The Crossbow was first invented by the Chinese around 200B.C. and used extensively in Europe from 800 to 1500 A.D. A crossbow is made of two main parts. The prod, or part resembling a bow, and the stock which is used like a rifle's stock. The stock has a mechanism to wind and shoot bolts. The two parts are held together by cording made of hemp rope, linen, or whipcord. The cording is called the crossbow's bridle. The bow has a flat section above the stock called the shelf. The shelf contains a straight groove for the bolt to rest on and travel along when it is shot. Since the early 1400s, crossbows also contain a type of trigger mechanism.(1)

(3) A crossbow could fire at a great distance but was not consistent in hitting a man past 65-70 yards even by the 18th century. In extreme cases the shooter could be lucky enough to sometimes hit a man he was aiming for at 200 yards. An 18th century frigate had a main mass of 220 feet making it almost impossible for someone to hit a man or even a bird on a swaying ship with low visibility at such height.

Crossbows fire bolts, not arrows.




This is an image of what a wooden crossbow looks like. (2)

1)http://www.themiddleages.net/crossbow.html
2. library.thinkquest.org/CR0214640/crossbow.html
3)http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/constitution.htm
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:4uFf0IUPE5UJ:home.att.net/~ShipModelFAQ/ResearchNotes/smf-RN-Cross-CulturalHistoricMeasurementUnits.html+18th+century+crossbow+distance&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a