Deck
The Monitor's deck reached barely 18 inches above waterline. The only
permanent features that rose above the deck were the revolving gun
turret amidships and the armored pilothouse up at the bow.
Monitor designer John Ericsson designed all other features of the ship,
including smoke boxes, ventilator boxes, bits, bollards, and so on, to be
removed prior to going into combat. When the crew launched the ship, they had
no special davits at their disposal to hang the Monitor's boats, so they
simply dragged the boats up on deck and tied them down.