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The origins of Battleship Grey - Kennish?

Tue Apr 8, 2008 9:41 am

Robert Stimpson

William Kennish, Manxman, (d. c1862) is commonly credited here on the Isle of Man with the invention of Grey paint for warships, although from 1860-1895 the Black Fleet obviously did not utilise this colour. I would be most interested to know if anyone can shed light on when Kennish actually made this proposal, who it was actually made to and why it took almost 50 years for it to be adopted.

I am research Manx Inventors and would appreciate any further information on inventions/inventors known to be from the Isle of Man - including Kennish's contribution to the development of the Propellor, the development of the artificial horizon navigation aid using bowls of mercury and the development of the theodolite for gun aiming.

Many thanks,

19th. Schooner Hull Lines

Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:59 am

Chris Woods

Good morning,

I have a question on hull design for a small fast mid-19th. century east coast schooner called WAVE o.n. 2650.

The particular ship was described as a fast packet for the Mediterranean fruit trade as well as the Baltic timber trade. This ship belonged to my great grandfather from 1887 to 1900

Apart from a photo of a hulf-hull of one of his commands, the only image I have of any of his ships is a photo I took of an original painting of the WAVE . I have found no plans of any of his ships - probably because they would never have existed. The painting is still in the ownership of the direct descendant of the original owners of WAVE.

It has been decided to have a model made of this WAVE based on the painting and her registered dimensions. The WAVE was described as a particularly fast ship, and her younger sister, the SPRAY, is said to have been a tender for the GREAT EASTERN when that great ship was laying the Atlantic Cables.

Unfortunately, the only plans we have found of 19th. century schooners seem to show rather heavy lines which do not compare with the desciption of a fast packet. I am aware of the Collections at Greenwich but so far have had no success there.

The registered dimensions of WAVE give little indication of her speed although the painting by the famous Danish pierhead artist Jacob Petersen in the year of her launch certainly suggests her speed from the wave length along the hull, and the spread of sail in the quarter view on the left of the painting.

I cannot place a copy of this fine painting on this Forum, however, for anyone interested, I would be happy to email a JPeg attachment as the painting shows clearly her fine lines bettr than any words.

My question to your members is: can anyone help me find hull drawings of a fast two masted topsail mid-19th. century British schooner of comparable dimensions to WAVE, from which a reasonable representitive model could be made?

Alternatively, could the lines from the plans of an existing set of plans of a similar size schooner be adjusted to make her faster?

Topsail schooner WAVE Official Number 2650 H.Q.B.P.

Built Maldon, Essex 1848 for the Sadd family of timber merchants in Maldon, primarily for the Baltic timber trade, but with lines fast enough for the Meditteranean fruit trade.

Originally registered in Maldon, transferred to King's Lynn register in 1890 and under the ownership of William Robert Smith, my gt. grandfather.

108 tons gross, 94 net 74.6 ft. x 20.6 ft. x 10 ft (hold depth) Bowsprit appears to add another 40 ft. judging from the painting

For the record, her length was measured:
"from the ? part of the Stem under the Bowsprit to the fore side of the stern aloft" (I'm not entirely clear what this means)

Jacop Petersen was the then top Danish marine artist, of which about 400 works are recorded. He had sailed as a Master Mariner and his attention to detail was renown, so the painting can be considered a good representation of WAVE as she passed Kronburg leaving the Baltic in 1848

Any assistance, suggestions or comments will be very much appreciated,
yours sincerely,
Chris Woods

The Yavari Project

Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:00 pm

Headquarters

The following letter has been received at RINA Headquarters

Dear Mr. Blakeley,

As you know, we owe you and the Institute a great debt of gratitude for finding for us our volunteer Project Manager. I shan't ever forget receiving your prompt response to my desperate cry from Lake Titicaca on top of the Andes!

I should like very much to speak to you see whether or not you can perform another miracle for us, but in the meanwhile, I have much pleasure in enclosing a copy of our recently published "Yavari History" for your interest and, if it is deemed worthy, for your Library.

The Yavari is now restored and attracts some 12,000 visitors a year, but she remains tied up. If she is to be able to sail with passengers, the vessel needs to be modified to comply with SOLAS etc. A set of 50 Drawings has been prepared and the team is on stand by to start the work, but we need the funds. H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh has very kindly launched our Appeal for the comparatively modest amount of £350,000 which now stands at £287.000. We're trying to spread the word through magazine articles and I did an interview with Libby Purves on Radio 4's Midweek- which, tragically, was curtailed because we ran out of time!

That is the situation today, summed up on the enclosed flyer. We're knocking on many doors looking for pointers and ideas as to whom we should be approaching, so I hope that you may be able to direct me wheresoever........

Yours sincerely,

Meriel Larken
Project Director

Details of the Yavari Project are posted in the News section of the Technical Forum - Historical