How did pirates drink water on ships?

Drinking water wasn't pumped around the ship, it would be decanted into smaller barrels which were manually carried around the ship, to the galleys for cooking and in larger barrels on the deck for the sailors to drink from. The stored water supply could be supplemented by distilling seawater.

How did they get fresh water on pirate ships?

Early on, they realized they could funnel rainwater from their sails into storage—once the rain had washed away the ocean spray. Greek sailors then discovered they could hang sheep pelts in the cool night air to absorb water vapor, then wring them out in the morning for a wool-flavored drink.

How did pirates drink water at sea?

For pirates on the open sea, it was almost impossible to transport and maintain an adequate supply of fresh drinking water onboard. Because of this, many seamen drank grog, beer or ale as opposed to water.

What did pirates drink while at sea?

Fresh water was extremely difficult to keep clean during long voyages at sea. Water was stored in barrels and quickly became stagnant and unsafe to drink. However, adding rum to the water made it safe to drink. In fact, rum played a big part in the history of the British Royal Navy.

How did sailors keep water from going stagnant?

On ships, tar or pitch waterproofing was the most common method used. 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.

Drinking Water on a Pirate Ship | Pirate Food

Why did sailors drink rum instead of water?

Sailors were given a daily tot of rum from 1655 until the ration was abolished, as recently as 1970. Originally it was given to sailors neat when the beer ran out (water was not safe to drink as it became rancid very quickly at sea and it was often taken from polluted rivers, such as the Thames).

How did the Titanic get fresh water?

Besides these tanks, the Titanic had other tanks for carrying fresh water above the double bottom. There were three pairs fresh water tanks located on the sides of the electric dynamo room. These six tanks held 792 tons of fresh water.

How did pirates not get dehydrated?

Back in the day, long-haul pirates and the sailors of the British Royal Navy didn't just use rum for recreation. To keep the crew hydrated, ships typically stored three types of liquid sustenance: water, beer, and rum.

Did pirates drink all day?

Hotbed of Pirate Action

They didn't have to answer to any commanders of the navy and the pay was much better than being in the military. They also enjoyed that they had no rules to abide by and they were allowed to drink anytime.

What did pirates used to smoke?

Pirates and their tobacco addiction

Unsurprisingly the most popular was the smoking of shredded leaves in a clay pipe, probably because of its simplicity. If no pipes were to be had they would also roll cigarillos (long, thin cigars) with scraps of papers.

Did pirates ever shower?

Bathing or washing was pretty much a no-go on a pirate ship as water could not be wasted; those who fancied a shower would have to stand outside in the rain and risk pneumonia! Visiting the bathroom, however, was a much more feasible exercise, thankfully.

How did pirates stay clean?

Pirates were very well known for their lax personal hygiene habits, and in fact the term “pirate bath” refers to a quick wash wherein you was only your private parts and armpits with water (in the case of pirates this was often seawater).

Did pirates sleep in beds?

Some of them slept on hammocks. Others slept on the floor. It was easier for them to sleep on hammocks because they swayed and rocked with the ship's movements. They also didn't have to worry about falling off beds during storms or high tides.

How did sailors go to the bathroom?

The ship's toilet was typically placed at the head of the ship near the base of the bowsprit, where splashing water served to naturally clean the toilet area.

How did pirates survive hurricanes?

The trick was to keep the ship on the move, and to keep it moving into the waves while avoiding putting too much strain on the sails and masts. The ship needed to keep up speed to move up the oncoming waves, and also to keep its rudder in the water so that it could steer.

How did old ships have enough water?

Water on board ship

Ships carried enough water when they sailed to last during a normal cruise. It was carried in wooden casks stowed in the hold. For one reason or another it sometimes became so stagnant it could not be used. In that case men were sent ashore at the first opportunity to secure a fresh supply.

What time did pirates go to bed?

Bedtime was set at eight o'clock each night and all lights and candles had to be put out at that time. If any of the crew stayed up drinking, it had to be done up above on the upper deck. All pistols and cutlasses/knives were kept clean and in good working order. No women were allowed on board.

What did pirates drink most?

According to most accounts, the principal beverage that pirates drank was rum, although ale (beer) was also served on most pirate ships. Ale was usually only available on shorter journeys or at the beginning of a long adventure because it would turn bad over time.

Why did pirates wear eye patches?

The eye patch could be used to prepare one eye to see in the dark, so when they would go below deck they could swap the eye patch from one eye to the other and see with the eye that has already adjusted to low light conditions. This would allow them to instantly see in the dark.

Where did pirates go poop?

How did Pirates relieve themselves? In most ships there would be a place at the bow ( front end ) of the ship called the head. This was a hole in the floor to squat over. Faeces would fall directly into the sea below.

Did pirates have rotten teeth?

Scurvy was a serious problem.

Pirates were often the victims of scurvy because they spent months at a time on the open seas with no access to fresh fruits and vegetables. It wasn't uncommon for pirates to have missing teeth due to poor gums.

Did pirates have poop decks?

Sailors didn't poop off the poop deck. The deck's purpose was for navigational and observation purposes and there were other locations for the sailors to use as toilets.

How long would Titanic survivors last in the water?

How Cold Was The Water? -2°C – the temperature of the sea water (around 28°F). 15-45 minutes – the typical maximum life expectancy of the Titanic victims in the water.

What was the death toll of Titanic?

The RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after sideswiping an iceberg during its maiden voyage. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster.

Were there sharks in the Titanic water?

All the available evidence says that Titanic survivors didn't suffer any attacks from sharks when the ship sank. It's doubtful that there were sharks in the area at the time, mainly due to the extremely low water temperatures.