# Could You Survive "Keelhauling"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209 "2008-03-05T17:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/41 "2008-03-07T00:19:32Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Actually it wouldn’t be a bad one for Mythbusters. You could see how it works while still doing it quite safely: you just do it with breathing gear on, but don’t use it unless you have to. Plus just _hold on to_ a loop in the rope rather than be tied to it, so you can let go any time. Plus do it on a ship without barnacles (and/or while wearing a protective suit) so that the laceration aspect isn’t a problem. [/QUOTE] So… change _everything_? Wouldn’t that then be a test of whether _something else - other than keel hauling_ can be done? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/42 "2008-03-07T00:36:40Z")
I knew someone would say that :). But if the primary thing is just to see whether you can hold your breath long enough to be hauled under a ship on a rope, then it would still be a fair test. The only difference would be that you have an escape route if the answer is “no”. Another alternative would be to do a test under completely realistic conditions, but using Buster rather than a person, and then just time it and see if it is shorter than someone can hold their breath. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/43 "2008-03-07T00:44:26Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] I knew someone would say that :). But if the primary thing is just to see whether you can hold your breath long enough to be hauled under a ship on a rope, then it would still be a fair test. [/QUOTE] You could dispense with the ship, the rope and the water too - just use a stopwatch. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/44 "2008-03-07T00:48:04Z")
How then would you know how long it takes to get hauled under a ship? Plus my idea makes better TV. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/45 "2008-03-07T01:42:03Z")
I’d haul a pig carcass under the ship (barnacles and all). ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/46 "2008-03-07T01:58:43Z")
Pig carcasses don’t have barnacles. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/47 "2008-03-07T02:15:44Z")
Your method does however have the advantage producing as a by product salty port with the rind already scored. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/48 "2008-03-07T02:59:08Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Another alternative would be to do a test under completely realistic conditions, but using Buster rather than a person, and then just time it and see if it is shorter than someone can hold their breath. [/QUOTE] That wouldn’t be accurate at all, as it would eliminate whatever effect fear, adrenaline, cold (from the water, naturally), etc., would have upon the keel-haulee’s ability to hold his breath. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2008, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209/49 "2008-03-07T05:41:14Z")
True enough. You volunteering? I mean, there are limits that ethics impose upon the ability to test stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-survive-keelhauling/440209.md?page=2)