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Monday. What, again?

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Monday. What, again?

#1

Monday. What, again?

Last Monday’s trivia involved shipbuilding in China. If you have interest in such things China for almost 2000 years produced ships and sailing techniques that embarrassed anything the west could put up in comparison. They also invented paddlewheels (5th century AD) which steered by turning the foot operated dual paddle wheels at different rates. The paddle wheels enabled the ship to reverse and could even turn in its own length. Scary in the 5th century. To the junk.

There are a myriad of “assists” and two important "engineering applications" that made the wooden junk regarded as one of the finest sailing vessels to this day. Identify these. Credit will be given for the boats only. Weaponry, for example, located on the boat will not get credit.

NOTE: I continue to suffer internet cable line difficulties. I'll check back as often as I can.

Re: Monday. What, again?

#2

Re: Monday. What, again?

Model junks were often built by boys back then as a hobby. It was tradition for them to make elaborate wooden boxes for their models. Thus came the term "Junk in the trunk".

Tommy

Re: Monday. What, again?

#3

Internet difficulties with Comcast?

Comcast has had my cable modem bouncing up and down for 2 weeks, often for extended periods of time. Has your experience been similar? I was about to start trying to track down wiring problems in my house.

Rob

Re: Monday. What, again?

#4

Does this mean....

...that junks were the first vessels with internet modems? ;-)

Tommy

Re: Monday. What, again?

#5

Concubines

Zheng He's fleet had cabins for the concubines - an invention that predates even the compass.

The Chinese had the compass, stern-post rudders and multi-masted ships long before the europeans.

Re: Monday. What, again?

#6

Yep, before it goes kaflooey again

Absolutely. Since my post this AM this isthe first time I've gotten a signal. All the rest timed out.

Re: Monday. What, again?

#7

You got almost all

Re: Monday. What, again?

#8

Answer:

I'm a feared I'm going to lose signal soon so I'll give an abbreviated answer.

Battened sails--Bamboo battens (cross pieces) enabled the sails to fill but not belly--a much more efficient sail. Only recently revamped for use on modern day 12 meter (Americas Cup) racing boats. Battened sails also allowed the use of lesser quality cloth and lighter sails as a hole or rip didn't mean the same thing as it did with a one piece western sail.

Multiple and offset masts--Multiple masts were possible largely because of the transverse bulkheads (part of last weeks question)which enabled a solid purchase to a number of places on the ship. Masts also did not have to be in a direct line down the keel. This made the sails more efficient, where front sails did not block the wind of other sails. This arrangement also enabled the ship to tack into he wind. Multiple offset masts could be linked to a modern day airliner wing with adjustable leading edges, and giant extended flaps extending the wing for various maneuvering and low speed operation.

Minimal manpower required because a junk’s battened sails sort of folded down like venitian blinds and didn't require going aloft, furling, as much cordage, or as many crew.

They also had a fenestrated rudder (sort of like a lattice that enabled a ship to steer but was much easier to steer as the holes allowed for less effort to turn the rudder.

Sideboards and centerboards ere used to aid in halting a boat from slipping sideways while moving slowly in a severe cross wind.

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