Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Bay of Conception Temp report: it's “Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey”
“BRASS MONKEY”
CANNON BALLS: In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It
was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but prevent them from rolling about the deck. The best storage method devised was a square based
pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of thirty cannon balls could be stacked in a
small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem - how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others.
The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey," with sixteen round indentations. If this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust
to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than
iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the cannon balls would come
right off the monkey.
Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"
...and that's how cold it is these last few mornings in Conception Bay, Baja Sur, Mexico!!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Cypress
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Thanks.
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Fernweh
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Thanks Roger,
for the memories from your early days on the seas 
Karl
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Tbone
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Location: So Cal
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At what temperature, do the Balls fall from the Brass Monkey?
Mas Pacifico
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rob
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Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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BRASS MONKEYS
Pompano - good one!
You had me going there for a moment . . . actually, brass monkeys were popular in Victorian times, imported from China - here is a photo of one on a
particularly chilly morning in South London.
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KurtG
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And you're probably familiar with The Brass Monkey Rally since your old buddy and neighbor Jake hosted one. I was never certain why a cold weather
motorcycle rally was held at Bahia Concepcion but then these things don't need to be logical.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by KurtG
And you're probably familiar with The Brass Monkey Rally since your old buddy and neighbor Jake hosted one. I was never certain why a cold weather
motorcycle rally was held at Bahia Concepcion but then these things don't need to be logical. |
And that fact made it perfect for Jake...and sidekick.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Phil S
Super Nomad
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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Hmmmmmmm. That photo gives me visions of omg experiences, as it slips into the water on the boat launch and becomes a submarine, rather than a
floating 'thing'!! Roger. Thanks for the pic's.
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beddows
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 9-30-2003
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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I am in melaque south of PV. Cloudier & cooler than normal here as well
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