William the Drake Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30926084 Ladies and Gentlemen, here is a rather heart wrenching look into one of our favorite ships. But so it for a great and rather old titan. It is however an interesting look into the guts and under-skin of her. Here's hoping that they can get things taken care of.
Kanay Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 I remember visiting this ship on a school trip to England something like 25 years ago, hope they will take care of it so in 25 years from now people could still do the same and be impressed by this ship as i was back then.
Charles Caldwell Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 She's a national treasure, she'll be repaired, shipshape and bristol fashion in no time... Look what we did with the Cutty Sark! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Sark#Conservation_and_fire From this 2007: to this!
Balck Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 She is in a dry dock, isn't she? May be time to drain it and patch her up. If all else fails, she could get the same treatment as the Great Britain.
Illusive Tabby Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 She is in a dry dock, isn't she? May be time to drain it and patch her up. If all else fails, she could get the same treatment as the Great Britain. You...do understand that her being in "dry" dock means, quite literally, her dock is dry. As in no water. Right? The only water Victory sees these days is rainwater.
Megiddo Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 Well maybe this explains why we hear so many complaining about the pumps not working on the VIc.
CommodoreWesley Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 Yeah, the history of the USS Constitution nearly sinking at the dock are quite horrific. In actuality, what keeps the timbers from rotting quickly is from seawater as the salt dehydrates most of the fungus and bacteria from decaying the wood (which is the same reason why we used to salt meat) which is one of the saving graces that allowed Constitution to survive with neglect for so long (and children penny donations). It's quite impressive that the wood in her keel is over 200 years old and still afloat. I guess that's the flaw that they are having for dry-docking the Victory. From a brief search she was dry docked in 1922, and how they are saying that the 30 year old timbers are the ones that are rotting means that those timbers have not tasted any of that preserving sea salt...
Balck Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 You...do understand that her being in "dry" dock means, quite literally, her dock is dry. As in no water. Right? The only water Victory sees these days is rainwater. You...do realize that dry docks can be flooded so ships can come in and out of them, right? 2
maturin Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 Might be time to build her into a glass greenhouse with holes for the masts. Although that would be a shame. 1
ObiQuiet Posted January 22, 2015 Posted January 22, 2015 Btw, the method used to preserve the remains of the Mary Rose (which is right next to the Victory in Portsmouth) is interesting. They spent years soaking the timbers in a glycol solution, and I believe she is still being sprayed. Of course she was preserved as sunk, and the Victory is dry, so different preservation techniques would/wood apply.
Elcid Barrett Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 You...do realize that dry docks can be flooded so ships can come in and out of them, right? The "dry dock" where HMS Victory resides has been sealed with a non-opening dam with a pedestrian walkway over it. She has seen nothing but rainwater for many years. http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/HMS_Victory.jpg
Sir Madoc Posted January 23, 2015 Posted January 23, 2015 That's sad I hope they fix her up. It was interesting to note that the modern wood is rotting more than the original wood. I only live about 20 minutes away so I will have to visit soon.
Banquo Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 After many years as a landlubber, I just recently moved to Portsmouth, so am very much looking to visit the dockyards. Sad news, but it is such a treasure, I have confidence it will be looked after
Thomas Blackwell Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 Well maybe this explains why we hear so many complaining about the pumps not working on the VIc. I see what you did here, and I like it.
Vlade lArkl Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 It really is a sad story I loved seeing the Constitution since I live in the states but would love to see this massive beast of war.
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Fom last summer's trip... Seems to be 'being looked after' slowly but surely. I think they're trying to raise awareness to generate more public money. From the video, funny how they didn't focus in on the ferns growing out of the sides. Have a look again. That's a sign of long term neglect likely due to underfunding. It's unfortunate that long distance visitors have to see it like this, in repair, but better than with ferns poking out. The inside is still worth the 'mecca' to this ship. Was second time for me, first in 1988 when the Armada exhibit was up and Mary Rose was still being sprayed with fixative. She is not being sprayed now, or at least I didn't see't see it happening.
One-Eyed Willy Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Might be time to build her into a glass greenhouse with holes for the masts. Although that would be a shame. That would be a terrible, terrible shame. Ships are built to sail as aircraft are built to fly & cars built to be driven. While I cringe at the risk of losing/damaging such a important historical(& beautiful) artifact, sailing, if even for a short distance, is what she was meant to do.
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 I agree. Was fortunate to see the Cutty Sark before the greenhouse. If you are going to put a ship under glass, at least do it inside a building with a view of the water behind it. Though much, much more expensive.
Vlade lArkl Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Maybe they can get the funding one can only hope. Or maybe the government could just pay for it build a couple less tanks or somthing to preserve a nations monument.
Crankey Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Any wooden component of any structure will eventually fail, especially if open to any of the elements. Even with the latest anti fungal, water repellant treatment etc every piece of wood will have a life expectancy. Whichever body is responsible for maintaining her, has to factor this in to their short and long term plans for both restoration and damage limitation. (This equals funding and suitable experts involved in her care) I visited HMS Victory a few years ago during a vist to the south coast, being a self confessed naval enthusiast I was in my element. I was surprised to find my entry fee to the dock did not include a tour of the Victory the cost of which was almost double entry to the museum dock. I loved it, my kids were bored silly. With the popularity of the film "Pirates of the Caribbean" and the recently past "Bicentenary of Trafalgar" I feel much could be done to create a far more pupular venue for tourists and enthusiasts of all ages.
SCL Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 The HMS Victory is one truly amazing ship. Shes been around for hundreds of years has survived countless battles during the days of the empire. Even when she was brought back to port her problems werent over she was rammed by a destroyer. She had to survive WW2 Bombing raids by the germans and now shes slowly rotting away dam that ship has been through a lot I hope they can save her.
Munro Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 I remember visiting the Victory many years ago. And I remember that one of the decks on the tour (I think it was the gun deck) still had the original wood from when she was still in service. If you want to help HMS Victory, go visit her and add yourself to her visitor numbers. Or go visit her again. It's an experience worth having. The same goes for all of these ships.
Jutland Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 I was there in September. Definitely recommend a trip down there The Mary Rose is right next to it and you would have to be stupid not to go in. It has a fantastic museum with a huge range or artefacts they recovered. It's currently in the drying process and they estimate it will be finished in 2017. I'll be going again once it is. You can easily spend a whole day there because there's lots more than just those two.
maturin Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 It's good news that the modern timbers are the ones rotting, and that rainwater through the deck is the cause. Modern timber is replaceable, and it's easier to caulk a deck than shore up the structural timbers of the underwater hull.
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