Not only wood

Apart from a huge amount of wood, the ships also needed lots of iron and other materials for nails, anchors, chains, pikes, bolts, tacks, spikes, keys, pins, rings and rudder pintles. Most of the metal items were made from iron ore, rough sheets and rods imported from China and to a lesser extent Japan, India and America. China also made nails and pins according to sizes and shapes ordered by the Philippines governor

Protection of the hull

Although timber in the Philippines was highly resistant to rot and cannon fire, thin sheets of tin or lead sheaths were added to parts of the hull for extra protection against sea worms

Rigging, cables, ropes and sails

Rigging was used to manage the sails, masts were supported by rope and cables and cords were used to make shrouds. All the rope was made from abaca plant fibre, which was much stronger than the hemp rigging used by European countries

Galleon typical shape sails

Using high-quality cotton from areas such as the Philippine province of Ilocos, the sails were cheaper to produce and more durable than those made in Spain and across Europe

The whipstaff

Galleons used this steering device before the introduction of the more complex ship’s wheel in the early 18th century. The disadvantage was that the helmsman had a very limited range of control of the tiller’s movement