# Finacing a pirate ship is no problem, but what about the crew? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 17, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105 "2014-01-17T22:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/1 "2014-01-17T22:01:18Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3144/what-would-it-cost-to-outfit-my-own-pirate-ship](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3144/what-would-it-cost-to-outfit-my-own-pirate-ship) If this was a foreign flagged vessel using an all American crew could we use ACA to cover any medical mishaps to the pirate crew or would we be subject to maritime rules and regulations? ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/2 "2014-01-18T16:28:03Z")
I should think that as they’re pirates, the standard course of action is to kidnap a doctor and a nurse. I am sure **Qadgop** and **WhyNot** together would do an excellent job at amputations and then joining with the carpenter to fit a wooden leg or a nice, shiny hook. That should save a bit of money. ---
**Author:** ![waddlingeagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@waddlingeagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddlingeagle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/3 "2014-01-19T17:00:45Z")
You could sell a crew member position as adventure tourism. Your “sailors” then become profit centers. Promise them that they will get to use machine guns and cannon and you will have a waiting list of potential candidates! Pirate ships typically kidnapped much of their crew, especially powder monkeys and musicians. All new volunteers started out as powder monkeys, a dangerous and dirty job. Those who lived more than a few years worked their way up to able seaman or other more important positions. Some pirate ships also had cabin boys. These were typically the scions of wealthy or noble families who apprenticed their sons to ships’ captains. They didn’t get paid, either, but were expected to work long hours and spend even longer hours studying. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/4 "2014-01-19T17:42:18Z")
> [@waddlingeagle](#): > > Some pirate ships also had cabin boys. These were typically the scions of wealthy or noble families who apprenticed their sons to ships’ captains. They didn’t get paid, either, but were expected to work long hours and spend even longer hours studying. Wealthy/noble families apprenticed their sons to _pirate_ ships? And pirates made their cabin boys study? Damn, run off and join the pirates to get out of school and _still_ get stuck studying. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/5 "2014-01-19T19:41:13Z")
The difference between “pirate ship” and “naval vessel” could be quite narrow in those days. It all depended on whose ships you were sinking. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/6 "2014-01-20T01:35:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Wealthy/noble families apprenticed their sons to pirate ships? Well, see, they meant to apprentice him to a _pilot_, but the nurse was a bit hard of hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/7 "2014-01-20T03:46:16Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > If this was a foreign flagged vessel using an all American crew could we use ACA to cover any medical mishaps to the pirate crew or would we be subject to maritime rules and regulations? Right before hanging them, presumably. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/8 "2014-01-20T06:40:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, see, they meant to apprentice him to a _pilot_, but the nurse was a bit hard of hearing. That joke was totally unavailable. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/9 "2014-01-20T23:38:31Z")
Americans outside of America are not within the purview of ObamACAre. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/10 "2014-01-21T00:11:36Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3144/what-would-it-cost-to-outfit-my-own-pirate-ship](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3144/what-would-it-cost-to-outfit-my-own-pirate-ship) > > If this was a foreign flagged vessel using an all American crew could we use ACA to cover any medical mishaps to the pirate crew or would we be subject to maritime rules and regulations? Are you referring to Ob **ARRRRRH** macare? Also, its an effing _ **pirate** _ ship. It is not subject to anyone’s rules or regulations! ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/11 "2014-01-22T19:06:40Z")
Debby Witt’s “Wednesday links”, posted at 10:33 AM (Eastern) on January 22, 2014 at [The Corner | National Review](http://www.nationalreview.com/corner) , has a link to this column. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/12 "2014-01-23T05:03:36Z")
Here > **[Wednesday links | National Review](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/wednesday-links-debby-witt-32/)** > > Emus vs. Humans: The Great Emu War of 1932. Infographic: The Flowchart of Medieval Penitent Sexual Decision-Making. Gallery: Goats on Cliffs. What would it cost to outfit my own pirate ship? Hilari… ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/13 "2014-01-24T00:10:39Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > The difference between “pirate ship” and “naval vessel” could be quite narrow in those days. It all depended on whose ships you were sinking. And whether or not you had a letter from the Queen, or Parliament… ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/14 "2014-01-24T00:19:54Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > And whether or not you had a letter from the Queen, or Parliament… The Mark Knopfler song “Privateer” (on being a privateer) has the wonderful line “not quite exactly in the service of the crown” Always makes me smile … ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/15 "2014-02-04T14:08:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, see, they meant to apprentice him to a _pilot_, but the nurse was a bit hard of hearing. Pour O pour the pirate sherry… and then pass me some, would you? ---
**Author:** ![Armored\_Diplomacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@Armored\_Diplomacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armored_Diplomacy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finacing-a-pirate-ship-is-no-problem-but-what-about-the-crew/679105/16 "2014-02-06T07:51:29Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Wealthy/noble families apprenticed their sons to _pirate_ ships? > > And pirates made their cabin boys study? Damn, run off and join the pirates to get out of school and _still_ get stuck studying. I think he meant that noble families apprenticed their sons to regular merchant ships or warships, where they were made to study, and that pirates kidnapped cabin boys from captured ships.