The life expectancy of wooden ships during the Age of Discovery and the Age of Sail varied significantly depending on the circumstances and the quality of maintenance. Spanish explorers’ ships, like the Vizcaina, were destroyed within months due to various reasons, including boring clams (shipworms) such as Teredo navalis, which caused extensive damage to wooden hulls, piers, and pilngs.
During the Age of Sail, the main sources of battle damage were impacts from cannon balls and fire damage. Wooden ships were built between 800 and 1800, with high-quality wooden boats typically lasting between 30 and 50 years. Some wooden boats have been known to last over a century with excellent maintenance.
The tendency of upper decks made of wood, larger air spaces, and the weight and distribution of ballast, cargo, and ammo stored deep in the ship improves the odds that these wooden ships did not turn turtle or break as modern steel hulls may do. Any wood exposed to regular sunlight and good ventilation will last a long time without rotting. A leaky deck is the sure sign of a wooden ship’s longevity.
The Age of Sail was a period in European history from the mid-16th (or mid-15th) to the mid-19th centuries, during which the dominance of wooden ships increased. The ships were treated with special coatings designed to preserve the integrity of the wood longer and then painted. Many types of wood are naturally rot resistant, and some are better off sitting in salt than water.
In summary, the life expectancy of wooden ships during the Age of Discovery and the Age of Sail varied greatly depending on the circumstances and the quality of maintenance.
📹 How an 18th Century Sailing Warship Works
Fly through a wooden warship from the age of sail! CREDITS Jacob O’Neal – Modeling, animation, texturing, vfx, music, narrative …
📹 15 ADVANCED Ancient Ships
Before the invention of aircraft in the 20th century, the only way to travel vast distances around the world was by boat.
It was, actually, a Ship of the Line. Referring to the “fighting instructions”, which if not followed, could lead to a serious charge of derelction of duty and/or insubordination. Also the screw in the ‘long tool’ you mention was also the only way to remove a powder bag (or catridge, which is a late 19th century term) from a gunbarrel in the event of failure to fire.
18th-century sailing warship operated through a combination of wind power, human effort, and nautical engineering. These magnificent vessels were the backbone of naval warfare during the Age of Sail, and their design, construction, and operation reflected centuries of maritime tradition and innovation.