Corsair H.M.S. Enterprize Build Log

[AllanKP69]

hat you're asking about are bumpers, or, in other words, fenders

Thanks Iutar. As it was in inboard profile drawing, it never dawned on me that it could be something on the outside of the hull. What you describe makes total sense. I wonder if the kit shows and explains these. It is obvious from the few inboard profile kit drawings that have been posted, this is not supposed to be a fighting ship, but rather a prisoner/holding hulk. I highly doubt that is what most people were expecting when they bought the kit.
Allan

 

[iutar]

but rather a prisoner/holding hulk

Dear Allan! According to Rif Winfield, "British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1714 to 1792," the ship served as a floating barracks for involuntary (compulsory, not voluntary) recruits.

In 1791, the converted ship was docked near the Tower of London. It served as a quarantine facility for new arrivals. From here, people were distributed among other ships.

 

[AllanKP69]

According to Rif Winfield, "British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1714 to 1792," the ship served as a floating barracks for involuntary (compulsory, not voluntary) recruits.

That is correct. The drawings also show the two configurations, one set as a fighting ship, one set as a holding/prison ship. I say prison rather than barracks as the men being held captive there waiting for assignment to fighting ships probably did not want to be there. Kidnapped by the press gangs, then held prisoner, then hard work on a warship.

 

[iutar]

I say prison

That's right. People tried to escape. In "The Dispatches and Letters of Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson: With Notes by Sir Nicholas Harris, Nicolas G.C.M.G., Henry Colburn, London, 1845, Vol. VI," Nelson is quoted as saying that 42,000 deserters escaped in the ten years from 1793.
Officially, it was still a barracks, but in reality the ship was a prison. The drawing of the converted ship clearly shows that almost all the gun ports are sealed. This is typical for a prison. On floating barracks, all the gun ports were usually left open, with window frames inserted. But not on our ship.

 

[Corsair]

Allan, hello! What you're asking about are bumpers, or, in other words, fenders. These reinforced fenders were installed on all ships and vessels intended for port service. Ports are crowded, and ships often collide. Often such ships are placed close to each other, and in high waves in bad weather they hit each other hard.
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Thank you very much for providing this information. I've learned something today !

 

[iutar]

I've seen hundreds of naval pictures, but I hadn't noticed anything like these before.

Yes, many ships designed for work in ports and shipyards had massive fenders on the outside of their sides.

 

[RichardG]

I must have overlooked them through selective viewing.