animals of the working harbor
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Gratitude and homage to those working today, and a peek at the beasts of burden that aid them on the water:
This post is being updated with all your suggestions–Thank you! I’m stumped by some of them (Jed!!), and cannot find a few of the ones mentioned. The new post is “a nautical bestiary“.
Thank you, everyone, and ODocker, Kennebec Captain, Jed, Willi, PaulYar!, Marc, Tugster and Towmasters.
towmasters
tugster
Bowsprite 
I believe camels could also be used to provide support to ships in olden days, for example helping lift a ship over a shallow bar or providing support for repairs or maintenance.
Very cool stuff!
Great list! Here are a few otters:
dog the hatches
catboat
catwalk
clamshell dredge
crab into the current
white horses (whitecaps)
thank you, Pat, Corto y ODocker!
yes! thanks! forgot ‘crabbing’!
i suppose we could then add in ‘bitching’.
I know what a Monkeyfist is! I met her along with you and the Tugster. It was great to meet you three. I was surprized when Joey told me you were comming down that day. I DID’NT THINK THAT THEY LET NYC PEOPLE OVER THE BRIDGE AFTER LABOR DAY! I wish I had more time to plan a better tour for you guys. But I’m glad that you thought Stage Fort Park was the best part of the Tour. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing what you got on film.
Take Care,
Paul
Hey Paul! what a great tour, thank you! Nice to see the sites where you set up to paint, and where Jay shoots his Images! What a great time! thanks to you, Joey, da homies and Gloucester!
The old quiz, name the animals on the bow wildcat, fish plate, bull nose, monkey’s fist, was there more then five? can’t remember.
Dog, the other animal on the bow. Pardon the crudeness, the slimy greasy bologna the Steward leaves in the fridge for the night crew is often referred to as horse cock, at least I think (hope) it’s bologna.
oh, this opens up a completely NEW topic!!! terms of endearment/euphemisms for things that emerge from the galley!!!
No, that REALLY IS horsecock
hey, i’m not picky.
(probably better off with real meat than processed chemicals.)
Glad to see you are back posting Bowsprite. I was concerned that you had not thawed after your swim in Gloucester Harbor. Worse was the thought that perhaps Tugster had you Shanghaied onto some fishing vessel so he could have the NY waterfront to himself for awhile. Great post and so informative. Next time I sail into the sixth borough I’ll sure be keeping an eye out for one of them thar whales. The manufactured ones. Finding one floating in the harbor would sure go a long way in paying for dockage once it is sold.
Capt Mike! finding a floating yokohama is easier than finding dockage here! we look fwd to seeing you!
Delightful, charming, soul building, humor encouraging reality. All these little details I’ve always taken for granite. I’ve always known about zincs, but I didn’t know it was a zinc fish. What fun……..thank you.
hi, Mage! xo!
There might be a powder monkey scurrying about.
Oh, Kennebec Captain beat me to the Boloney Pony. Dammit. Can’t forget the Fish Plates, either.
Worm and parcel with lay
turn and serve the other way
Turtlebacks
pigstickers
monkey Lines (manropes)
wildcats
flounder plate
[…] an attempt to broaden the term, given  Bowsprite’s recent treat on inanimate harbor “animal” life. If looking for specific "word" in archives, search […]
I have enjoyed quizing myself and others about the animals on your ark…
please add
Wildcat
Donkey Engine
Sheet Horse
Brass Monkey
Ratline
Fish Tackle
Mousing
Cow Hitch
Cat O 9 Tails
Elephant Table
Horsepower
thanks
Willi
thank you, Willi!
(what’s an elephant table?? a quick search only turns up a horrid severed elephant foot obscenely topped with a striped cushion with fringes…brrr.)
I hate fringes.
Here’s one I just learned today. “Right Flat” an ATABOY FOR THE FIRST ONE THAT GETS IT.
i give up! Paul! what is a Right Flat???
“Right Flat” When a fishing vessel returns with a full load.
and i thought it was an apartment you find that’s just perfect and has an ocean view with bass rocks in the foreground and you were at the point of giving up any hope of finding sucha place. as in “it’s just the RIGHT FLAT for us!!
Here’s an example. The Plan B Loaded down with Herring and equipment;