Archaeologists Think They Have Found the Wreck of The Santa Maria

[Anomalocaris]

Maybe if you didn't need to use the toilets aboard.

What could be more convenient than hanging your butt over the side?

You actually hang your butt over the bow of the ship, that's why a toilet on the ship is called the "head".

There would be no floor between your feet and the sea, only a grating, so ice cold North Atlantic bow waves can sluice up through the grating to wash your butt clean.

The conditions at the toilet is intentionally made harsher so sailors would not be tempted to malinger near the seat of ease in the name of relieving themselves, instead of doing their duty by falling to their deaths from the rat lines on the yard arms way up in the ship's rigging.

BTW, the normally expected rate of attrition amongst Royal Navy sailors in times of peace, due to such causes as falling off rigging, getting run over by recoiling guns, scurvy, the cat'o'nine tails, etc, is one for every 5 degrees of latitude.

If HMS Victory puts to sea at portsmouth (~50 degree north latitude), she could be expected to have lost 4 sailors by the time she reaches trafalgar (~30 degrees north latitude).

When she was in service, HMS Victory can be expected to lose more men to accidents in a month than a typical US carrier might lose during her entire 45 year service life.

[Cato]

Even Nelson's Victory, one of the largest ships in the world 300 years after Columbus, and home to a crew of 800, was still unbelieveably small to modern maritime sensibilities.

The victory was only as long as a typical modern big containership is wide.

Put in another perspective, the flight deck of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is large enough to accommodate at least a dozen ships-of-the-line like HMS Victory, perhaps more.

Yet another comparison....

The 60s vintage Sturgeon class submarine I served on was about 70' longer and displaced 400 more tons than HMS Victory.

[Jackalope]

What could be more convenient than hanging your butt over the side?

You actually hang your butt over the bow of the ship, that's why a toilet on the ship is called the "head".

One would think it more appropriate to hang your butt off the poop deck. (Yes, I know that the nomenclature of the stern/aft/poop deck has not a thing to do with relieving oneself.)

[Anomalocaris]

You actually hang your butt over the bow of the ship, that's why a toilet on the ship is called the "head".

One would think it more appropriate to hang your butt off the poop deck. (Yes, I know that the nomenclature of the stern/aft/poop deck has not a thing to do with relieving oneself.)

The Victory doesn't have a poop deck. It was mostly a 1600s feature that went out of style in the mid 1700s.

[correction]. Victory did have a poop deck. She didn't have a royal poop deck. It was royal poop deck that went out of style in 1750s. Brain fart.

[Cato]

There would be no floor between your feet and the sea, only a grating, so ice cold North Atlantic bow waves can sluice up through the grating to wash your butt clean.

I can't imagine. Installing shore power in the winter in Stavanger was bad, can't fathom taking a shit in the elements under those conditions.

Although, the aftermath of an idiot opening the shitter drain ball valve while the sanitation tank is still under pressure is something to behold.

[Jackalope]

Although, the aftermath of an idiot opening the shitter drain ball valve while the sanitation tank is still under pressure is something to behold.

I bet no one ever makes that mistake twice.

[rexbeccarox]

I love this thread! I'm learning so much!

[Minimalist]

f HMS Victory puts to sea at portsmouth (~50 degree north latitude), she could be expected to have lost 4 sailors by the time she reaches trafalgar (~30 degrees north latitude).

Wooden ships and iron men.

[Jackalope]

One would think it more appropriate to hang your butt off the poop deck. (Yes, I know that the nomenclature of the stern/aft/poop deck has not a thing to do with relieving oneself.)

The Victory doesn't have a poop deck. It was mostly a 1600s feature that went out of style in the mid 1700s.

[correction]. Victory did have a poop deck. She didn't have a royal poop deck. It was royal poop deck that went out of style in 1750s. Brain fart.

So, in fact, that would be the prime location to take a poop.

[The Valkyrie]

"Archaeologists Think They Have Found the Wreck of The Santa Maria "


Meanwhile, in other news, police are still looking for the wreck of Santa. Mrs. Clause has been taken in for questioning.


Sorry - couldn't resist when the idiot in my mind starts knocking.