How many Sailors out there?

[Sailor Bob]

Hey guys and gals - just wondering how many current or ex seagoing personnel are in this club.

I made a comment in a 1 Bravo 6 funnybone thread: The difference between sailors and Z car owners is "Sailors talk about home when on the ship and the ship when they are at home, but Z car owners simply always talk about their cars". It is an obvious contradiction because as seagoing Z car owners we don't fit either bill entirely and both to some degree.

Anyway, didn't want to highjack that thread, but found it interesting to find out I was not one of a kind and now I am curious. Who else is/was a sailor?

Me - I was with the Canadian Navy back in the 70's, sailed on destroyers/frigates as a technician/seaman. I have 32 years on various ship's in various capacities and am currently with the Canadian Coast Guard working on an Offshore Fishery Patrol vessel (picture in my gallery).

Don't be shy, admit the awful truth if you are/were a sailor:classic: and give a few details of your past.

[justinr54321]

I know I posted in funny bone, but I'll try to keep this thread going for us Sailors.

Ex-sailor here. Served on the USS Constellation from end 1998 to the beginning of 2003 and the USS Lincoln in 2006 to 2007. In-between I was at the air base in Fallon, NV. I was an aviation electronis technician, fixing the electronics for the planes, and keeping the test benches up and running that ran the electronics for troubleshooting purposes. I tell you what, it was a good feeling watching a F-18 launch off the end of the carrier full of bombs, and comming back empty, knowing what you did actually made a difference, and this was BEFORE 9-11...

[Rockr69]

I sailed for three years aboard the M/V All Alaskan as a crab and salmon processor. Was usaully on the hook off of the Pribilofs in the Bearing Sea, but sometimes we'd have to run from storms that would get to blowing and with a ship that crawled at about 12 knots in calm seas, those storms were some of the coolest experiences of my life aside from knowing if we went down it was lights out for sure. So not quite the romantic experience of you Bob and Justin, but that's all I got. The one thing for sure is, if not for meeting my wife and starting a family, I know I would still be at it. The sea is like a Z, it gets in and stays in. I love it.

[zhead240]

been sailing the great lakes on a commercial fishing tug since 1981. boy time flys when your getting seasick. the hours can be long and somedays u make a pay and some day u don't. work on shares, no fish no money. it's not all honey. the pension is a hardy handshake and a fine farewell. can't complain though, i've been able to save enough to by a beautiful zed.

ps

only sailors get blown off shore.

[zhead240]

oh yea, here's a pic of my ship

[280~Master]

I was in the US Navy from 1991 to 1993. Served on the USS Kansas City AOR-3. Did a couple of west packs and played in the persian gulf. Sometimes I wish I was back on a ship in the middle of the ocean away from all the B.S.

[Rainman]

I'm an ex-sailor as well and like Justin, I was an aviation electronic technician (AT) and I was assigned to the airwing of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from 1993 to 1997. I completed two western pacific deployments as well as the work-ups before each deployment. When the air wing wasn't on the ship, I worked on F/A-18's at NAS Lemoore, CA as an intermediate level comm/nav repair tech. I know that won't mean much to most of you but let it suffice to say that I worked on the black boxes from the airplanes, not the aircraft themselves.

The Navy had it's place in my life and wasn't all good but it wasn't all bad either. I made a bunch of great friends but was happy to get out when the time came. I can't say the sea ever got it's hooks in me.. never cared for it much and still don't but that's just me...

I do use my 'ex-sailor' status as an excuse to swear on occasion though!! For what it's worth... Anchors aweigh or something!!

[justinr54321]

Richard, may us I-level techs go on forver...

[CoastGuardZ]

Active Duty U.S. Coast Guard for 11 years now. Currently an Electronics Technician First Class (ET1). I am shore side right now but transferring back to an underway billet next month on the USCGC GALLATIN in Charleston, SC. Mostly counter narcotics operations in the caribbean with a little migrant interdiction and Search and Rescue on the side.

Semper Paratus

(Always Ready)

[Oiluj]

Not a U.S. Navy sailor, but I do "sail".

Currently have a 25 year old sailboat and have sailed most of my adult life on San Francisco bay and coast. Even been dis-masted once.

Boat maintenance has been lacking since I started resto work on the Z. Late this fall and early next spring I'll pay for that with lots of sweaty work for having ignored her...

[zpizzaman20]

20 years in the US Navy,mainly flying on P-3's.

Did 2 cruises on America, 1 was Desert Storm.

And 1 cruise on the George Washington.

[Sailor Bob]

I always wanted to sail on an aircraft carrier or a battleship, but it was not to be. Although the Canadian navy was the third largest in the world at the end of WW2, by the time I joined (after a significant period of liberal goverment) our large major vessel (HMCS Boniventure (aircraftcarrier) was on its way to the razorblade yard and we were reduced to a few destroyers, a fleet of frigates, four submarines and an assortment of minor vessels. You yanks got all the good toys - always did (Recent history).

I was a sailboat sailor as well. Did some amature (club and regional) competitive sailing as well including a match series from Lake Ontario to Charlettetown Prince Edward Island. Vessels included C & C 27's/30's/35/36/38, C & S 33. This would be my other potential money pit for the future.

Last point - I got my first Z when I joined my first ship - 71Z in 76.