Thank you very much for inviting me to read, and offer some suggestions for your essay, “"Doc's Scuttlebutt Cap" 
Overall, I enjoyed reading about your time as a Sea Scout, it sounds like it was a very worthwhile experience. The essay held my interest and propelled me into the fun antics that sometimes occurred.
Structurally, the essay was well put together, easy to understand, and made its points well.
There are a few mechanical issues I saw;
The sentence structure for the most part is quite long, which slows the reader down. This affects the pace, and readability. I think more periods and fewer commas might help.
I.E. “In the halcyon days of my youth, I was in the Sea Explorers - BSA, often called Sea Scouts, (so, yes, we had sea scouts in the caveman days!) Back in the mid-1960’s the Commander of a 65-foot former aircraft rescue boat, the SES Tuolumne, out of Modesto, California, was Doc Van-Valen, a local Podiatrist.”
Perhaps;
In the halcyon days of my youth, I was in the Sea Explorers. An offshoot of the Boy Scouts of America, often called Sea Scouts. So, yes, we had sea scouts in the caveman days!
In the mid-sixties we sailed on a 65-foot former aircraft rescue boat, The SES Tuolume, porting out of Modesto, California. The vessel was commanded by Doc Van-Valen, a local Podiatrist.
I spelled out the BSA acronym, some overseas readers won't know what you meant.
Shortening your sentences will increase the reader's pace, making it a more enjoyable read.
“One spring, for an (up-coming) Scout-o-Rama”
“up-coming” is usually one word — upcoming
Be on the lookout for unneeded filler words;
“(As) A filled scuttlebutt is quite heavy, the ship's crew and a crew on the dock would work together to hoist one safely aboard.”
One word, in particular, is then, it started sentences five times, reread those sentences. Does then have to be there? Will the sentence work without it?
"Then the crew lowers the barrel, trying not to lose points through spilling any water, tilts the tripod over to the ground, removes the lashings, disassembles the block and tackle and rushes back into formation, then "Time" is called. Many crews can complete this task in two minutes or less; seemingly with sheer, controlled, silent chaos!"
(Then) the crew lowers the barrel. Trying not to lose points (through) by spilling any water. Tilting the tripod back over the ground, removing the lashings. Finally disassembles the block and tackle before rushing back into formation. At that point, "Time" is called, many crews can complete this task in two minutes or less; seemingly with sheer, controlled, and silent chaos!
“The crew would all look up and down the line, (then) one by one, we would turn and point”
(Then) They'd usually rush off to find a friend to "set up" as the next hour's "volunteer!" (Aren't we an odd species?)
And, one of your scuttlebutts transformed into;
"With or without Doc’s Skuttlebutt Cap prank, it is an exciting event, as well as a look back into the days of sail and the tall ships.
'
Keep in mind these are all examples, and these are all my opinions, they important thing to remember;
I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into your time as a Sea Scout and appreciated the humor of Cap’s Cap Prank.
You are the final arbiter of your writing style, take from this review only what works for you, and let the rest wash away in the scupper.
Write (and Sail) On!!
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| (3.5)
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