Bilge Mark?

[Whitt]

Found this number amount the remains of an old sailing ship. It's approximately 5" high and made of lead. At first I thought it was a number marking a cabin door. A friend of mine suggested it was a "bilge mark" which I guess would have shown the depth of water in the ships bilge? Anyone ever heard of such a thing or seen numbers made out of lead like this?

 

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[Jolly Mon]

Found this number amount the remains of an old sailing ship. It's approximately 5" high and made of lead. At first I thought it was a number marking a cabin door. A friend of mine suggested it was a "bilge mark" which I guess would have shown the depth of water in the ships bilge? Anyone ever heard of such a thing or seen numbers made out of lead like this?

I think the "bilge marker" idea is very plausible.
Why is the number made of lead??
Lead is generally quite a special purpose metal. It is very soft and malleable and obviously heavy. None of these attributes seem to warrant it being used as a cabin door number. There are cheaper, more durable and more aesthetically pleasing alternatives.
Lead is also highly resistant to corrosion and marine growth.
It might have been used on a piling or wharf to indicate water depth.
I guess what I am trying to say is that the number seems likely to have been designed to spend a good deal of time immersed in salt-water.

 

[Whitt]

Right, I think if it was a number on a cabin door it would have been made of brass. Since it was found within the wreckage, I think the bilge mark theory seems very plausible. Wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like this before?

 

[SteveS]

I'd say it's a draft marker. Attached a photo of one of three I recovered off what I believe was the wreck an 1894 British bark. Recovered numbers 6, 7 & 8 (#8 is photo). About the same size as yours and made of lead. Usually attached to the side of the bow. Indicated where the ship sat in the water.

 

[Whitt]

That makes more sense. I'm gonna guess if you had 8' of water in your bilge that you would be in trouble!