Little Peaked Skippers' Caps Poll

[Poignard]

If you want to get ahead - get a hat.

When I was 16, along with several other youngsters, I joined the Royal Navy, having been convinced by newspaper adverts that it would be a good thing to do. Once enrolled we were placed under the command of a very important personage called a Chief Gunnery Instructor, whose job seemed to be to make us wish we hadn't.

I never saw this man, who struck fear into everyone (including his superior officers), without his peaked hat on, until one day I was sent into the Gunnery Office to carry out some interesting and important work scrubbing old blanco from dozens of sets of gaiters ready for them to have new blanco applied. Sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette and reading the Daily Mirror, was the CGI and, wonderful to behold, he was almost completely BALD. The spell was broken and afterwards, whenever I saw him strutting about bullying and blustering, I just remembered the little bald man reading the Daily Mirror. Just an ordinary bloke trying to make a living. No better or worse than anybody else.


Moral: we do judge a book by its cover

 

[dulcibella]

The Breton cap that my crew gave me comes down over my ears. What are they trying to tell me?

 

[DownWest]

lovely thread,
My farming neighbour came over one new years eve with some rotgut. First time he had come inside as it was not customary there. Took his hat off, aged 10 yrs in an instant. Bald on top, never seen him without it in 3yrs.
My Aunt in Falmouth gave me Breton for my b/day. Next day I set off from the ramp in our 12ft dinghy. Far to much sail, capsized avoiding moored boats. Lost the hat, recovered, went back to get it, grabbed it, went over again. Did it once more and fell on the rudder stock, busting the tiller off. Also let the m/sheat run out, stopper knot? Had to run to Flushing with a foot on the rudder. Not my finest hour. First time I had capsized since I was allowed to sail it alone at 7 yrs. The replacement hat got a strong chin strap...
Must have provided some entertainment at the Yacht Club on the quay.

Racing at Burnam week circa '64. A friend with American parentage turned up with a baseball cap as headgear. We, of course, had wooley hats from mother. Lots of not very nice comments about his titfer. Still, they were mostly behind us in the results.
A

 

[DownWest]

Forgot to add, how close is a Peajacket to a Reefer?
A

 

[Cliveshep]

Forgot to add, how close is a Peajacket to a Reefer?
A

Same thing, see Wiki for this quote:

"Pea coat
A pea coat or pea jacket is an outer coat, generally of a navy-colored heavy wool, originally worn by sailors of European navies. Peacoats are characterized by broad lapels, double-breasted fronts, often large wooden buttons, and vertical or slash pockets. In Britain, the coat is sometimes called a reefer jacket and was used by the Royal Navy. In the Belgian Navy, it is known as pilot jacket."

Also see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat

 

[DownWest]

Thanks Clive,
They seem to be a common covering around here, just not so robust as needed for sea use.
A

 

[Cliveshep]

Very similar (but a whole lot more expensive) to what we used to call a "Donkey Jacket", worn by all oiks working on the holes in the roads, i.e. gas board etc before 'Elf 'n Safety came in and made 'em all wear hi-viz jackets.

Some had plastic elbow and shoulder patches sewn in! (The donkey jackets that is, not the pea jackets).

 

[mlthomas]

[/QUOTE]

is that KC Jones after steaming and a rolling on the cannon ball express?

 

[Cliveshep]

Given that the front is vertical, of the hat that is, it's probably Herr Leutnant Jones

 

[VO5]

Same thing, see Wiki for this quote:

"Pea coat
A pea coat or pea jacket is an outer coat, generally of a navy-colored heavy wool, originally worn by sailors of European navies. Peacoats are characterized by broad lapels, double-breasted fronts, often large wooden buttons, and vertical or slash pockets. In Britain, the coat is sometimes called a reefer jacket and was used by the Royal Navy. In the Belgian Navy, it is known as pilot jacket."

Also see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat

Among Members of Royal Clubs, a reefer is a blazer, black, two vents and club buttons.

A pea coat is a seagoing reefer. It is made of dense wool material, heavier and longer than the blazer / reefer and can be buttoned up to port or starboard to keep the wind out. Black buttons, occasionally gilt.

 

[Poignard]

Among Members of Royal Clubs, a reefer is a blazer, black, two vents and club buttons.

Oh God. No wonder I never get invited onto the committee -I haven't got club buttons on my reefer!

 

[fishermantwo]

When I was 16, along with several other youngsters, I joined the Royal Navy, having been convinced by newspaper adverts that it would be a good thing to do. Once enrolled we were placed under the command of a very important personage called a Chief Gunnery Instructor, whose job seemed to be to make us wish we hadn't.



Moral: we do judge a book by its cover

Like plenty of others I served for 20 years in the navy starting at 15 years of age. No matter what the dress, shorts and sandals in the tropics for example, during evolutions the bloke in charge always wore a hat. My chiefs hat is close by but I would never wear it. I do have a Breton cap on my fishing boat though and wear it when heading into the sun.

 

[fisherman]

Oh, absolutely. My old one along with the smock, also now mysteriously vanished, came from a friend of a trawler skipper friend of mine, John Gundry of Bridport-Gundry fame. Now I've lost touch I've lost my access to such things.

Bluddy ell. Last time I saw John Gundry was at Dalcross in 1974, fishing exhibition. Me and my mate camped out for a week under a sheet of plastic. We went to Arbroath looking for breakfast, there was a cafe run by a little old lady with hair done up in a bun. We had Finnan and chips, with two poached eggs, two doorsteps of bread and a mug of tea. 50p each.

 

[Cap'n Creosote]

When I drive a steam roller I wear an enginemans greasetop hat. When I drive my vintage open tourer I wear my "Biggles" flying helmet and goggles. And when I drive my tatty old Landrover I wear my old cloth cap.

You are surely not suggesting I should ignore these important protocols? Or heaven forbid, mix them up.

Whatever would people think if I started sailing in my flying hemet and goggles (white silk scarf streaming out behind).

I haven't got a breton cap yet but I intend to put it on my shopping list right away.
One has to play the game, don't cha know.

And I wouldn't be seen dead in a baseball cap!

I shall tick the third option in the poll, and always wear my breton cap whenever I'm near water.

Especially in the bath.

John

 

[Twister_Ken]

There is another option, modelled here by a denizen of the 'butt.

 

[Cap'n Creosote]

Naahh... It would blow off as soon as the steam roller reached full speed.