Coast Guard Cutter Eagle

Eagle 75: Fore and Aft

Built in 1936 at the Blohm and Voss shipyards in Hamburg, Germany, the 295-foot barque Eagle is the premiere training ship for all U.S. Coast Guard officers. While the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is known by many, there are several features of the ship many may not know. Today, we break down five unique qualities of this historic ship.

1. Baggywrinkle

Of all the questions the crew receives about the Eagle, one easily ranks amongst the most common. “What is that furry, seaweed like stuff on the ship?”

That “furry, seaweed stuff,” is known as baggywrinkle. Why, you may ask, is baggywrinkle important?

Well, there are several places in the rigging where the ship's sails come into contact with steel cables, which can cause holes and tears in the sails. Baggywrinkle, made from line (or in common terms, rope) that isn't fit to be used anymore, protects the sails. It is made by unraveling, cutting to length and weaving the old line together. The result is a furry-looking substance that is wrapped around the metal cables, creating a protective barrier for the sails.

2. Captain's Coffin

On the stern, or rear part of the ship, is a wooden box resembling a coffin. This box, known as the Captain's Coffin, houses and protects the clutch and gear mechanism used to steer the ship.

In front of the Captain's Coffin is the emergency steering station, where the ship's wheel stands directly above the rudder. Control of the ship's rudder can be transferred from the main bridge to the steering station using a mechanical clutch mechanism.

3. Setting the sails requires 190 lines

In all, there are 23 sails aboard the Eagle -- 10 of which are square. Setting these sails involves the use of 190 lines, totaling more than five miles in length.

These lines have a myriad of names depending on what the particular line is used for, such as clewlines, sheets, buntlines, leechlines, downhauls and halyards. When used together, these lines secure a total of 21,350 square feet of sails.

4. The ship is made of steel, the deck is made of teak

At first glance, one may assume the Eagle is a wooden ship, when in fact, it's actually made of German steel. The Eagle was built in 1936 using the transverse framing system -- a similar construction system used in America during that time.

The weather decks (or areas exposed to the elements) were also constructed of steel and laid with a three-inch layer of teak wood. The teak wood was used because it's relatively easy to maintain, doesn't require any sanding and provides a natural, non-skid surface to walk and work on.

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle to depart on 75th anniversary voyage ...

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today ! “We want as many people as possible to join with us at Fort Trumbull to show our support for the Eagle, her captain and crew who train the Coast Guard’s future leaders,” said Tony Sheridan, the chamber’s president and CEO. “It will be fun to watch as this magnificent vessel leaves the pier and heads out to sea. The Coast Guard is an important part of our community. Its life-saving mission and work in homeland security responsibilities are important for our nation.” A permanent crew of six officers and 50 enlisted personnel guides the trainees through a rigorous underway and in-port training curriculum dedicated to the skills of navigation, damage control, watchstanding, engineering and deck seamanship. The work of climbing the rigging, hauling line to hoist or douse sail, and the reality of living and working in close quarters for weeks at a time is an arduous experience. Long hours standing watch in the rain and cold, and cleaning dishes and scrubbing decks take cadets out of their comfort zones – if there is such a thing at a military academy. During their four-year journey at the academy, cadets spend a minimum six weeks aboard Eagle. To maneuver the tall ship under sail, Eagle’s crew must handle the 130 different lines that set, trim and douse the ship’s 23 sails, in all kinds of weather, day or night. All of the lines are managed by hand and very few can be handled by a single person, which naturally develops team coordination and cooperation. There is another challenge for new hands to overcome – going aloft. Work on Eagle can often put a cadet 143-feet above the water while standing on the yard arms working with sails, an experience not soon forgotten. The physically and mentally demanding work aboard Eagle strengthens the bond between cadets. Most do not romanticize their time aboard the barque, but the training does something that no amount of classroom discussion or assigned reading can do.

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