Between the excitement of sighting sail and weathering dangerous storms, pirates followed the same dull routine that numbed seamen's minds. Much of their time was occupied with the care and maintenance of their ships. They patched sails using pickers (used to make small holes in canvas), seam rubbers, needles, and sailmaker's palms (provided protection for the hand). They spliced ropes with a fid. To keep the ship watertight, they hacked old oakum from seams using a jerry iron, drove new oakum into the seams with a caulking iron, and then ladled hot pitch into the seams to seal them tight. Sometimes they sought the shelter of hidden coves to careen their ships to remove the worms that bored tiny holes in the hull and to scrap off barnacles that slowed the ship.
Pirates relaxed like other seamen. They played cards or rolled dice, although most articles of agreement forbade gambling on board ships to prevent arguments that divided the crew or proved fatal to one or more participants. At sea they chewed tobacco rather than smoked because of the ever-present threat of fire, a serious fear aboard wooden ships. They carved, sang, and danced jigs. When ashore, pirates squandered their booty on drink, women, and games of chance. They smoked clay pipes. Tavern keepers served them beer and wine in black jacks, leather tankards coated with pitch, or pewter tankards.
One popular pastime amongst pirates was the mock trial. Each man played a part be it jailer, lawyer, judge, juror, or hangman. This sham court arrested, tried, convicted, and "carried out" the sentence to the amusement of all.
No matter where they sailed, pirates frequented friendly ports. One of the most infamous was Port Royal. God-fearing people thought it the most wicked of cities and believed that the earthquake that brought about its destruction in 1692 was payment for its sinfulness and debauchery. Tortuga and Madagascar also welcomed pirates.
Ashore, some pirates emulated gentleman merchants by wearing knee breeches, stockings, embroidered waistcoats, lace-trimmed shirts, long coats, and shoes with silver buckles and high heels. A few wore powdered wigs or ornate jewelry. They acquired these brightly colored garments as shares of booty taken from captured ships. Some pirates dressed like gentlemen when facing their own executions by hanging: velvet jackets, taffeta breeches, silk shirts and hose, and felt tricornes. One of the best dressed pirates was Black Bart who 'dressed in a rich crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold chain round his neck, with a diamond cross hanging to it.' (Captain Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates)
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