Pirate ship and crew

Mar 17, 2012 02:10

Hey all, I'm researching about pirates, and I'd appreciate any help I can get. Pirate cliches from movies and books aren't much to go with ( Read more... )

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predak123 March 18 2012, 21:24:46 UTC
Yarr! What ye be sayin', ye scallawag? This eyepatch be useful below decks and besides, it be a powerful fashion statement to strike fear inter the hearts o' lesser men! Arrrr!

(Sorry, couldn't resist. ;D)

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zokoke March 17 2012, 10:17:39 UTC
First, if you have access to it, try finding academic journals. A quick google search on nautical history journals yields a few journals. However, you need access to a database to actually read them. If you are in college, or have access to a college library's data base, go there. They should be online and in print at the library itself ( ... )

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emrlddragon March 17 2012, 11:04:08 UTC
The life history of black beard is pretty well documented, as far as pirates go, try looking him up.

1) pirates stole ships, so it kind of depends on how big a ship they could steal
2) interestingly, in non-combat situations, pirate ships were very democratic
3) usually drink and whore them away
4) no idea

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drkstormyknight March 17 2012, 11:22:03 UTC
I read somewhere that the rank of captain was only something that was fixed in battle, and that at any other point it was possible to either disobey the captain or get a new one.

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darth_gojira March 17 2012, 14:49:41 UTC
1) I would say something small and fast at first, but as pirate squadrons grew, they would add top of the line battleships.

2) Depends on the culture and time period-traditional roles include boatswain/quartermaster, helmsman, lookouts, cannoneers, cooks, coopers, carpenters, and so forth. Roles were assigned based on prior employment and individual talent, assessed by senior members of the crew.

3. Spend it. Spend it on weapons, food, repairs,tools, prostitutes, and luxuries (parrots and fancy hats were luxury goods either bought with loot or stolen). Pirates never save money.

4. Most of the time it was to cover eye injuries, but could have had a beneficial effect as they would adapt the covered eye to total darkness and allow for excellent night vision. This is based more on medicine than on history, however.

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darth_gojira March 18 2012, 14:42:34 UTC
3. They did spend it, but some (Usually captains) saved to retirement. At least one made it and lived for years in retirement before dying peacefully.

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