The ocean is an amazing place. We’ve talked before about how deep the ocean is, but never explored how some of the planet’s largest sea creatures find refuge in the depths below.
However, there are conflicting reports on the largest sea creatures. “Precise, accurate, and quantified measurements matter at both a philosophical and pragmatic level,” said Craig McClain, assistant director of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina. “Saying something is approximately ‘this big’ while holding your arms out won’t cut it, nor will inflating how large some of these animals are.”
In the past, researchers studied well-known giants like the whale shark, mola-mola, and the walrus and others. But opinions still varied on the size of the largest sea creatures. For example, some reports count the Japnese Spider Crab, a crustacean that can grow up to a terrifying 12 feet, while others do not.
A comprehensive study published in 2015 attempted to answer a pressing question. What are the greatest sizes that the largest marine megafauna obtain? In layman’s terms: what are the largest sea creatures? It turns out, that is a complicated question to answer.
The comprehensive survey used past studies and verifiable documentation to determine the accurate size of a range of marine animals. This included everything from crabs to whales. Researchers found that many alleged record sizes were significantly larger than anything that could be scientifically validated.
The study breaks down the size by specific categories, so we learn that the largest testudine is the Leatherback Sea Turtle, and that third Largest pinniped is the walrus, and the largest batoidean is the giant ocean Manta Ray.
The researchers released the overarching scientific discussion on size in the ocean. However, we laymen wanted to see some of the largest sea creatures for ourselves. The video below is NOT remotely scientific. One of the video entries is photoshopped. But, it’s still fun to watch.
Ifloats Mats offer aquatic fun for all. They feature rip-stop material, protective UV coating and closed-cell foam, as well as a flexible 17-foot bungee tether to keep it secure. An optional iSki accessory allows for towing or skiing behind the boat. New custom colors include red, white and blue!
Do you know the origins behind common nautical phrases like ‘cup of Joe’? What about ‘as the crow flies’? ‘Shake a leg’?
It may come as a surprise that these common nautical phrases have interesting roots. While we cannot verify the historical context of these terms, they sure are a lot of fun!
Groggy
Meaning unwell the term groggy denotes a hangover from the alcoholic drink grog. The word grog comes from “Old Grog,” which was the nickname sailors gave to Admiral Vernon, the commander in chief of the West Indies. Admiral Vernon was renowned for watering down his sailors’ rum ration. This watered down rum become known as grog.
Three sheets to the wind
Very drunk. In sailors’ language, a sheet is a rope. If three sheets are not attached to the sails as they ought to be, the sail will flap and the boat will lurch around in a drunken fashion. Sailors had a sliding scale of drunkenness. This common nautical phrase had s sliding scale: tipsy was “one sheet”, whereas falling over was “three sheets”.
As the crow flies
Crows like to be on dry land and will fly straight, bypassing rivers, water, and other obstacles to be ashore. Ships carried crows and in cases of poor visibility, scouts let one free and charted the bird’s flight to shore.
Additionally, the term ‘crow’s nest’ stems from an old Norse practice of attaching a cage full of crows to the mast. The crows were eventually phased out for more modern forms of navigation, but the term remained.
Chock a block
This nautical phrase came as a surprise. Chocks are wedges that secure moving objects. A block and tackle is a pulley system on sailing ships that hoist the sails. A possible derivation is that when two blocks of rigging tackle were so close together they couldn’t be tightened further, it was said they were “chock-a-block”.
Knows the ropes
In sailing’s early days, this term was written on a seaman’s discharge to indicate that he was still a novice and only knew the names and uses of the principal ropes or lines. Today, this is mostly used conversely—to indicate that someone has an understanding of processes or procedures.
Cup of Joe
Josephus Daniels was appointed as Secretary of the Navy in 1913. Almost immediately, he banned wine and spirits from ships. From then on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships was coffee, and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as “a cup of Joe”.
Shake a leg
This hotly debated phrase has multiple origin stories. However, one source claims that this phrase originates from the British Royal Navy—officers would order sleeping sailors to throw a leg out from their hammocks to wake up.
Son of a Gun
These days, this phrase is often used in polite conversation instead of a more vulgar term.
Traced this back to the British Royal Navy. Although the Navy had rules against it, they occasionally turned a blind eye to women joining sailors on long voyages. So, in the rare case where a child with uncertain paternity was born onboard, they were listed in the ship’s log as ‘son of a gun’.
Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite mate? Take a look at this offerings in Southern Boating’s 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
The Burano Wheel by Stella is a head turner that can enhance any boat’s decor. Schmitt & Ongaro Marine’s new offering is suited for cruisers, runabouts, ski and wakeboard boats, and upscale pontoons. MSRP $275; schmittongaromarine.com
Coastal Art Maps capture the be
auty of the shoreline on hand-drawn maps. Take your pick from 28 maps or send in y
our custom order. MSRP from $110; coastalartmaps.com
Designed in the shape of a sailboat, RHINSHU creates unique sounds to mimic acoustic wooden instruments. Enjoy hours of music with positive therapeutic benefits. MSRP $2,950; rinshu.net/en
Don’t get wet feet! The Giller Men’s Shoe from Tucket Footwear is named for the “gills” on the sides and outsoles, which allow water to drain instantlly. MSRP $60;tucketfootwear.com
Smathers & Branson introduces their holiday line that includes boating inspired hand-stitched and needlepoint products such as these iPhone cases. MSRP $39.50;smathersandbranson.com
Moisturize your first mate’s sun-drenched skin! Jindilli’s Hydra-Opulence body lotionis a unique formula combining macadamia oil and aloe vera. MSRP $29.99;jindilli.com
Protect your personal electronics with their own wetsuit! Gulf Marine Technologies’ FrogSuits are waterproof, brightly colored and well-padded. They float if they go overboard but include a lanyard to secure it to your boat. MSRP from $30; gulfmarinetech.com
The shade you need for fun under the sun. Pawleys by Costa feature a combo of high quality Monel metal and nylon. Pictured: Retro tortoise with blue mirror. MSRP $259; costadelmar.com
Sling it over your shoulder for hands-free carrying! The IceMule is a portable, soft-sided ice bag that’ll keep ice frozen for up to 24 hours.MSRP starts at $49.95. icemulecoolers.co
Show your love for the ocean with one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry from master inlay artist Craig Lavin. Custom orders are welcome. MSRP contact company; handcraftinlay.com
REACTOR introduces its limited edition Ionic Poseidon, replacing the monochrome look of most watches with an iridescent, color changing finish using a process borrowed from the knife industry. MSRP $1,250; reactorwatch.com
Nautical Scout‘s silicone, collapsilble cookware saves space on board. Choose kettles, pots, pans, steamers, and more! Seven-liter bucket MSRP is $31.99; nauticalscout.com
Most yachtsmen dream about cruising to an exotic destination. Turn dreams into plans withDream Cruising Destinations: 24 Classic Cruises Mapped and Explored.MSRP $25; bloomsbury.com
The Matador Droplet wet bag is the ideal compact solution for aprés-swim garments and towels! It fits on a keychain and expands large enough to hold a whole outfit or a dripping wetsuit. MSRP $14.99; matadorup.com
Explore the underwater world with your personal drone. Deeptracker’s easy to use robotic camera can take you to depths up to 450 feet. MSRP contact company. deeptrekker.com
Take your pick among this limited edition of Hand-Beaded Nautical Pillows from MMDesigns for a simple and chic decor that reflects your passion for the ocean. Available in eight different patterns. MSRP $150;mmdesignsllc.com
Spice up your onboard meals with this selection of unique aromas from faraway lands. RawSpiceBar is a subscription box that delivers freshly ground, exotic spices that aren’t available in most grocery stores. MSRP $6/month;rawspicebar.com
Expand your boat with an inflatable, terrace platform that extends your entertainment area— and fun! ProPad is a new portable platform that extends around the transom and motors and is available in several sizes. Contact seller for MSRP; propadusa.com
by Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Boating Magazine December 2015
The Zayak Sea Sled is a safe, comfortable way to immerse yourself in life underwater without hassling with a snorkel and mask. The ventilated neoprene dry mask eliminates glare and reflections for clear visibility underwater through the wide-angle panoramic window—essentially a personal glass-bottom boat. Ideal for children to float with ease on its bright yellow platform, or proficient snorkelers to use as a base from which to dive deeper, the Zayak Sea Sled allows everyone to explore the water. MSRP starts at $345; zayakseasled.com
The Zayak Sea Sled has handles and a ventilated neoprene dry mask that helps eliminates glare.
