Charlie,
Back in my performing days I found that a recitation was as good as a song. I particularly remember doing "The Nantucket Skipper" by James T. Fields.
Some of these posts would go over well. Generally it takes a Bass Voice.
I used to say, that sailor's voices had been ruined by rotgut whiskey and rotten tobacco, and that I had spared no expense to achieve that result.
Following Seas,
George