 They had numerous problems; if the powder were to get wet, it had the potential to misfire, the powder was very sensitive and had a tendency to combust prematurely, and the sulfur used in the powder could taint the taste of the whale’s meat.Switched from gunpowder to explosive charges, most models involved uses of gunpowder and ways to optimize use of gunpowder.The explosive harpoon was only documented for the use of whaling.