All 10 decks, explained
1. Upper deck
The upper deck is the open deck at the top. Sailors worked the ropes and sails here, out in the wind and weather.
Fun fact A deck is like a floor of a building, and a big ship of the line had about seven of them.
2. Upper gun deck
Just below the top is the upper gun deck, with the lightest cannons. Fresh air and light came in through its gun ports.
Fun fact When the gun ports were closed, the gun decks were dim and lit by lanterns.
3. Middle gun deck
The middle gun deck has another row of cannons. Sailors also ate and slept on the gun decks, between the guns.
Fun fact Tables for meals hung from the beams and were taken down when there was work to do.
4. Lower gun deck
The lower gun deck holds the heaviest cannons, close to the waterline. Its gun ports were only opened in calm water.
Fun fact Three gun decks is what makes this ship a three-decker.
5. Orlop deck
The orlop is the lowest deck, below the waterline. It held ropes, sails, stores and the surgeon's room.
Fun fact The name orlop comes from an old Dutch word meaning a deck that runs over the top.
6. Ballast
Ballast is heavy stone and iron at the very bottom of the ship. Its weight keeps the ship upright so it does not tip over.
Fun fact Without ballast, the tall masts and heavy cannons would make the ship roll over in the wind.
7. Keel
The keel is the backbone of the ship, a long, strong beam along the bottom. Every other part is built up from it.
Fun fact The keel was the first part laid down when building a ship.
8. Waterline
The waterline is where the sea meets the side of the ship. Everything below it is underwater.
Fun fact A heavily loaded ship sits lower in the water, so its waterline rises.
9. Chain pump
Some sea water always leaked in. Sailors turned the cranks of a chain pump to lift the water out of the bottom of the ship.
Fun fact The pump has a loop of chain with round discs. Turning the crank pulls the discs up a pipe, and they carry water with them.
10. Port and starboard
Find the names of the sides of the ship, seen from above: bow, stern, port and starboard.
Fun fact Port and starboard are always the same sides of the ship, whichever way you are facing.
