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Sea Scout Customs & Courtesies

Sea Scouting brings to its members a wealth of customs and courtesies based on the lore of the sea.  Much like the international code flags on a ship, these customs and courtesies are very colorful, but as you consider them more closely, you find they are much more than just decorative.  They carry a message of appreciation and respect for the great and wonderful achievements of the seafarers and adventurers of the past.

Customs and courtesies also furnish the background for Sea Scouting ceremonies and formalities.  Their purpose is not only to add atmosphere, but to point out the value of  respect among shipmates for the rights of others, for their own duties, and for the value of teamwork.  Respect developed in this way helps a Sea Scouts bridge the gap between authority and responsibility.  Summed up, this is the Sea Scouts' respect for authority and , in turn, The Sea Scout leader's respect for his or her responsibility to the members.

These traditions of the sea cannot be effective unless the members and the ship's petty officers get into the spirit as they conduct  these ceremonies.  Some ships establish a landship with enough equipment to create the proper atmosphere.

One word of caution might be helpful.  In building tradition and an atmosphere with customs and courtesies, do not overdo them.  A little ceremony goes  a long way; too much can become boring to those who tale part, and ridiculous to those who watch.

To create the most satisfactory atmosphere, try to have a happy ship.  Except in ceremonies, the ship members salute their adult officers only the first time they meet during meetings.  All  ceremonies are executed with snap and order, for its better to not have  a ceremony at all  than to have one carried out in a sloppy manner.

No one barges aboard a Sea Scout ship.  Permission is always requested from the duty officer by anyone--visitor or member--to board.  Keep in mind that it is the custom of the sea for visitors and adult officers come over the starboard gangway, While the Sea Scouts use the port gangway.  If both gangways are on the same side, adult leaders and visitors use the after gangway, while the Sea Scouts use the forward gangway.

The Sea Scout Salute And Handclasp

Sea Scouts use the traditional military salute with all fingers extended.  The salute should be executed smartly from the position of attention.

The handclasp is also the adult handshake used daily by people as they greet each other.  It is given with the right hand in a firm manner that indicates sincerity.

The Double Salute

On all formal and official occasions, whenever Sea Scouts come aboard a Sea Scout ship, they perform two salutes.  As they do this, they continue to carry out a custom of the sea that began centuries ago.

In the early days of Christianity, it was the custom to place on the mainmast of large vessels a statue of the Blessed Virgin, the patron saint of the ship, or perhaps a crucifix.  Every seamen, upon coming aboard the ship, took off his hat or made the sign of the cross as a form of salute in the direction of the mainmast.

National flags became prominent in the 14th and 15th centuries.  Ships of maritime nations soon began to fly their national ensign and requested that it be recognized also by seamen.  So the double salute became a universal rule as each seamen, coming aboard, saluted both the mainmast and his national ensign.  On all formal and official occasions, therefore, Sea Scouts, immediately upon stepping aboard, salute first the center of the ship which is the  traditional salute to god.  Then they turn toward the flagstaff at the stern of the ship and perform the traditional salute to the ensign of our nation.  Note that this is the reverse of the Navy tradition of saluting the ensign first and then the officer of the deck.

Upon going ashore or leaving the land ship, each person gives the double salute in reverse, first to the national ensign and then to the mainmast.

Piping The Side

This is the survival of an old custom handed down from European navies.  Centuries ago, when ships were under the command of dandies of the court rather than practical seamen, these worthies considered themselves too good to walk on board the ship or climb the gang way steps.  Indeed, their elaborate attire would scarcely allow such exercise.  Accordingly, a boatswain and a detail were assigned to hoist them on board in a chair.  the motions of the chair as it carefully lifted them and deposited them "all standing" on the quarterdeck were controlled by the boatswain's pipe with the calls "hoist away", "lower away", and "secure".

In the side boys of today's boarding ceremony with the boatswain and his pipe, we can see what is left of the custom.  The following rules should be observed in appointing side boys.

  • Two side boys--ship's officers, visiting ships' officers, ship committee member
  • Four side boys--District and council officers
  • Six side boys--officers related to the area or regional office
  • Eight side boys--officers related to the National Council

Ship's Bells

Clocks, as we know them now, were not invented until the 14th century.  However, there were various ways of approximating time in the old days.  On board ship it was not possible to use the sundial or the water clock because these called for a solid foundation and steadiness.  So it was necessary to use the hourglass for denoting the passage of time on board ship.

Before the use of sails, the passage of time was extremely important to the poor slaves who manned the oars of the ships of Assyria and Egypt, and even in the time of the Romans and the Greeks.

In these very early days, sand passed from one half of the glass to other in approximately 1/2 an hour, and a normal turn at the oars consisted of two shifts of the glass, that is, one hour of time.  A gong was struck once at the 1/2 hour and twice at the end of the hour.

With the advent of auxiliary sails, the spell at the oars was extended over a longer time - four turns of the glass.  This period of time was indicated by striking the gong four times with an interval between the second and third strokes.

When sails entirely superseded oars, the length of time was that men were on watch (on duty) was extended to eight turns of the glass, which corresponds to the present four hour watch.  These watches were indicated by the striking of the ship's bell at 1/2 hour intervals, thus making a total of eight bells for each watch.

Other Sea Scout Courtesies

The respect of the young for the old and of the junior for the senior is expressed in many ways in Sea Scouting.  For instance, when several officers of various ranks are coming aboard a larger ship from a small boat, the senior always leads from the small boat, followed by the juniors, but when disembarking, the senior always gets into the small boat  last.

At the table it is customary for the junior to remain standing until the senior is seated or orders are given to take seats.  The junior never leaves the table after the meal until he or she has asked for and received permission from the presiding officer at the table.

But perhaps one of the most outstanding forms of courtesy found in Sea Scouting is the use of the word "sir" or "ma'am". No one ever hears a scout say "no" or "yes" to a leader.  It is always "yes sir", or "no sir", or "Aye aye sir", or "ma'am".

Sea Scouts are ladies and gentlemen, and courtesy is the outward expression of this.

Of course, this courtesy is practiced by the Skipper who is constantly thinking of the comfort and happiness of the ship's company.  He or She gives orders with this thought in mind.

Boat Etiquette

Your conduct aboard a boat, the terminology you use, the flags you fly, your knowledge of customs and courtesies, the way you hail or salute others, all identify you to the informed observer as a knowledgeable boatman or a novice.

The rules of etiquette at sea are many and important.  For example, nothing betrays unfamiliarity with prescribed practice quite so publicly as the unrestrained display of flags.  Only a few are recognized, and they should be displayed at the proper time and in the proper place.

  • At Anchor — The ensign on the stern flag staff, the ship's flag on the bow or mainmast
  • Under way — The ensign on the mainmast or bow, the ships flag on the stern mast or mainmast to the port side and just below the ensign
 
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Page last updated 03/29/06
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