The carpenter was one skill on board ship that was required by regulation to have been learned ashore.  The qualifications to become a carpenter required that he serve a apprenticeship to a shipwright and has served at least 6 months as a carpenter's mate on one of His Majesty's ship.  His responsibility was to keep the ship afloat.  he did all routine repairs, inspections of every wooden part including the mast and yards.  he was also responsible for the repair of battle damage.  He would probably have been considered the equivalent of a damage control officer in the modern navy.

He was also called upon to make the furniture needed for use by both officers and crew.  His skills required a wide range of carpentry skills, he needed to be able to plug the hull, repair or replace a gun carriage, splice a mast or make belaying pins.  He had limited storage place for tools, raw materials and replacement parts.  But after a battle, he would perform miracles with those limited resources.

His pay was not great, on ships 4th rate and lower he was paid equal to the boatswain and gunner.  On the larger ships he was paid one pound more.  His pay scale topped out at £5.16.6 on the larger ships.