The picture of life aboard is illuminated by the great variety of hardware and small
parts employed throughout the boat, such as these hammock hooks (upper left) and padlocks.
Much of the routine effort between actions was directed
toward maintenance of man and boat. This can be clearly seen by the vast number of
tools and equipment recovered.
Tools of the carpenter and blacksmith are in ample supply among the salvaged
artifacts. This serving mallet (upper left) was used to bind a rope's end tightly to
prevent fraying. Fids (below serving mallet), were sometimes used to open and separate the
strands of a rope when splicing.
Many of the tools recovered
look very familiar because they have changed little over
time.
Pulleys called blocks were used for various purposes, particularly to
increase the mechanical power of ropes used in heavy lifting.
Recovered along with these large and small blocks were thimbles,
which are metal rings with a concave outer edge round which
a rope can be spliced; use to take a hook or to guide another
rope.
Personal Items
Weapons
Last update: Friday, November 05, 1999
http://www.nps.gov/vick/cairo/tools.htm
Editor: G. Zeman
