Ugliest ship afloat?

subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Ugliest ship afloat?

Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:30 AM

We had a discussion here at the navy yard as to what the ugliest ship (or type ship) afloat might be. The general concensus was that the modern cruise ship was an abomination to Neptune himself. What do you say to that?

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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therriman

Member since
January 2003
From: Central MI

Posted by therriman on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:39 AM

Not much argument from me on that one.

Tim H. "If your alone and you meet a Zero, run like hell. Your outnumbered" Capt Joe Foss, Guadalcanal 1942 Real Trucks have 18 wheels. Anything less is just a Toy! I am in shape. Hey, Round is a shape! Reality is a concept not yet proven.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:39 AM

agreed

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Jeff Herne

Member since
January 2003

Posted by Jeff Herne on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:50 AM

Oh sure, just because I finished repairing one, huh??

Bash the guy with the cruise ship....BAH!!

Just kidding...but I have to agree, some are pretty ugly.

Jeff

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subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:01 AM

Sorry Jeff, it wasn't because you just repaired one, and that you did such a beautiful job doing it at that. It is just that most of the guys I work with are so convervative when it comes to ship design that when they see a cruise ship across the river at a civilian shipyard they cringe.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:26 AM

I disagree just a little bit, I don't think cruise ships are "ugly" just "abnormal". Over the last 5 or so years I've been amazed at the heights these things are going to. I don't think I could bring myself to get on one of the newer ships in fear that it would go belly up in a stiff wind.

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subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:51 AM

I'm not sure of their draft or bottom configuration, but they look like they would roll like crazy in any kind of sea. I know that I wouldn't want to ride one. (I'd be embarrassed if anyone from work saw me on one for that matter Dead [xx(]

)

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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Jeff Herne

Member since
January 2003

Posted by Jeff Herne on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 12:40 PM

I have to agree though, some of them are pretty ugly...

Ships are supposed to have a certain esotric beauty to them...but most don't.

Course, some of these lakers are pretty ugly too...there's a couple of container ships that are just plain butt-ugly. Some, like the auto-transports I see at Port Newark, don't even look like ships...

J

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DBFSS385

Member since
September 2003
From: Connecticut

Posted by DBFSS385 on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 8:37 PM

Come on people.. Got to be an aircraftcarrier.. Big fat flat top.. Hard to tell bow from stern at a distance.. Bridge is off center.. I like them and do model one on occaision.. But they are ugly..

Be Well/DBF Walt

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death

Member since
December 2003
From: Canberra,Australia

Posted by death on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:32 PM

Sorry guys,I would have to say the ugliest ship (an I use the term loosely!!) afloat is the stealth ship. Looks to me more like a capsized kayak than a ship.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 3:46 AM

Yeah, I've seen some giant ugly bricks whith holes, some are just like boxes.
Today ships are made to be functional, theres a lot of systems, electronics bla, bla ,bla....So they dont spend time or money to make them beautiful,
just the necessary to get the work done. Only in a few type of ships the design maters.
So i build models of old and beautifull ships. But, there are modern good looking ships also.

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scottrc

Member since
December 2003
From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W

Posted by scottrc on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:27 AM

I agree about the cruise ship, just a hotel on a barge. And they are getting pretty top heavy. I can't waint until the United States goes back into commission so I can actually stroll a deck. The new ships don't have a deck to stroll on. Just a big shopping mall and a casino. Why would I pay all that money just to feel like i'm still in town?

The new Windjammer sailing ships are really a sight for sore eyes as well. They just put a couple of masts on top of a cruise ship and call it a sailing vessel and charge an extra grand for the "experience".

Same with the new carriers. I can't fathom how they can see over the bow with the bridge so far back.

However, the Burk class destroyers do have nice looking lines. They must have had a mental block desining it because it actually has symetry.

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subfixer

Member since
March 2004
From: Spartanburg, SC

Posted by subfixer on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 11:03 AM

The Arleigh Burkes are designed with stealth in mind. Not that they are really stealthy but the angles are supposed to deflect radar to some extent. They are probably the best looking US naval vessels since the nuclear cruisers.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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scottrc

Member since
December 2003
From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W

Posted by scottrc on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 1:16 PM

I like to chuckle about the idea of a stealth aircraft carrier that they are designing Big Smile [:D]

. How on earth will they hide the three mile wake that thing creates? Not to mention all the support vessels that go along with the carrier.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 5:46 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by scottrc

I like to chuckle about the idea of a stealth aircraft carrier that they are designing. How on earth will they hide the three mile wake that thing creates? Not to mention all the support vessels that go along with the carrier.

That's real easy! Just make it submersible! Wink [;)]

"

Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom...by Miracle!"

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paulnchamp

Member since
January 2003
From: Warwick, RI

Posted by paulnchamp on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 10:29 PM

Not to knock your repair job, Jeff (or your consideable talents) but that cruise ship model looks like a skyscraper that toppled over. It's got my vote.

Paul "A man's GOT to know his limitations."

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Jeff Herne

Member since
January 2003

Posted by Jeff Herne on Thursday, April 1, 2004 4:30 PM

Argh...I give up...

Pirate [oX)]

Jeff

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MBT70

Member since
March 2004
From: Pacific Northwest

Posted by MBT70 on Friday, April 2, 2004 9:31 AM

It is pretty sad how cruise ships have gotten so big and so ugly all at once. I'm waiting for the Titanic II to finally get launched, but that whole project is impossible to find, if it ever got started at all. Back when they were called Ocean Liners, there were some pretty impressive hulls splitting the foam, like Normandie, Titanic, Queen Elizabeth, Andrea Doria and so on. For my money, though, the butt-ugliest pieces of warped steel to ever wet their willies are the old coal-fired pre-dreadnought battleships. They have a certain classic overkill to the design that just screams archaic technology. Having said that, let's change the thread a tiny bit and ask what you think is the most beatiful ship ever built. I like the Soviet Kirov/Ushakov nuclear battlecruisers, the NS Savannah, and the Gearing destoyers.

Life is tough. Then you die.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 9:26 AM

most beautiful? well anything the Kriegsmarine built, ANYTHING!!! lol
and USS Alaska CB-1

best regards,

joe

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 10:49 AM

How on earth could anyone consider my beloved aircraft carriers ugly? One thing to keep in mind is that form does certainly follow function when dealing with ship design. Although the original question was relating to ships afloat, I must agree that the old battleships were not the most glamorous vessels ever created. As far as modern ships are concerned, I would probably say that many cargo ships are unattractive, in my opinion, based on their large rounded bows. I truly appreciate a ship that has a nice tapering bow that can slice through the oceans; this gives any ship the appearance of graceful flowing lines. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 1:10 PM

Ugliest Warship Afloat...
Hands down the OH Perry Class Frigate.
One butt ugly warship for sure.
Most Handsome Warship Afloat...
The A Burke Class Destroyer!
Now that's a warship!!!
Need a Final Countdown type movie.
Where a couple these brutes go back in time to WW2.
Now we're talking fun... Big Smile [:D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 11:42 PM

the old navy coal carriers(pre fleet oilers)..........................butt ugly............the best? a 80ft Elco PT up on her plane(I known its a boat and not a ship)just wanted 2 put my My 2 cents [2c]

in

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 12:09 AM

I would have to say car carriers. Big freakin floating lego blocks.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 1:48 AM

Russian round gunships. I always wondered how they looked like.

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woodrow76

Member since
October 2003
From: Elkton, MD

Posted by woodrow76 on Sunday, April 4, 2004 9:59 PM

I'd have to say today's cruise ships are probably the ugliest ships afloat, as well as some cargo ships too. On the other hand the prettiest ship that ever sailed the seas was HMS Hood.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 11:33 PM

I dunno guys ... ugly is beautiful when you talk about form & function on a working vessel like an oil rig or dredge or even an aircraft carrier.

But just plain ugly? Sorry Jeff; I wouldn't be caught dead on a cruise ship these days ...

Best looking? A long and distinguished list indeed, naval or civilian, but the old NS Savannah nuclear powered freighter looked pretty good IMHO.

Regards,
Bruce

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death

Member since
December 2003
From: Canberra,Australia

Posted by death on Monday, April 5, 2004 3:53 AM

One of the most beautiful ships afloat would have to be one of the Tribal-class destroyers HMAS Arunta.The pictures I've seen of her slicing through roughers brings a sailor's spirits soaring!

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devinj

Member since
January 2003

Posted by devinj on Monday, April 5, 2004 1:06 PM

They aren't afloat anymore, but the American Civil War ironclads are hideous. So ugly they're cool. I have a 1/96th scale USS Keokuk kit that I keep just staring at, marveling at how much it looks like an armed water bug.

Devin

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MackP

Member since
December 2002
From: USA

Posted by MackP on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 10:36 AM

I agree on the new class cruise ships. Why don't they tip over? But I have to say my choice is aircraft carriers--for pete's sake, they're FLAT! And besides, what keeps them from tipping over.
The best looking is a tough call. The old Alaska class battle cruisers; the Mitscher class DLs; the Fletcher DDs; but I have to go with the pre-Fram Sumner class as the best--of course I may be prejudiced, as I drove one in the late 50s!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 12:56 PM

the Big oil tankers are the ugliest ship afloat

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