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Frequently Asked Questions
 Welcome aboard ELISSA! This page is devoted to all those questions that people love to ask about ELISSA. It's no accident that tall ships are something of a mystery to most Americans. We are not a seafaring nation at heart; despite some great maritime tradition, America looks inward toward its landlocked middle, and always has. There are many reasons for that; suffice it to say that the average American Joe recoils at the use of such terms as "baggywrinkle" and "futtock". Non-American visitors to this page [bonjour, wilkommen, tell your friends!] may not be quite so taken aback by the sight of a ship, but ELISSA's great age and her working status, with all the bells and whistles being fully functional, inspire a barrage of questions from just about any guest. Don't worry - if seafaring is a mystery to you, that means you'll have that much more fun learning about it!
Below is a sample of answers to common questions about ELISSA. You may have these same questions on your mind, or perhaps others. I encourage you to read on, and if your questions are not found below, perhaps you can pay ELISSA a visit at the Texas Seaport Museum in Galveston, Texas, and discover the answers. But for now, imagine yourself on deck with questions on you mind, and a crewman such as myself walks by . . .
Excuse me, sir . . . How old is it? She is a mix of old and new. The great majority of her hull is the original, from 1877. Most of her framework is as well. Almost everything else was re-created with the benefit of research; old pictures, plans, documents, etc. during her restoration.
Why didn't the hull rot? ELISSA's hull was made of riveted iron. By the time she was built, large wooden-hulled ships were a thing of the past. Parts of her hull that had worn and rusted thin over the years were patched with steel before she left Greece.
Was it a pirate ship? No. ELISSA was a merchant ship that sailed all over the world. In her heyday, she was a tramp cargo ship, a kind of vessel that didn't sail on a set schedule, but simply carried whatever wares were profitable for the owner. However, she did smuggle for a time in the Mediterranean.
Where are the cannons? Since ELISSA wasn't a navy ship or a pirate ship, she didn't normally carry cannon. That's not to say that her master wasn't a cautious sort, though.
How come you call it a bark? We refer to her as a barque, [the spelling may vary] because that's what she is. Tall ships come in different sizes and shapes. The correct term for a ship of ELISSA's configuration, having the kinds of sails that she has, is barque. All the terms depend on how the ship is rigged - that is, how their sails, masts and lines are arranged.
What did she carry? Good! You called her "she". Before I answer that question, let me tell you why we speak about ships as if they were female. It has a lot to do with our culture; it's really common in much of Western civilization to name boats after women, especially in England, where most of our marine sentimentality comes from. There are some cultures that don't think that way, like the Klingons. Now, as to why we really say "she"; well, most sailors have been men. I'll leave it at that.
Now, about her cargo... ELISSA carried whatever cargo best suited her. If Henry Fowler Watt had wanted to go into the grain business, he probably would have commissioned a huge ship with a fat hull, which would have sailed like a brick. If he had been a speculator, and wanted to make a few quid selling high-priced tea to the English uppercrust, he might have decided to make a real hot-rod with several square miles of sail and a hull slicker than eel snot on an ice floe, with room enough for about three barrels of India's finest. He was a risk-minimizer, and went for the middle ground. Thus ELISSA's medium size, medium rig and all-around, average handling capability. To sum it up, she packed lumber, bananas, and just about anything of average size, value and weight. And she did it very well.
Does she sail? Yes! Unlike many museum ships, which are permanently moored, ELISSA actually sails on a regular basis. Her size and complexity make it expensive to take her out. Also, there are a lot of special preparations that have to be made in order for the U.S. Coast Guard to give her a green light for sailing. Since she's so rare and unique, it takes qualified officers to command her - another expense. Finally, the people that make her go - the crew - are made up almost entirely of volunteers, like me, and it takes a huge effort to train them to sail her safely.
Why did you start volunteering? Imagine, if you will, a kid from the middle of America, in, say, 1870. In fact, imagine one from the high plains of Texas - the flattest continuous expanse of land on the North American continent, with virtually no natural surface water. This kid has heard tall tales about the high seas. His family isn't rich, and when he comes of age, he'll have to fend for himself. He wants to go to sea. He makes it to the coast, and sees the ocean for the first time. He signs onto a tramp cargo ship, along with other kids just like him. He does just like he dreamed, and lives the life of a sailor. Well, I am that kid, only now it's the present day.
Why are you still here? I'm still here because nothing compares to sailing this ship. ELISSA looks as good as she does today partly because of volunteers like me who help maintain her, keep her seaworthy, and train a crew to sail her each year. I am still here because the commitment of the director and staff at the Texas Seaport Museum enables me to live my dream of sailing a tall ship. With their support, ELISSA is one of the few tall ships in the world that sails with a volunteer crew. You might say that I am still here to help the museum ensure that ELISSA will be here for those such as you to enjoy. Come see us!
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