Where untrained men fitted aboard ship

Were marines or gun crews filled with recruits who lacked sailing skills?

Marines were generally volunteers, while new seamen could learn deck work and eventually take simpler positions in gun crews.

Shipboard roles did not treat every sailor as interchangeable. An inexperienced seaman could progress toward able seaman, while specialized work aloft required more developed skill. A novice could be trained in deck duties and given a position in a gun crew, but the process still took time. A sudden influx of untrained men could not instantly solve a sailing navy's personnel problem.