I don't know about Constitution, but that stat is distinctly inaccurate in respect of Victory. Naturally a 250 year old wooden vessel that took a central part in one of history's fiercest naval close actions, was then left rotting in Pompey's harbour for another century and was damaged by a Luftwaffe bomb in the 1940s is not going to be 100% original.
However I understand that about 20% of the 1759 structure remains and the proportion of originality increases the further down the ship structure you go, as you might expect as the masts and upper works were heavily damaged at Trafalgar. Around 90% of the lower gun deck is thought to be original and much of the keel and stern.
Last edited by WebPilot; 2nd May 2006 at 09:59.