Quiz for YM ancient mariners - Canvass/Canvas ??

[alant]

OK Gentlemen/Ladies, WITHOUT LOOKING on the internet/reference books/etc,






















what exactly is canvass/canvas (spelling can be either)?







Is it a fabric manufactured from a particular yarn?
Is it a type of cloth weave?
Or another? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Cornishman]

Canvass is what hopeful politicians do when they come seeking your vote at election time.
Canvas is the material that sails, deck chairs, etc., were once made of. Usually made from either hemp or flax. If you have ever handled large areas of flax canvas you took a long time to regrow your fingernials!

 

[trouville]

I never realised that!! Ive always made my sun covers hatch covers from old sails or "canvas"I wonderd why it could rot!I always thought it was synthetic anyway!!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Cornishman]

The question was for "ancient mariners", of which I am sad to say I am one! I actually started sailing when man made fibres didn't exist, hence my knowledge of canvas. It was also used for tent making when I first joined the Army!

 

[trouville]

Im not! an acient mariner

I have great respect for those that are from whom ive learnt to knot fenders make baggywrinkel and lots of other rigging things,Soon there wont be anymore and it will be a very very great loss

Sailing and chating on the SSB seem to keep people going into their 100s fitness and brain excersise in wondering what someone just said and if your anntenas still working!

Sailing becouse its hard work getting sails up and down!And with todays prices theres no money for junk food or staying long in one place! The ecomomicaly challenged have to eat salad fish fruit and veg becouse we cant aford anything better!!

 

[thailand69]

I have always under the impression that it was:-

"fabric manufactured from a particular yarn AND a type of cloth weave".

Kinda like Denim?

But I will admit to not having given the subject a great deal of thought. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[peterb]

'Canvas' comes from the same root as 'cannabis', because they are both forms of hemp. So canvas is a cloth made from hempen fibre. I wouldn't suggest smoking it, though.

 

[thefatlady]

From A Dictionary of Sea Terms by A. Ansted, pub. 1898:

Canvas The material of which the sails of a ship are made. But the word has another meaning in its general application to all or any of the sails set; as to say, for instance, that a boat spreads "all her canvas" or that she sails under "racing canvas", press canvas, shortened canvas, etc.

There is no mention of the material used for the sail, although a later dictionary says "hemp or other material, now esp. cotton" It appears that it can be any sail material.

There is no mention of canvass with a double "s" relating to boats. That is a verb which can mean tossing in canvas or in a blanket, to toss or turn about, to examine, to discuss, to solicit votes, orders, contributions, etc.