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The Columbia Story (continued)

The Columbia of 1787 was a merchant vessel--a typical utilitarian workhorse. Merchant vessels (called "merchantmen" by sailors) were unglorified objects--built cheap to get the job done and then retired or scrapped some years later. They certainly did not merit a large, colorful "badge" like those of warships. This would have added to the cost of the vessel, in a business where cost is (sometime brutally) minimized.

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But, while Disney's custom figurehead for the Columbia might be historically unrealistic, it seems that they're still justified in their decision. Disney designers obviously understand the importance of a figurehead on a sailing ship, and I'm sure they wanted to display their wealth and power on their Columbia as well, so a large figurehead they got.


Columbia's figurehead has the best view on the boat, perched as she is below the ship's long "bowsprit." Photo courtesy Matt Walker.

Let's look at a historically accurate view of a merchantman's figurehead. Befitting the ship's lowly status, the Lady Washington's figurehead is small, and painted in muted colors. It's partially hidden behind the stays and the rigging. You might even miss it if you're not explicitly looking for it.


The Lady Washington's figurehead is definitely tiny and subdued compared to the Columbia's grand sculpture. Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai


A close-up of the figurehead depicting Martha Washington, George Washington's wife, befitting the ship's name Lady Washington. We don't know if the busts' measurements are in fact "accurate." Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai.

Who sculpted Disneyland's figurehead? Disney historian Michael Broggie recently posed the question to Blaine Gibson (famous for sculpting many Disneyland icons, from pirates to presidents). "Yes, Blaine did sculpt the Columbia figurehead. He did the head, torso and arms and another sculptor did the dress. (Blaine couldn't recall his name.) It was Walt who decided that the original Columbia figurehead was "ugly" and he wanted an attractive woman on his ship! He personally asked Blaine to do it."

Deck

As a sailor, this is where you'll spend most of your time--on the deck. Here Disney stays true to history, using wooden planked deck on the Columbia. In 1780, the caulking--or the black seams you see between the planks--would have been tarred marlin, pounded in between the planks with a marlinspike and a hammer. These tarred marlins were used to water-seal the deck to keep the cargo below dry. Today's Columbia simply uses industrial black caulking that you can find at any hardware store. The Lady Washington is guilty of this, too.

One treatment the Lady gives to its deck that the Columbia doesn't is tarring of the deck. It's exactly what it sounds like. Tar is poured and wiped onto the entire deck, making the deck dark, initially very slippery (like walking on ice), and then sticky. This further protects the wood from the elements, such as salt water--something Disney's Columbia doesn't have to worry about.


Columbia
's main, or weather deck. Compare this shot with the Lady Washington's, below, taken from a similar perspective. Photo courtesy Matt Walker.

The deck layout on the Columbia is acceptably accurate, considering that she was designed to put some thousands of people per hour on deck. Her railing is lower, too, to give the passengers a better view.

But these minor compromises aside, the deck is still recognizable as belonging to a sailing ship. The biggest difference between the two sisters is the size--The Lady's deck is much smaller and can be very crowded. The Columbia is also missing a raised quarterdeck--a minor compromise to allow wheelchair access throughout the deck.


Passengers enjoying the sun on the Lady Washington's deck. Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai.

Pin rails

On the deck are pin rails, or, where all those lines you see are "tied to." The pin rail is the "working end" to sailors. The sails are set here, and all the maneuvering is done from here. The uninitiated are often overwhelmed by the amount of lines on board. Just remember that every line has a purpose, and there are many lines because they allow sailors to control nearly every aspect of the sails.


The Lady Washington's pin rails. Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai.

Pin rails are almost always unlabeled. Historically this just as well, because sailors were illiterate. Today, sailing ships still do not label the pins, partly because of tradition, and partly because of pride.

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© 2008 Steve DeGaetano

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