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Post by old_wsf_fan on Apr 4, 2007 19:09:17 GMT -8
This is an odd question, but I am curious about the colors of some of the masts in the fleet. I see that the Kitsap and the Sealth have half of their masts painted black, while most of the other ferries have solid white masts. Any other vessels have the two-tone color scheme?
Is there a particular reason for this? I must say that I prefer the two tone combo.
I have my guesses but I will wait for an informed, correct answer.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 4, 2007 19:17:00 GMT -8
I believe that if a mast is located in the line of smoke from the funnel, then it's painted black. If such a mast were white, it would have ugly stains from the smoke.
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Post by Barnacle on Apr 4, 2007 21:03:22 GMT -8
I'm with Dr. Horn--the original engines in the Issaquah class would soot up something huge, and consequently the white masts (check the early photos--no joke!) suffered.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 4, 2007 21:33:19 GMT -8
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Post by In Washington on Apr 5, 2007 6:43:51 GMT -8
The Issaquah masts were actually painted white from the "factory" but as Barnacle notes the exhaust was so bad they turned black. I remember a Captain explaining that to me years ago. I think he was sending an AB up to scrub them... Not sure what that AB did to get that job! LOL
With the new engines that meet the emissions regulations the Issaquahs don't blow the smoke like that anymore. They still have that nice rumble though.
Anyway... It might not be paint on those masts!
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 5, 2007 9:59:26 GMT -8
Yes Horn is correct. FYI a clue whether a US Navy ship is nuclear or conventional is whether the masts are grey or black. Black for conventional and grey for nuclear. Any mast aft or near a funnel or exhaust is usually black. No hard and fast rule but just more practical. Gas turbine can be either but they usually darken eventually so many are black too.
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