How Napoleonic sailors chose a ship and captain

How much choice did an ordinary Napoleonic sailor have over the ship on which he served?

Many volunteered directly for a known captain and ship; pressed men and landsmen were also recruited but could bring discipline or training difficulties.

Popular or well-known captains could recruit in public houses, where sailors signed on for a particular ship. Recruiting through a captain's reputation could attract experienced seamen who already knew their work. Unwilling pressed men could cause trouble, while landsmen needed training before they could perform the required tasks. Impressment and the recruitment of landsmen still formed part of the manpower system, but voluntary recruiting gave many sailors a direct choice of ship and captain.