Why merchant crews were paid off and rehired in port

Was it difficult for sailors to leave merchant ships and trade ashore in the seventeenth century?

Not usually; merchant crews were often paid off on arrival and rehired before sailing, so sailors could go ashore or take another berth while cargo was handled.

Merchant crews were commonly paid off when a ship reached port and rehired before departure rather than retained continuously through cargo handling. That system gave sailors an opportunity to take another berth instead of waiting unpaid for the original vessel to reload, helping ideas, skills, and people circulate through port communities.