Boatnerd Discussion Forum

The Royal Navy still was building ships that didn't have beds for all crewmembers into the 60s, had still had ships using hammocks into the mid 1980s. I believe HMS Fife (Launched in 1964 and retired in 1987) was the last one.

The only time I saw a hammock on a laker was for leisure. It was easy to find two places on the bulkheads, or two fixtures on deck or something to hang it. As for ocean freighters, I believe some early steel boats like the "Hog Islanders" and thereabouts (WW I) had hammocks in regular use.
If it's any help, the U. S. Navy used hammocks pretty much all around until the outbreak of WW II. For example, my Dad was issued a hammock in recruit training in December 1941. By the time he got to the cruiser USS New Orleans in mid 1942, it wasn't needed. Warships were being modernized and retrofitted extensively around that time, and one of the upgrades included the installation of folding bunks in the crew's quarters on ships where feasible or practical. I had read somewhere this came about by some directive from the Navy Dept or Bureau of something or other, as a result of prevailing spinal, muscle and even digestion issues among sailors at the time. Ironically, most of the unused hammocks stored on board would later come in handy during damage control after the ship was torpedoed, its bow blown off, in November, 1942. I still have my Dad's hammock, used only during boot camp, like new.

Never seen hammocks. But they have several bench swings. Nice to just sit out there and watch the senery go by!

I knew an wheelsman/watchman when I sailed on the August Ziesing in 1973, Baschin I believe his name was, who made nylon mesh hammocks as an arts and crafts hobby. He would give them away as presents to family and friends and sell a few to his shipmates. On more than a few hot summer days and nights, he and a couple of crew members would string up those hammocks from the overhang of the captains deck and swing the evening and night away in cool, relaxing comfort.

I knew an wheelsman/watchman when I sailed on the August Ziesing in 1973, Baschin I believe his name was, who made nylon mesh hammocks as an arts and crafts hobby. He would give them away as presents to family and friends and sell a few to his shipmates. On more than a few hot summer days and nights, he and a couple of crew members would string up those hammocks from the overhang of the captains deck and swing the evening and night away in cool, relaxing comfort.

I sailed the early 50's their were no hammocks I saw. Hugh Gg

Does anyone know if hammocks were used on any freighters in the early years?