Old wooden sailing ships have been used for centuries to explore the vast oceans and transport goods from one place to another. However, one of the main concerns that sailors had to deal with was the amount of water that seeped below deck. This was a problem that affected both the crew and the cargo on board. In this article, we will discuss the amount of water that goes below deck on old wooden sailing ships and how it was dealt with.
Firstly, it is important to note that the amount of water that goes below deck on old wooden sailing ships can vary depending on the weather conditions and the condition of the ship. During calm weather, there may be little to no water below deck, but during storms, large waves can cause substantial amounts of water to seep into the hull.
Additionally, the condition of the ship’s hull can also affect the amount of water that goes below deck. Damage to the hull, such as holes or cracks, can cause water to enter the ship, which can be dangerous for the crew and cargo.
To prevent water from entering the ship, sailors used a variety of techniques, including caulking or sealing the seams between the wooden planks of the hull. They also used pumps and buckets to remove any water that did manage to enter the ship.
Another technique that was commonly used was ballasting. This involves adding heavy materials, such as stones or sand, to the bottom of the ship’s hull to increase its weight and stability. This made it more difficult for the ship to tip over, and reduced the risk of water entering the hull.
The amount of water that goes below deck on old wooden sailing ships can vary depending on a number of factors, including weather conditions and the condition of the ship’s hull. However, sailors had a variety of techniques and tools at their disposal to prevent water from entering the hull, such as caulking, pumps, buckets, and ballasting. These techniques were essential for ensuring the safety of the crew and cargo on board, and helped make wooden sailing ships a popular and reliable mode of transportation for centuries.