Ran into a retired salvage diver at the hardware store and he said something that stuck with me

I was grabbing some new shackles and this old guy, Pete, recognized my work boots. He worked salvage back in the 80s, mostly on the Great Lakes. We got talking about gear, and he said, 'Back then, we trusted our hands and our buddy's eyes more than any gauge on a panel.' He told me about doing a hull survey in zero vis, feeling for plate thickness with a hammer and his glove, calling out numbers to his tender who wrote them on a slate. It made me think about how much we stare at screens now, even on simple jobs. I rely so hard on my sonar and thickness meter readouts. Pete's story wasn't about knocking new tools, but about keeping that feel for the work. Made me wonder if I'm losing some of that basic sense. Do you guys ever do things the old way just to keep the skill sharp?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabeth4382mo agoMost Upvoted

My last estimate was done on a napkin.

paul_thompson672mo ago

Wow @elizabeth438, that actually makes a ton of sense now.

clark.iris1mo ago

i dont know, i gotta say i see it different. yeah the napkin thing is funny but honestly it just makes me wonder how much off her numbers really are. even if she was close, guessing on a napkin isnt exactly reliable for something important. its like driving with your eyes half closed, you might make it but you also might not. i feel like people give too much credit to gut feelings when actual math matters.