No Such Thing as a Stern Pulpit!

[svHyLyte]

"Pushpit" is simply a vernacularism particular to the English that arose in the daze of wherrymen.

The generic term "pulpit" originally simply referred to a railing around an elevated work platform. Aboard ships, one needed to be able to work the bowsprit sails and, of course, use the "heads", above and foward of the bulwarks at the bow. For this a platform was constructed and surrounded by a "pulpit".

On wherrys--small flat bottomed sailing barges used to transport people and cargos up, down and across rivers that ships could not enter, a similar platform was often constructed at the stern, aft of the cockpit and beyond the "taffrail" that enclosed the cockpit, from which a crew could use a long pole to "push" the boat when the wind failed. It too was commonly surrounded by a pulpit, however, since it was the location from which one "pushed" the boat, it became known--locally--as a "pushpit".

These daze, at least in the US, it is the vernacular to refer to the taffrails as a Stern Pulpit and of course the forward pulpit as the Bow Pulpit.

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[skipmac]

I was always amused when some years ago a lot of the racing guys (probably as a reaction against us cruising traditionalists) started irrevrently referring to all sheets, lines, and such as strings.

[starfish62]

Originally Posted by bmartinsen

I have a living room and a swimming pool in the basement

Excellent!!!!

[perchance]

When I was in the navy I lived in mess and slept in a rack. Sonarmen were called ping bosuns and bosuns were called dibby dabs.To be cheated was to be"seen off". I think sailors are pretty inventive when it comes to the use of the English language.

[quidam]

This reminds me of my childhood. I was one of 9 children (2nd to last) of the son of a proper US Navy Captain. My father would have followed in his father's footsteps, but wasn't accepted due to colorblindness.

Each of us in turn, had to learn the various parts of a sailboat and were instructed on proper emergency procedures (e.g., man-overboard, righting a captsized boat, etc.) before our dad would even allow us onboard. I couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years of age when I began my tutelage. I have fond memories of my dad pulling me around the front yard on the grass in our snark with the sails up; no centerboard in and the rudder kicked up teaching me how to come about. Barking all of the proper commands ("Ready about/Hard a-lee"), etc. Once mastered, we would then attempt real water experience reinforcing all of the land-based lessons.

He had the patience of a saint and never yelled. And if anyone aboard used incorrect terminology, he'd politely correct them. I don't know if it was the enthusiasm of my youth or my desire to be close to my dad, but I loved the challenge and was eager to learn.

When Bruce and I cruised with his kids, I always tried to instill some of the correct terminology in them and for the most part (especially pre-teen years) they seemed to want to learn.

Personally, I think proper terminology (as well as the rules) have their place and should be correctly conveyed to ensure effective communication and safe practices. And it doesn't hurt to retain "a sense of history" in doing so. But I don't let it bother me when someone doesn't follow "suit" (pun intended... get it? calling a spade, a spade).

Michele

[fastfilm]

Part of the problem is that there is no bow pullpit. There is a pulpit, whose name origins have nothing to do with pulling.

[David M]

Not my boat. I call it an A-frame....and boy can it pull.

So if I renamed my afterdeck the "pit" could I call it the "pitpull"?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Anyone else know what "Wraps" are?

I have a mate who spent quite a few months under the impression that these were the bits of rope used to moor a boat......certainly long enuf that even now (many years later) he still calls them Wraps now and again.

How?

Well, some "Expert" who shall remain nameless sent an e-mail listing all the things it would be good to have in an inventory when buying. and simply did a typo Gets funnier every time he says it hehehehe

[quidam]

[quote=David_Old_Jersey;255955]Anyone else know what "Wraps" are?

Never heard that one before nor could I find it in the followin...
NationMaster - Encyclopedia: List of nautical terms

[David_Old_Jersey]

[quote=quidam;255961]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Anyone else know what "Wraps" are?

Never heard that one before nor could I find it in the followin...
NationMaster - Encyclopedia: List of nautical terms

Yeah. that's cos' it is a typo of Warps

[Cheechako]

SOME OF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN TO REMOVE YOUR BLUE YACHT CLUB BLAZER while attending the forum. ;>)

[Cheechako]

So, it is NOT a pushpit unless you are poling from that position right?

[svDragonfly]

There is a line from one of my favorite movies that applies oh so well to this thread: "There is no butt - just the tops of the legs."

It just depends on how you look at it. Pushpit, pullpit, ancient greek tradition, yada yada. Boating is a different world now - evolving, changing, broadening. It's a good thing.

Jen
Dragonfly

[SkiprJohn]

The one term that always gets me is when "sailors" call fenders bumpers. I think its ok to call anything you want to refer to by whatever name you want to call it unless you want folks to actually know what you are talking about. At that point it is good to use the proper term. Looking for things in a marine store and asking the sales help for thick string might get a pretty good chuckle.
Here in Hawaii when referring to something we can't really come up with the proper name for we refer as "da kine."
So hand me the cranky thing for the round da kine that pulls in the string.
Some folks are perfectly happy to learn the proper terms for their preferred sport but won't take a minute to learn the language of sailing.
regards,
JohnL

[lampe]

Well let me say it that way, for me = German, it makes a difference, working in this
business I'd better ask next time my customer what he/she means then... front or back ? :-)