"Harry Andreas" wrote in message
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Maybe but standard RN tactic of the day were to kill the maximum
numbers of the enemy crew before boarding and
capturing the ship. Prize money was a very popular addition
to the income of all on board.

I guess that depends on whether you're after a merchant or
ship of the line.


The main difference was that merchantmen could usually be persuaded
to heave to without having a broadside fired at them. Prize money
was assessed on ship and cargo and in the case of a ship of
war that ajudication was done by a vice-admiralty court.

if the source I just found is right prize money before 1808
was distributed as follows

12.5% -- to the flag officer commanding
25.0% -- to the commander of the capturing vessel
12.5% -- distributed to the master and lieutenants
12.5% -- distributed to the other warrant sea officers
12.5% -- distributed to the inferior and petty officers
25.0% -- distributed to the "private men", seamen, and marines

Merchant ships and their cargos had ready markets so usually
paid better than warships but a 72 gun ship of the line could
still be worth several thousand pounds, a colossal sum in the 18th century

Keith