept in the privacy of your own home
Logged
The prat in the hat - www.floatingwombat.me.uk - Have look & say Hi

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #19 on: June 14, 2009, 09:38:19 pm »

To De Mob
 Been doing a bit of research
1) A Bowsie is Boy Scout slang for a short bit of wood with 2 or 3 holes drilled in it to except tent guy ropes for the purpose of keeping tension on them. The correct name for this device (nautical) is Bowser believed to be derived from an old Scandenavian seamans Term
2) Seamen use the term "to bowse things down" and often use short lengths of wood called "Swifter's, Spar's or Bowser's to help pull cargo lashings and rigging tight
3) A fuel Bowser is a moble fuel tank incorparating it's own pumping devices

So basically it seams both Bowsie & Bowser are correct depending on if you are or were a Boy Sprout or a Seaman and if you are setting up a tent or ships/boats rigging...
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #20 on: June 14, 2009, 10:02:03 pm »

to Malcome Reade
 Nice web site  :-))
 Sorry But it wasn't my intention to cast dispersions on your kit, ....In fact I didnt know your company existed .....it's just that over the years I've had so many Bowser's break at the water side that I started to make my own that seam to last much longer than most of the ones I used to buy in the shops
 Jimmy James
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn

Jimmy James

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Kings Lynn Norfolk
Re: Bowsers
« Reply #21 on: June 30, 2009, 08:43:56 pm »

Any feed back (keep it clean) or mods from anyone who makes and uses this type of bowser would be appreceat ed
Freebooter
Logged
Retired  Ships Officer/ Master.
Experience: 50+ years at sea under Sail, Steam & Motor
Kings Lynn
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.1 seconds with 22 queries.