Sailors Daily Routine at Sea
Middle Morning Forenoon Afternoon First Last First
Watch Watch Watch Watch Dogwatch Dogwatch Watch
12-4 am 4-8 am 8-12 noon 12-4 pm 4-6 pm 6-8 pm 8-12 pm
On call: Up at dawn; Receive Dinner 1:00 4:30 Evening Evening On Call
First
Sleep Supervise reports from quarters! quarters! Sleep
Lieutenant shipboard work, subordinates Get purser’s
report progress that ship is report about Call men to Call men to
to Captain. clean and in provisions. their battle their battle
proper order; stations for stations for
11:00 report inspection and inspection and
to Captain practice. practice.
when ready for
inspection.
On call: On Watch: Off Watch: Dinner 1:00 4:30 Attend Attend evening Off Watch:
Midshipman
Sleep Supervise Supervise evening quarters; Sleep
(Starboard stowage of cleaning of On Watch: quarters; Inspect men in
watch) hammocks lower decks. Learn naval Inspect men in division;
Report to first Learn tactics; division; help help command
lieutenant after navigation; use write in journal; command one one gun
breakfast. a quadrant to learn gun division. division.
measure the seamanship.
sun’s angle at
noon.
© 2011 USS Constitution Museum Sailors Daily Routine at Sea
Illustrations © 2010 Stephen Biesty www.asailorslifeforme.org
Off Watch: On Watch: Breakfast Dinner Supper Attend evening Off Watch:
Seaman
Sleep Scrub and dry 8:00-8:30 12:00-1:00 4:00-4:30 quarters; Sleep
(Starboard decks, ladders, practice sail or
watch) and hatches; Mess cooks On watch: Attend evening gun drill.
Stow hammock. receive day’s Trim sails; quarters, Get hammock
provisions; perform routine practice sail or down. Mess
8:30 All hands maintenance. gun drill. cooks receive
on deck for salt meat for
training. tomorrow’s
dinner.
On watch: Off Watch: Breakfast Dinner Supper Practice at On Watch:
Boy
Sleep on deck Up at 7:30 8:00-8:30 12:00-1:00 4:00-4:30 battle station: Carry messages
(Larboard unless needed Stow hammock Practice for officers.
Watch) On Watch: Off Watch: On watch: Passing powder
Carry messages Mend clothes, Attend evening for one of
for officers; sleep, play with quarters, the guns, get
Gather for friends. carry officers’ hammock
inspection. messages, down.
sweep deck.
Off Watch: On Watch: Breakfast Dinner Supper Assemble for Off Watch:
Marine
Sleep Wash deck; 8:00-8:30 12:00-1:00 4:00-4:30 inspection and Sleep
Private Stand guard. drill; Stand
Mount guard on Assemble for guard.
the quarterdeck inspection and
9:00 Parade; drill.
10-11:00 Small
arms practice.
Note: The two dog watches produce seven watches per day, ensuring that watch keepers do not serve the same watches every day.
© 2011 USS Constitution Museum Sailors Daily Routine at Sea
Illustrations © 2010 Stephen Biesty www.asailorslifeforme.org
