# Can U.S. Sailors whiz off the deck rail? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451 "2012-07-16T22:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/1 "2012-07-16T22:29:00Z")
No more urinals for male Sailors. [http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/11/navys-new-gender-neutral-carriers-wont-have-urinals/](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/11/navys-new-gender-neutral-carriers-wont-have-urinals/) Is it possible to whiz off a big ships deck rail? Without hitting people on the lower decks or dribbling down the hull? I suspect there’s a rule against this. 😃 But, would sailors walk all the way to the head just for a quick piss at sea? Heck, in the evening I’ve been known to whiz in the backyard. 😉 I’m out therevwatering anyhow, and just dilute my contribution with the hose. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/2 "2012-07-16T22:39:27Z")
Not legally. tsfr former FTG3 USS Virginia CGN 38 ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/3 "2012-07-16T22:43:32Z")
I’d imagine the issue isn’t a single sailor doing it, it’s the dozens of sailors who, at ay given time on a large ship, all need to pee at any given time. You don’t want the rails constantly lined with people peeing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/4 "2012-07-16T22:56:54Z")
I should have asked about portholes too. Seems perfect when you’re in your cabin and need to pee. Not sure if modern navy ships have portholes that open? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/5 "2012-07-16T22:57:58Z")
It can be pretty windy at sea. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/6 "2012-07-16T23:00:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I should have asked about portholes too. Seems perfect when you’re in your cabin and need to pee. > > Not sure if modern navy ships have portholes that open? There’s also the issue that portholes are generally well above wiener level. You would have to stand on a chair or bunk. And probably bend over backwards to avoid the ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/7 "2012-07-16T23:06:45Z")
And the water is so cold… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/8 "2012-07-16T23:09:44Z")
good point. I’d forgotten how high portholes are. As mentioned earlier, wind would be an issue. I went deep sea fishing a few years ago and several guys peed off the rail. The beer is to blame. 😉 That was a small boat and I do recall wind at times. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/9 "2012-07-16T23:10:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And the water is so cold… Yeah, and it’s deep too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/10 "2012-07-16T23:16:59Z")
Interesting info on early sailing ship’s heads. > **[Head (watercraft)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_%28watercraft%29)** > > In sailing vessels, the head is the ship's toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the vessel. > In sailing ships, the toilet was placed in the bow somewhat above the water line with vents or slots cut near the floor level allowing normal wave action to wash out the facility. Only the captain had a private toilet near his quarters, at the stern of the ship in the quarter gallery. > The plans of 18th-century naval ... > [@](#): > > The head (or heads) is a ship’s toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship. > > In sailing ships the toilet was placed in the bow for two reasons. First, since most vessels of the era could not sail directly into the wind, [1] the winds came mostly across the rear of the ship [2] placing the head essentially downwind. Secondly, if placed somewhat above the water line, vents or slots cut near the floor level would allow normal wave action to wash out the facility. Only the captain had his private toilet near his quarters at the stern of the ship in the quarter gallery. ---
**Author:** ![ScarletNumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@ScarletNumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScarletNumber)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/11 "2012-07-17T01:17:49Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > And the water is so cold… > [@Dr.Woo](#): > > Yeah, and it’s deep too. 😉 I saw these jokes coming from down the road, and I’m still laughing like a retard. ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/12 "2012-07-17T01:48:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > good point. I’d forgotten how high portholes are. > > As mentioned earlier, wind would be an issue. I went deep sea fishing a few years ago and several guys peed off the rail. The beer is to blame. 😉 That was a small boat and I do recall wind at times. What is it with you and your friends pissing outside? (Ha) ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/13 "2012-07-17T01:51:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I should have asked about portholes too. Seems perfect when you’re in your cabin and need to pee. LOL, if you’re somehow thinking the average US Navy sailor sleeps in a “cabin” with a porthole you’re a wee bit [mistaken](http://www.mbaintheusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/racks.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/14 "2012-07-17T01:56:01Z")
Save empty Gatorade bottles and send them to our sailors in need! ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/15 "2012-07-17T02:22:10Z")
> [@Dr.Woo](#): > > Yeah, and it’s deep too. 😉 Not deep enough. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/16 "2012-07-17T02:30:24Z")
I bet a whole bunch of sailors whizzed off the ship that dumped bin laden’s dead ass. Must’ve been a whole lot of flushing goin’ on too. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/17 "2012-07-17T02:54:55Z")
Isn’t that what the poop deck was for? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/18 "2012-07-17T04:12:26Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Not deep enough. Well, there was this one time in 1960… ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/19 "2012-07-17T08:29:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Interesting info on early sailing ship’s heads. > [Head (watercraft) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_%28watercraft%29) Well, and the officers. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451/20 "2012-07-17T08:54:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > It can be pretty windy at sea. Just saying. The trick is never to pee against the wind. This is also true for spitting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-u-s-sailors-whiz-off-the-deck-rail/628451.md?page=2)