| DonDavis |
03-25-2012 07:15 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by WallyinWA
(Post 6643757)
What is a "Plankowner"?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Bob
(Post 6643781)
A plankowner is a crewmember that was on the boat when it was commisioned.....AFIK.
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My man Joey-B got it. :cool:
Kind of a mixed blessing/privilege/curse. Being aboard during the commissioning phase is a hue PITA. Shipyard personnel are everywhere and the ship is in various stages of repair/construction. Once the ship is commissioned, the crew can regulate personnel and visitors aboard. But the process was truly impressive. It was my first ship and I barely knew where the bow was located. Good times.
Here's a more official explanation from the Navy site...
Plank Owners, Plank Owner Certificates, and Planking
A "plank owner" is an individual who was a member of the crew of a ship when that ship was placed in commission. Originally, this term applied only to crewmembers present at the ship's first commissioning. Today, however, it is often applied to members of a recommissioning crew as well. "Plank owner" is not an official Navy term, and has consequently been variously defined by different Navy units.
Plank-owner certificates are unofficial. They are procured by and issued to crew members of the ship being commissioned rather than by the Navy. Some ships' crews design their own, while others purchase them from commercial sources. Perhaps the best-known of plank-owner and other unofficial certificates is the United States Naval Institute. Illustrations and prices of these certificates can be obtained from the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD 21402.
Deck Planking
As part of the vessel decommissioning and disposal process, the Navy formerly removed a small portion of the deck as a traditional reminder of the time when "wooden walls and iron men" were a key part of the Navy. The last major vessel known to have been fitted with a wooden deck was USS Long Beach (CGN-9), commissioned in 1961.
The Naval Historical Center's Curator Branch received wooden deck planking removed from selected vessels, almost all from vessels built during the World War II period. For more recent ships with metal or steel decks, the Navy does not retain any deck or structural sections.
Here's my certificate and plank. All teak was removed from Wisconsin and replaced with new. The old deck was used for crew planks, and the rest was made into souvenirs, boxes, tables, etc.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1332688216.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1332688253.jpg
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