BALDER, Vlaardingen Herring Lugger from 1912, scratch build scale 1:50 Plate-On-Frame

[Herman]

An essential part for hauling in the herring nets are the 'geestrollen' (ghost rollers):
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During my visit two weeks ago, I measured the parts. These were stored in the forecastle. I hadn't noticed them during my previous visits because they were never hung there. And I haven't (yet) come across any drawings with measurements. One of the volunteers had a photo of the moment they were replacing one of the side rollers.
The two side rollers are also specific to the Balder and possibly to Vlaardingen. Until now, I'd only come across images showing just the large horizontal roller.

Some details:
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The beams are attached to the outside of the bulwark.
A: The base of the beams has a lip that is inserted into a flat bracket.
B: A threaded rod goes through a hole in the bulwark plate and is secured with a nut on the inside.
C: Planks can be placed on the bulwark on either side of the beams. This prevents much of the catch from jumping back during the emptying of the nets. They slide into a slot on the side of the side beam and, with the pin, into a hole in the handrail.
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A: The bracket where the lip fits.
B: The hole through which the threaded rod passes.

The 'geestrollen' are installed:
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There is generally only one, on the side where the nets are hauled in. One has been custom-made for each side.
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The lips on the underside are just visible.

Planks can be placed on the bulwark on either side and between the beams:
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On the starboard side, also the plank in the middle. On the port side, the situation as it is during the hauling in of the catch.

Some more details on the port side interior:
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The two nuts on the threaded rods of the beams and the pins on the side planks that I insert into the holes in the handrail.

Then this center section is finished. It's ready to fish...
Regards, Peter

You have a sharp eye for details and what you see is what we get! Wonderful.

 

[Peter Voogt]

You have a sharp eye for details and what you see is what we get! Wonderful.

Thanks, Herman. That's the fate of using the quote often: 'It's all in the details.'
Regards, Peter

 

[BradNSW]

Peter,

After following your log, we'll all be knowledgeable enough about the equipment and workings of a herring lugger, to sign on as crew.

Unfortunately, today few if any of us are hard enough to last a day or two on one of these boats.

This may be true of most any common labor job around the turn of the century!! It was a different world.

 

[Peter Voogt]

Peter,
After following your log, we'll all be knowledgeable enough about the equipment and workings of a herring lugger, to sign on as crew.
Unfortunately, today few if any of us are hard enough to last a day or two on one of these boats.
This may be true of most any common labor job around the turn of the century!! It was a different world.

Thank you, Brad. For putting into words the hard life aboard such a lugger. Which didn't always end well.

In the tower of the Grote Kerk (Great Church), a watchman (tower watcher) used to sit and look out over the water.

When a Vlaardingen lugger was approaching, a red ball was hoisted onto the tower as a signal for the shipowner. People would then shout in the street, "One ball up! One ball up!" so everyone knew a lugger would soon be arriving.

The watchman also warned when a Vlaardingen lugger arrived with its flag at half-mast. When that was the case, the tower watchman would shout, "Women, don't go out!" instead of "Women, go out at such and such a late hour." The women would then remain inside until it was known who the bad news was for. That message was then delivered by the minister.

Nowadays in the Netherlands, if a group suddenly falls silent, you often hear the expression "De Dominee komt voorbij." (The Minister is passing by.) But few realize the origin of this saying. The minister brought the sad news of fishermen who had died at sea. As he walked down the street, everyone held their breath, hoping the reverend was just next door.

Regards, Peter

 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Thanks for the really interesting explanations. It reminds everyone that the job was hard and dangerous.