Don't Worry Mr. Potato Head...

OK...I'm ashamed...maybe kinda' ashamed...but not enough to NOT want my own "spud gun", "tater cannon", "produce propeller"...or one of the many other names for these devices. Let me back up...

During the "Mexican Train World Championships" I mentioned a few posts ago, Brennan Briggs  (Lonnie & Jennifer's 16 year old son) casually mentioned shooting small oranges over 200 yards out of their "cannon" in anchorages all over Mexico and Central America. He also mentioned that OTHER cruisers also have similar devices. Being a "normal" guy (I'm looking for wide-spread validation here), this really caught my attention! Brennan went on to explain how they built their "cannon" out of PVC pipe and fittings, and that he would be MORE than happy to show me their "cannon" the next day.

I'm out on Prime Time's aft cockpit and Brennan shows up holding a 4' length of black 2" PVC pipe with a larger chamber on one end. He's also carrying a bag of oranges and a can of engine starter fluid. Anneke comes out of the salon, and our neighbor James Voss is sufficiently curious to come over to investigate.

In less than one minute, Brennan unscrews a 4" PVC clean out cover on the end of the cannon...crams a small orange into the breech...squirts a nano-second spray of fluid in there...screws the cover back on...and ask "are you guys ready"? He points the cannon out across the water...spins a small lantern igniter drilled into the chamber...and BOOM! This orange goes flying well over 100 yards across the water. We all took turns firing the Briggs' cannon. I couldn't believe how loud and how far...

I went to the Internet to research these devices and found hundreds of sites dedicated to "potato cannons". Are these guns dangerous...potentially.  Does one need to exercise good common sense when firing them...absolutely. Will this be a BLAST (pun intended) on the 4th of July...birthdays/anniversaries...beach parties...and other festive events...you bet!

Take a deep breath and relax Mr. Potato Head...you don't have anything to worry about. We only shoot oranges on Prime Time!

UPDATE...I received some "action photos" from Jennifer Briggs on Tyee. Here's a couple of photos of Lonnie & Brennan fighting off some blood-thirsty pirates in the Sea of Cortez with their cannon.

Then again...Maybe this is just a Father and Son out having another fun day in paradise!