XVIII Century nautical terminology

[Panfilo]

I’d like to hear opinions as to the approximate equivalent to a nautical phrase that I’ve come across all too often in my research in several accounts: “half a pistol shot apart” . I remember having read somewhere that it is close to 50 yards but it somehow seems a short distance. This being the case “a pistol shot away” would be 100 yards which for the time in question might be a bit short.
Panfilo

 

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[Mackaydon]

"In naval battles, the preferred distance between ships before firing was at a "half pistol shot" or about 100 yards."
Source: http://www.blupete.com/Hist/NovaScotiaBk2/Part5/Ch11.htm
(found on the line just below the pic of the cannon)
Don.....

 

[Trembull]

Thanks for the link Mackaydon
It's some nice reading