The Economics of Owning a Pirate Ship

What did it really cost to own and operate a pirate ship during the Golden Age of Piracy? This video looks past the legends and follows the money. Using documented prices, wages, provisioning rates, shipbuilding records, repair accounts, court testimony, and period descriptions from the early 18th century, we build a historically grounded picture of the business behind a sailing vessel around 1720. You will see what a small ship could cost, how expensive a larger naval vessel was, what sailors, mates, and captains earned, how much food a crew consumed, and why repairs could become a huge financial burden. We also explore pirate share systems, the problem of turning captured cargo into usable value, and the hidden cost of weeks with no revenue. The result is a simple economic story about capital, labor, supplies, maintenance, uncertain income, and the surprising amount of money required just to keep a wooden ship operating. Every figure is presented with historical context so estimates are not confused with surviving historical invoices.