"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:12:55 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

Not really. When they say "flood", it isn't really flooding. They just
kept the decks wet by pumping the water up from the bilge. It probably
improved speed because the water was in the bilge anyway and when they
pumped it onto the decks, the excess ran overboard through the many
scuppers located on the decks.

By the time Constitution was built, powder was sent up from the
magazines in cloth bags. Other than that. Somebody listen to a tour
guide? They are everywhere known for lying.

Casady


I am not looking for an argument about such a meaningless subject, but you
are simply wrong (again).

If you visit the USS Constitution, you will see up close and personal the
two-man pumps and the piping that routes the pumped water from the bilge up
and onto the decks. You will also witness the design of the deck edges that
had wood that kept the water from simply running over the side, except for
scuppers placed in certain areas. It was designed so the decks would be
kept wet due to pumping.

Cloth bags or not, the concern was spillage of powder on dry decks and it's
ignition either by flame or from sparks from the cannons.

The tour guides have no reason to lie about their purpose.

Eisboch