Posted by Bob Read on July 01, 1998 at 18:21:13 in pm3-1-101.apci.net:
In Reply to: Re: 1/350 Pipe conflict posted by Mike Pell on July 01, 1998 at 11:50:27:
Mike:
The structures you are describing as "hydrants" I believe are something else. If we are both looking at the same thing, I believe what you are looking at are what are known as "belaying bitts".
These short structures were used to secure the hoisting line of the lifeboats. On the Titanic they had a round vertical center column and both an inboard and an outboard projection. The inboard projection was also round and approximately the same diameter as the vertical column. The outboard projection went out horizontally the same distance as the inboard projection but it was capped by a projection that hooked downward. If you are looking at Ballard's "The Discovery of the Titanic", p.193 has the best photo. If you look at the group of three people walking on the boat deck, the belaying bitt is immediately to the outside of the girl's left elbow. The small gooseneck structures on the lower right of the photo are fairleads (pulleys).
The belaying bitt is also shown in the photo on p. 189. However the part that projects downward in this picture is oriented forward (or aft). A much larger photo of this is found on p. 102 of "Titanic: An Illustrated History". There was a belaying bitt located fore and aft of each boat.
CORRECTION!
I said that there were two hydrants on the aft well deck. I was wrong. I can find none. There were two,however, just outboard and on either side of the "mushroom" vent located between the two cargo hatches on the forward well deck.
Regards,
Bob Read