Dockyards kept timber damp in ponds, while a sailing ship tried to keep its bilges dry. Long spars and rough lumber therefore remained accessible on the upper deck, where their condition could be checked and seawater used to keep the wood workable. The carpenter inspected stocks every day and shaped unfinished planks only when a repair required them. Larger ships carried dedicated carpenter's crews, while smaller vessels assigned sailors to help, making upkeep part of the ship's ordinary labor system.
Notable Point · 20:05-22:44
Wood stocks and everyday repair work aboard sailing ships
Sailing ships kept rough timber and long spars accessible on the upper deck, where carpenters could inspect, preserve, and shape them for running repairs.