Three months at sea with a stick of Arko

[Deacon Frank]

MaritimeFanatic and Slash, thank you both for your service in the Merchant Marine! You guys often go unnoticed, but your service is crucial to this country.

My great-grandfather was in the Merchant Marine -- an engineer on freighters -- and ended up serving on the USS Oregon to escort freighters to/from Europe during WWI. My parents have a photo of him in his uniform (and I don't have a copy), but here is another:

 

[dgilman]

Truly an unusual and interesting post! I always enjoy hearing about the practical experimentation that B&Bers get up to, when circumstances force the issue. I can't say I'm anxious to spend such a long period of time aboard a sailing vessel, but if it ever happens that I have to, I'll certainly recall this post and your conclusions on gear and technique.

 

[SmokeyD]

Great article you wrote. I fully understand your problem on boats/vessels. But it’s always fun to even in such cramped places try for a good shaving time.

To Legion: the name is misleading but Dutch Harbor is in Alaska.

Right now I’m using the Palmolive stick. It’s great stuff. Adding water to the lather and work that in is much easier than with Dr. Harris’ soap. The latter tends the get watery. If it wasn’t for the shipping cost, I would send the Palmolive to anybody who wishes for.

Smokey

 

[brucea]

Great post. Fun to read and informative as well.

 

[Artistik]

Thanks for sharing and for your service. Two years at sea with the U.S. Navy aboard a small WWII carrier (Yorktown) never provided that much excitement except maybe the North Atlantic in the Fall. A rougue wave nearly capsized us. I was shaving with an Atra and canned goo in those days.

 

[jsj_297]

Thanks for sharing and for your service. Two years at sea with the U.S. Navy aboard a small WWII carrier (Yorktown) never provided that much excitement except maybe the North Atlantic in the Fall. A rougue wave nearly capsized us. I was shaving with an Atra and canned goo in those days.

I've been to the USS Yorktown a few times with the scouts I help out with. What an historical icon of a ship u sailed on sir! Thanks for your service too!!!

 

[Artistik]

I've been to the USS Yorktown a few times with the scouts I help out with. What an historical icon of a ship u sailed on sir! Thanks for your service too!!!

And to you for yours, former Marine!

 

[theblindog]

Great post!
thanks for sharing this.

 

[beisler]

Great post and entertaining and thoughtful read

 

[Freehand]

Who wouldn't read a post entitled "Three months at sea with a stick of Arko"?

Very interesting and enjoyable story.

Thanks for taking the time to share it!

Freehand

 

[johna2231]

I greatly enjoyed your post as well. Very interesting! I wish the pic had come through...

I guess I'm going to have to try Arko! The only stick I've tried so far is Spieck and it made me a believer in shave sticks. IMHO, it seriously outperforms Spieck cream by a mile!

Take care and check back in with us whenever you can.

John

 

[_JP_]

I'm really enjoying this thread.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Thank you all for the kind words! Still very much making use of the first internet in a few months, and loving being back around B&B.

Slash, that's an awesome picture (Bulk freighter?) and it's wicked cool to see another sailor! If you have more tips, I would love to hear them sometime! I have always tried to carry a few straights with me - really kicking myself for not bringing one or two this trip - but banging around Western Alaska and the Bering Sea the only time I really can use them is in port. Towing a 400' container barge with a 110' tug usually means slow speeds and less than comfortable rides, but it has taught me a lot!

So far my SuperSpeed flare-tip has been very good to me, and I hope to continually improve my setup. B&B is a huge help - we really do have an exceptional community!

That was the Marilyn, formerly the Overseas Marilyn. It is a break-bulk stick ship operated by Sealift, Inc. I was on that ship for about 7 months, took it into shipyard in Turkey and flew home. I always liked stick ships. In deck department, I just don't think you can make a real sailor without time on stick ships. That's real sailing. Unfortunately there are only a few left, and Sealift has them all, I think. Well, and maybe Red River. I'm sure MARAD has a few mothballed here and there. Wow... it seems like yesterday an AB would have hung his head in shame when admitting he couldn't splice a wire. Now people are surprised when the Bosun can splice. When a relief C/M can get a rig set up correctly the first time, he is now regarded as an old salt. Skills that used to be commonplace, are now rare. Anyway, Here is a pic of it I found on Shipspotting.com http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=453078 And I think I have a video from the tail end of that storm on my site, www.thevoicestoldme.com. Or maybe just stills from it, I don't remember. I don't spend much time or effort on the site.

Not too many tips... just do it, I guess. Well, try to brace up well against your sink, and take the shave a stroke at a time. Hesitating between even short strokes helps me to concentrate on control in heavy weather. I keep it down to a single more or less WTG pass.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Oh, and for some even better heavy weather pics, google for "Stolt Surf". The C/E took some pretty impressive pics on this chemical tanker in I think 1977 that got a lot of attention. He has I think a web page dedicated to that ship in that storm. Find it for the whole series of pics. I think it would make a nice jigsaw puzzle.

In fact, here is the link: http://global-mariner.com/index111TheStorm.html

 

[jsj_297]

And to you for yours, former Marine!

Who told??

 

[Artistik]

Who told??

You should get your vetarans tag.

 

[bluetip84]

I really enjoyed this thread thanks for the read. I worked as a Fisheries Observer for NOAA and National Marine Fisheries for awhile out of Dutch harbor and Kodiak Alaska. I just gave up shaving while at sea and shaved once we returned to port. I could not imagine using a straight at sea!

 

[modmlot]

What a great read, someone needs to make a series of YouTube videos about your journey at sea and shaving.

CHEERS!

--T

 

[mstapes]

This is a small world, a good buddy of mine is finishing up at MMA right now. He spent the summer in dutch harbor working for American Seafoods.

I admire your passion of wet shaving especially since you incorporate the challenge of being at sea. As I am new to this world and art of shaving I can only hope to one day have the dedication you possess. Great addition to the forum, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and I thank you for sharing.

 

[chiefmate]

You know Trent, I went back and read it again and it is quite well written.
Keep warm and congrats.