A Paen to Bronze

[John Stone]

The Far Reach, Elephant Bay, St Thomas, USVI

As I move about the Far Reach, taking care of small projects, and enjoying the simple pleasure of "messing about on boats", I am struck by the wonderous beauty of bronze. It is, in my opinion, the most noble, selfless, and beautiful of metals. It's durability, workability, and longevity seem to have no constraints. It's striking blue-green patina contrasts beautifully against a background of paint, varnish, or bare teak. When I see it, I think of its quiet unfailing and tireless nobility contrasted against the harsh, and to my eye, cold urban utility of stainless steel that can only shout out to me as I pass by, while I attempt to avoid eye contact, "Hey, I can be lovely too if you will only care for me, wash me, polish me, dissassyble me, and manga flux me to inspect my structural integrity for potentially catastrophic failure!"

I am greatful our boats have so many bronze components.

Bronze and boats--what more need be said.

[Jim Walsh]

Verdigris is beautiful. I've been told only blue water will produce the effect to its most favorable end result.
Here is a before and after.

[mashenden]

... I am greatful our boats have so many bronze components.

Bronze and boats--what more need be said.

Amen to that.

I still chuckle about something my Daughter did a few years back... After we spent the better part of a summer resurrecting my CD-36 after an electrical fire, her now husband Beau and Mariah brought Nautica (pka Parfait) up from Oriental to Urbanna VA. I sadly could not tear away from work. The weather was not the best on their trip so while rain came down, they decided to surprise me with polished portholes.

They got one done

All things considered they did such a great job helping me put the boat back together and into the water, then got her to the new home port, I didn't have the heart to say I preferred my bronze natural, and one port looking different from all the rest was a bit... oh I don't know, distracting.

[M. R. Bober]

My late friend, Jack Holloway, a retired Navy Captain, would look at my Cape Dory and smile while telling me that if stainless steel had been manufactured first there wouldn't have been any serious effort to "discover" bronze.

Different hitches on different ships.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where it's almost summer.) VA

[John Stone]

Jim, where did you get the bronze dorade ventilators? Did they come with the deck plates as well? Those are beautiful.

[Jim Walsh]

Jim, where did you get the bronze dorade ventilators? Did they come with the deck plates as well? Those are beautiful.

I only have the one. I can't remember positively but I believe I spotted it on eBay, or right here?? It is a 4" not a 3" so I used my router to enlarge the existing opening to get it to fit. It came with the base but was missing the cover. I bought a stainless, yes I know that's heresy, base and cover on eBay for twenty bucks. I keep the cover on the boat for an emergency but it's never been used. I often search for bronze cowl vents but rarely find any and they are either damaged or people ask rediculous prices for them. I'd love a couple 3" cowls to replace the flexible Nicro Fico cowls on my aft deck.

[mgphl52]

Jim, where did you get the bronze dorade ventilators? Did they come with the deck plates as well? Those are beautiful.

Google 'bronze cowl vent'... there's a wide range of items and prices. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate the low-profile versions in bronze - they seem to only come in stainless now. Wish I'd bought a pair for stern vents when I got the one for the cabin.

[tjr818]

These will cost quite a few Boat Deutsche Marks/Euros, but they are beautiful

http://www.toplicht.de/en/shop/fenster- ... windhutzen

[mgphl52]

These will cost quite a few Boat Deutsche Marks/Euros, but they are beautiful

http://www.toplicht.de/en/shop/fenster- ... windhutzen

Looks good, but the low profile unit just has a 'bronze color' coating...

[mashenden]

These will cost quite a few Boat Deutsche Marks/Euros, but they are beautiful

http://www.toplicht.de/en/shop/fenster- ... windhutzen

Wow - yes a tad expensive. I believe the 4" diameter ones are model 1468-100, which would cost about $1,100 each in USD - perhaps gold would be cheaper

Funny - I have been looking for 4" bronze cowls for about 2 years (and a teak wheel). Even used on e-Bay they seem to fetch about $400. Yesterday I read this post and finally said; "Dang it, I want them!!". So I placed an order for two with this place.

http://firstmatescabin.com/ventilation/

Assuming their posted price is right ($355 for cast bronze with the ring and plate) it seems like the best deal going. I'll keep everyone informed.

[John Stone]

Well I'd be interested to know what you think of them once you have hands on. You have to really read the fine print. Bronze is kind of general term to vendors. Also some are bronze "colored", bronze plated, etc. I think the $1000 ones are made by Davey and Co in the UK, then some are sold by Toplitch in Germany, and also sold in the US. There is a VAT to be paid if purchased in the US.

I'm going to keep looking. One of these days I'll find some being sold off a hulk. Mind you that most of the hardware on the old boats is sometimes beautiful bronze that many people today find unattractive.

[swpatooty2]

Here's a list of some used and consignment gear shops. Nice to see them on one page, even though many/most of them probably now sell more new gear than used.

http://www.goodoldboat.com/resources_fo ... stores.php

I frequented a couple of them back in the day, and then ( '70s-'80's) they were a great resource. Now???

Cheers,

Ken

[fmueller]

when I found Jerezana up in Belfast Me, it was the bronze ports that got me right off the bat ... I thought, Jimmy Cricket, these things look as eternal as anything could possibly be ... I keep the internal parts clean(ish) with WD40 and Scotch Pads ... the salty sides are "on their own"

[mashenden]

... http://firstmatescabin.com/ventilation/... Assuming their posted price is right ($355 for cast bronze with the ring and plate) it seems like the best deal going. I'll keep everyone informed.

Update - although the guy seemed very genuine, he did not have any in stock, so he was going to look into whether he could still get them. I have not heard anything since so I am back to looking on eBay