How Did Sailors Keep Water From Going Stagnant?

Keeping Water From Going Stagnant on Sailboats

Water has been an essential element for sailors since the beginning of sailing exploration and is a key factor in keeping a crew healthy and hydrated while out at sea.

This article will discuss how sailors have managed to keep water from going stagnant over the centuries, from using barrels laced with alcohol to modern technology used today to purify and store water on board boats.

Water Quality on Early European Ships

In the late 15th century, when Europeans first began their voyages across the oceans, their ships were equipped with casks and barrels filled with fresh water for their journeys, often lasting months or even years in some cases.

However, due to limited storage capacity and lack of proper sanitation methods, these waters had a tendency to become contaminated, leading to various illnesses among the crew members caused by consuming bad water quality such as dysentery or cholera.

As such, sailors had to find ways to provide clean drinking water for their shipmates during long voyages at sea in order for them to stay healthy and keep morale up within the crew.

Replenishing Fresh Water at Land

Whenever a ship reached land, replenishing its fresh water was usually the most important task that needed to be done in order to survive another long journey out at sea without running out of clean drinking water supplies or having them become contaminated by bacteria or other microorganisms due to lack of sanitation methods on board ships during those times.

This would usually involve collecting rainwater or finding freshwater sources located nearby which could then be transported back onboard the ship in casks and barrels using man-powered pumps or buckets if necessary.

1700s Invention of Distillation Plants

By the 1700s, inventors had created distillation plants that used a heat source such as burning wood or coal around a closed chamber filled with seawater which would then be boiled until it vaporized into steam and collected into a condenser where it would cool down back into liquid form before being stored in barrels for use as drinking water onboard ships later on during their journeys at sea.

This method allowed sailors to produce more clean drinking water than before which could last longer before it went bad due to improper storage conditions aboard ships during those times.

How Distillation Plants Worked

The process involved collecting seawater into a sealed chamber where it was then heated up with a heat source until it turned into steam which was then collected in another chamber where it cooled down back into liquid form before being stored in barrels for use later on during long journeys at sea without having them become contaminated by bacteria or other microorganisms due to lack of sanitation methods onboard ships during those times.

The distilled water produced by this method was much cleaner than regular seawater since all its impurities were left behind during distillation process making it much safer for consumption by sailors who were tired from long hours spent working onboard ships out at sea with no access to clean drinking water sources nearby.

Sailors’ Use of Charcoal To Filter Water

In addition to using distillation plants, sailors also used charcoal filters which they would place inside barrels containing drinking water they had collected while ashore which allowed them to filter out bacteria and other impurities before storing them away onboard ships for later use during long voyages out at sea without having them turn bad due its limited storage capacity aboard ships during those times.

This method allowed sailors not only have access clean drinking supplies but also made sure that they could still store enough quantities aboard their vessels prior leaving land so they wouldn’t run out while travelling across oceans without any access freshwater sources nearby.

Benefits Of Barrels Laced With Alcohol

Another way that sailors kept their drinking water from going bad was through storing them inside wooden barrels laced with alcohol such as rum which acted as an antiseptic agent that prevented microbial growth inside these containers thus extending its shelf life while aboard vessels travelling across oceans without access freshwater sources nearby.

This method allowed sailors not only have access clean drinking supplies but also made sure that they could still store enough quantities aboard their vessels prior leaving land so they wouldn’t run out while travelling across oceans without any access freshwater sources nearby.

The Invention Of The Copper Still In 1770

In 1770, an invention known as “the copper still” revolutionized how sailors kept their drinking water from going bad while aboard ships travelling across oceans without access freshwater sources nearby.

This device allowed seawater to be distilled using heat generated by burning wood or coal around an enclosed chamber filled with seawater which would then be boiled until it vaporized into steam and collected into a condenser where it cooled down back into liquid form before being stored in barrels for use as drinking water onboard ships later on during their journeys at sea.

This method produced higher quality distilled waters than regular seawater since all its impurities were left behind during the distillation process making it much safer for consumption by sailors who were tired from long hours spent working onboard ships out at sea with no access freshwater sources nearby.

The Impact Of Refrigeration On Water Quality

With the invention of refrigeration systems came better ways of storing drinking waters aboard ship vessels travelling across oceans without any access freshwater sources nearby. Refrigeration systems allowed colder temperatures inside storage containers where freshwaters could be kept safe from bacteria growth thus extending its shelf life while providing better quality drinks compared regular seawater due its containing lower amounts contaminants caused by microbial growth inside these containers over time making them much safer for consumption by sailors who were tired from long hours spent working onboard ships out at sea with no access freshwater sources nearby.

Modern Technology Used To Purify And Store Water Today

Modern technology has come up with various ways purifying and storing waters aboard ship vessels travelling across oceans without any access freshwater sources nearby such as reverse osmosis filtration systems, ultraviolet light treatment systems, desalination plants etc.

These technologies allow waters collected from various source like rainfall or rivers located near shorelines be filtered through these systems removing harmful bacteria contaminants thus making them safe for consumption by crew members who are tired from long hours spent working onboard vessels out at sea with no access freshwater sources nearby.

In addition modern boats are equipped with tanks specially designed storing these purified waters securely preventing any bacteria growth over time thus providing better quality drinks compared regular seawater due its containing lower amounts contaminants caused microbial growth inside these tanks over time making them much safer crew members who are tired from long hours spent working onboard vessels out at sea with no access freshwater sources nearby.

Conclusion

Sailors have used many different methods throughout history when it comes keeping their valuable supply freshwaters safe from contamination caused by microbial growth over time while travelling across oceans without any access freshwater sources nearby.

From using alcohol laced barrels storing rainwaters collected ashore distillation plants producing higher qualities distilled waters compared regular seawaters thanks filtering processes involved removing harmful bacteria contaminants through charcoal filters reverse osmosis filtration systems modern technology has come up providing safe purified drinkable waters crew members who are tired from long hours spent working out seas no easy access freshwater supplies available near shorelines thus allowing sailboats remain well-hydrated throughout entire duration voyage thereby increasing morale within crews helping achieve successful exploration missions despite facing difficult conditions seaside environments offering limited resources needed survive lengthy voyages far away lands earlier centuries sailing exploration first began