How do Havana-built mahogany ships compare with Bombay-built teak ships?
Short answerBombay ships rate higher because their construction quality was consistently exceptional, whereas Havana output varied more widely.
NotesThe comparison turns less on mahogany versus teak than on institutional reliability and master craftsmanship. Bombay yards consistently produced exceptionally well-built ships, while Havana output varied with the quality and honesty of local administration. Bombay ships therefore receive the higher rating even though both timber traditions could produce good vessels. Indian shipbuilding capacity also fed British anxieties that a stronger Indian naval establishment might shift power away from the colonial army. Material choice, yard culture, and imperial politics all shaped the comparison.