'There are a few places that I would want to see patched, if I were her commander, but on the whole the hull's integrity appears to be sound below the waterline.' Merriman looks back over at the hull, brow furrowed slightly in consideration. 'And yet I wonder if this stay in fresh water might not end up affecting matters when the Pearl reaches the open ocean again.'

When, not if. It is said with a fair amount of certainty.

'Regardless, some tar and a replacement board or two would be sufficient to guard against most anything. If the damage below the waterline was greater, we would certainly know as much by now.'