[centurion316]

There was no such thing as a “crowsnest” on a warship of 1780. The picture shows the foretop, a platform located where the foremast and foretopmast were connected. The platform was required to provide something solid to connect the forechains and the foretackles. These bits show quite clearly in the picture and were used to fasten the foreshrouds that helped stablize the foretopmast.

The foretop was also a place where marines or sailors could position themselves to fire down upon an enemy ship.

I think that this ship should be raised. When Mary Rose sank, she carried with her many hundreds of soldiers and sailors and did so whilst in action, making her a war grave, no doubt. The British figured a way to raise her while still honoring her dead. HMS Ontario deserves a similar fate.

[decimon]

The picture shows the foretop, a platform located where the foremast and foretopmast were connected. The platform was required to provide something solid to connect the forechains and the foretackles. These bits show quite clearly in the picture and were used to fasten the foreshrouds that helped stablize the foretopmast.

I hope no tar lost his foreskin on any of that.

[ryan71]

“I think that this ship should be raised.”

Man, I would love to see that ship sitting in a museum. It would be an historical jewel.

[Postman]

I fully agree.