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The Privateer ‘Virginian’ capturing the 'Petit Madelon’, by Montague Dawson (1890-1973)

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Rigging and cross section of a whaler - in Moby Dick by Herman Melville

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The Old Superb, by Montague Dawson (1890-1973)

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The action between H.M.S. Java and the U.S. frigate Constitution off Brazil, 29 December 1812, by John Steven Dews (1949- )

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A most notorious Pyrate - Black Bart Bartholomew Roberts (detail), Patrick O’Brien (1960-)

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In the Canoe, by John Henry Witt (1840-1901)

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Copper Bottoms

One of the greatest enemies of saltwater sailors was the teredo worm. Commonly called the shipworm, the teredo worm aye submerged wood, and could turn the hull of an oceangoing ship into a leaky sponge in less that a year.

The solution- covering the underwater hull with thin sheets of copper it was first proposed in 1708, but the first copper plated ship would not emerge until 1762. It was HMS Alarm which got the first copper bottom, she was chosen because she was in such poor condition due to teredo worm having taken a significant toll on her hull.

Recoppering the CONSTITUTION by Aiden Lassell Ripley, ca. 1965.

That trial showed copper not only poisoned the teredo, but it prevented hull marine growth, too. Coppered ships were not only proof against shipworm, they sailed faster. But other experiments in the 1760's revealed that copper, when it came in contact with iron fittings in the hull, destroyed the iron through galvanic corrosion. This problem was solved in 1783 when orders went out that copper and zinc bolts should replace iron bolts.

In early 1779 the Royal Navy ordered all ships larger than 32 guns to be coppered when they entered the dock yard.

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Manning and cheering ship

In the 17th and 18th centuries it was customary when sailing as a warship in a foreign port to perform this action. This was a formal salute to the port.

Manning of the yards (x)

The ship's crew appeared on deck and on the yards to show that the guns were not manned and that no evil intentions were being pursued. Those on top held on to the rigging with both hands to show that no small arms were being carried.

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Pride of Baltimore II, July 2021

Video courtesy of Chief Mate Jeff Crosby

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A swivelling gold watch fob compass, england, 19th century

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HMS Surprise

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Bone shipmodel made by a Prisoner of War, made of animal bones (human bones may also have been used) and human hair, early 19th century

This somewhat quirky looking model is one of the not-so-perfect bone ships you usually see. These were sold for less money and were a popular toy for children. Only a few of these models have survived to this day, but they show how many sailors (mostly the pressed men) were aware of their ships and the proportions, as they often did not know what it looked like below the waterline.