Steamboat Trivia Questions!

I guess this is still not answered(?). How about --
Messenger Line, Handy Line, Hawser Line, or Heaving Line? (the first 2 being my top choices).

Had another thought -- Lead Line

My guess: Ring buoy life line?

You're right, Bob! the answer that the Inspector questioning my father wanted was the "life line." Another "life line" is the one hanging from above the main deck along the guard of a boat. That's the "life line" Dad always referred to. Yes, I'd call it a trick question, but it drove home an important point, safety first! I'll have Vic deliver you a brand new Snickers Bar at the next S&D Officers' Meeting. I'll give him two, so one is sure to arrive intact!

"Doc" said that for his question about the longest line on a boat the answer was the "water line."

Rats! I almost said "throw line", which is another name used for those life ring lines.

My favorite response in this thread has been "Credit Line".

lines in this thread!

I'll take credit for that credit line, Steve. But Mathew, you started this thread asking for some trivia questionS - do you realize you got 29 replies, but only have ONE question? That shows you how many li(n)es the river community can concoct!

Shipyard Sam also gets some credit for "Credit Line".

Credit line

Yeah, I see I had said 'line of credit'.

My computer was hors de combat when this one came up. My answer would have been the "baloney line" from lazy bench to pilot (and return).

When I sat for my first license the "stumper" was, "How should hay be stored in the deckroom?" I hasten to point out that I still do not know!

Alan: My guess would be that hay, being easily ignited by the open flames of the boiler fireboxes plus subject to spontaneous combustion if and when wet, was not allowed in the deck room at all. Carried on a barge? I have heard that barge loads of hay were shipped from local farms to urban centers like Cincinnati, Louisville and New Orleans to fuel the horses there. Back then, there were more horses per square inch in town than in the rural areas. I have SEEN damp hay smoldering in the barn...either not dried out in sufficiently in the sun (too green) or from a shower of rain before bailing. Not a good feeling if it is your barn! That's my guess, and it is only a guess. Cap'n Walnut

The "stumper" when I sat for my Mate's license was: "What is the ONLY way oil can be legally discharged into a waterway?" Anybody want to venture a guess? I'll say I was forewarned the question might be there and was provided with the answer beforehand.

Bob Reynolds;20113 wrote: The "stumper" when I sat for my Mate's license was: "What is the ONLY way oil can be legally discharged into a waterway?" Anybody want to venture a guess? I'll say I was forewarned the question might be there and was provided with the answer beforehand.

When it's being pumped into another vessel ??

If it's a type of bio-degradable oil that does not cause a shean (vegetable oil?), or .... When the Clean Waters Act has been repealed ??

Neither, guys! The answer is "as storm runoff from city streets", which when you think about it makes perfect sense.

Road to Ruin

Used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollution in
lakes, streams, and rivers. Americans spill 180 million gallons
of used oil each year into the nation’s waters. This is 16 times
the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska!

During my eleven years in the recycling bizz, the prospect of recycling Used Motor Oil (UMO) was quite inviting, but the price of crude oil was so low, then, that it was unfeasible to get involved and commit myself to an otherwise great and good idea that wouldn’t pay for itself. My very successful Can-Do Recycling was guided not by thick manuals, texts, and long, wasteful meetings, but on old adages that have offered guidance to folks for generations. "The road to ruin is paved with good intentions" would have served me well.

During the last 26 years I was aboard the Delta Queen, as 2nd mate, 1st mate and Captain, we always called and extra (considered unneeded by the deckhands)and doubled line a"Safety line".