Old Sea Dog Tales from the past . . . Mackay style

I thought it might be interesting to build an archive of Mackay Marine stories to honor the old seadogs that once operated these fine American made instruments on the high seas. Please send me your own Mackay experience. What follows are excepts from emails I've received since setting sail with the Mackay website . . . enjoy !

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. . . Yeah, there are lots of us old sea-dogs still kicking around.  And I'll bet my last dollar that each and every one can tell many a tale of life on the high seas!  I'd bet my next to last dollar that we all have a great fondness for Mackay gear.

I was lucky enough to be one of the last RO's sailing an all CW ship.  We had SSB but never used it and did not have Inmarsat, FLEETSATCOM or even SITOR.  It was aboard the SS Tampa Bay (formerly the Stella Lykes) and we tramped around the Carribean and down the west coast of South America.  And, ran CW the whole time.  It was just like being in the 1930s! 

We had stow-aways, were caught up in the strikes and riots during the Peruvian presidential election of 1988 and on and on.  What a great trip!

73,
-Doug, W7KF

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Your QTH reminds me of my old ship "WILLIAMSBURGH" - I sailed on her in 1980
and 1981.

73

David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA
Radio Officer