Night Watch

At sea a ship was never left unwatched. The crew was divided into watches that took turns through the night, with a lookout scanning the dark for sails, land or breaking surf and an officer keeping the deck. On a pirate ship the night watch also guarded against surprise by naval patrols or a rising among prisoners.

A ship at sea was never left unwatched, day or night. The crew was split into two watches, larboard and starboard, that took turns on deck, usually for four hours at a time. A half-hour sandglass was turned at each half hour and the ship's bell struck, one stroke more each time, until eight bells ended the watch. Two short dog watches in the early evening shifted the schedule so that no one stood the same night watch every night.

At night a lookout stood at the bow or in the rigging, scanning the dark for sails, land or the white line of breaking surf, while an officer kept the deck and a man held the helm. On a pirate ship the night watch also guarded against a surprise attack by a naval patrol, or against a rising by prisoners held below.

Parts & Labels

Note
A turn of duty, and the group of men who stood it.
Title
Watch
Note
Half-hour glass used to keep time.
Title
Sandglass
Note
Struck each half hour.
Title
Ship's bell
Note
Man posted to watch for danger.
Title
Lookout

Historical Overview

Note
Because half the crew was always on duty, sailors rarely slept more than four hours at a time.
Title
Sleep in shifts
Note
In a storm or a chase every man was called up, whichever watch was below.
Title
All hands

Timeline

1600s–1700sTwo-watch system standardMerchant, naval and pirate ships alike.

1769Falconer defines the watches

Comparison Panel

Note
A merchant ship carried as few men as possible; a pirate ship had a large crew, so its watches were crowded and lookouts plenty.
Title
Merchant ship and pirate ship
Note
By day the lookout went aloft to see farther; at night he stood where he could hear surf and spot lights.
Title
Day and night

Interesting Facts

Note
The two-hour dog watches, 4 to 6 and 6 to 8 in the evening, made the number of watches odd so the turns rotated.
Title
Dog watches
Note
Eight strokes of the bell meant the end of a four-hour watch.
Title
Eight bells
Note
Ships sailing together used lanterns and gunshots to signal in the dark.
Title
Night signals

Sources

Note
Period definitions of ship parts, watches and the log.
Title
William Falconer, An Universal Dictionary of the Marine (London, 1769)
Note
Work and watches on merchant ships.
Title
Marcus Rediker, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Cambridge University Press, 1987)
Note
Life on pirate ships.
Title
David Cordingly, Under the Black Flag (Random House, 1995)