Journeymen could move among private Thames yards, while Royal dockyards offered more continuous employment. Skilled shipwrights could earn several shillings a day when agricultural labourers might receive much less over a week, and dockyard offcuts formed part of the job's material rewards. The master shipwright supervised faithful execution of plans and day-to-day construction. A capable master could advance to the Navy Board and influence how future warships were designed. Pay, retention, and promotion turned scarce craft skill into durable naval capacity.
Notable Point · 45:41-47:28
Pay, retention, and promotion in Royal dockyards
Royal dockyards retained skilled labour through comparatively good pay, material privileges, continuity of work, and a route from shipwright to the Navy Board.