How did they keep water out of wooden ships?
Wooden boats were made water-resistant by putting tar in the hull of the boat. The pitch or tar sealed the wooden boards of the ship together, keeping water out and allowing the boat to float. Sailors also utilized oil on their sails in another form of waterproofing.
How did old wooden ships not rot?
Rot is caused by certain fungi. Those fungi cannot survive in wood that is completely saturated with water or in wood that is too dry. So the parts of a ship that are always under water won’t rot and the parts that are kept very dry also won’t rot.
Why did we stop using wooden ships?
Seaworthiness and low cost were the main criteria, not combat ability. Wooden hulls continued to be used for frigates, corvettes and sloops into the 1880s; in fact, at one point the Admiralty laid down a rule that no ship under 3,000 tons would be made from iron.
What did the Vikings use to seal their boats?
Caulking (or luting) is used to stop water from getting into the boats. No wooden boat can claim to be entirely watertight, but the Vikings did their best. The caulking was made from animal hair (such as sheep’s wool) that had been dipped in a sticky pitch made from pine resin.
How did sailors drink water?
Greek voyagers often accumulated fresh water by hanging sheep pelts off the sides of ships to collect water vapor while sailing at night, then wringing them out into containers in the morning—a natural distillation process.
What did sailors eat on ships in the 17th century?
Sailors in the 17th century had it rough. For months, they were away at sea, sustaining themselves on an unsteady diet that included brined beef, dirty water, and tough crackers known as ship biscuit. In the days before pasteurization, seasickness likely came more often from the food than the waves.
What did ancient ships use for sails?
Earlier vessels used square sails that were best suited for sailing down wind. Fore and aft sails were devised later. Egyptians take the credit for developing advanced sailing cargo ships. These were made by lashing together and sewing small pieces of wood.
How big were the ships in the age of exploration?
For more details see our historical page . Carracks for exploration like the Santa Maria or de Gama’s San Gabriel were small, about 90 tons; but merchant ships would average 250-500 tons with a crew of 40-80 and some war ships went up to 1000 tons. The average speed was about 80 miles/day and the trip to India took 6 to 8 months each way.
What caused seasickness in the 17th-century?
In the days before pasteurization, seasickness likely came more often from the food than the waves. A handful of cookbooks and ship journals detail the odious smells and tastes of 17th-century ship fare. But we can only imagine the decomposing food and its effect on the health of sailors.